Nativity and Most Holy Redeemer parishes merge

“Go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always until the end of the world.”

—Matthew 28:19-20 |

By Father Sean McGillicuddy |

In an effort to more effectively proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Archdiocese of New York undertook a massive restructuring project, Making All Things New, about five years ago. After a great deal of prayer, study, and dialogue, decisions were made. Schools were regionalized, ministries were strengthened, and parishes were merged.

The communities of Nativity and Most Holy Redeemer in the lower east side of Manhattan were part of the process of making all things new in the archdiocese. On Saturday, March 1, 2014, the Archdiocese gave the Redemptorists of Most Holy Redeemer care of the community at Nativity. Nativity had been a Jesuit parish for many years until 2007.

From 2007 until 2014 it was linked with St. Theresa Church, a diocesan parish, about a mile away from Nativity.

During the many meetings of the churches in the lower east side, the archdiocese decided to link Nativity with Most Holy Redeemer, which is only two blocks away. On Sunday, November 2, 2014, Cardinal Timothy Dolan announced that Nativity would be merged with Most Holy Redeemer and that the two communities would become one parish on Saturday, August 1, 2015.

It is never easy to see your church close. The news obviously saddened the Nativity community. However, after many tears, much conversation, and many, many prayers, the people of Nativity gave themselves to the task of building a new parish with the people of Most Holy Redeemer.

At this writing we are a few months into the process of creating a new parish. It is an exciting time. We are seeing the ministries and groups of Most Holy Redeemer–Nativity Parish grow in strength and effectiveness with the influx of new people with new ideas.

It is a beautiful thing to see people from different but similar communities working together to build up the Kingdom of God in Manhattan. We are united in faith and hope in the love of Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus will be faithful to His promise to be with us until the end of the world.