About Nativity of Our Lady · San Luis Obispo, California
Nativity of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic parish in San Luis Obispo, California, belonging to the Diocese of Monterey. Located at 221 Daly Avenue, the parish celebrates its name-sake feast, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, every September 8, when the community gathers under a big tent for a special Jubilee Mass, BBQ, and fellowship. Under Pastor Father Matt Pennington, the parish runs three weekend Masses, daily weekday Mass, livestreamed liturgies, and a robust set of ministries spanning faith formation for children, youth, and adults, plus active outreach and liturgical ministries.
- Patron
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Matt Pennington
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
Nativity of Our Lady welcomes visitors with three weekend Masses (Saturday 4 PM; Sunday 8 & 11 AM), daily 9 AM weekday Mass in the chapel, livestreamed liturgies on YouTube, and drive-in listening on 94.3 FM for those who prefer to remain in the parking lot. The parish offers Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3.5 through 6th grade, an 'Edge' junior-high program, Confirmation preparation, Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 11 AM Mass, weekday Scripture Studies, and a First Friday Speakers Forum. An active Hospitality, Liturgical Environment, and Outreach Ministry round out a community that explicitly aims to recognize the diversity of those it serves on California's Central Coast.
Mass times at Nativity of Our Lady
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only (per the parish website)
About Nativity of Our Lady
Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Community is a parish of the Diocese of Monterey in California, located at 221 Daly Avenue in San Luis Obispo. Its published mission is 'to encourage and foster the spiritual growth and development of the individual in Christ, to strengthen the concept of parish family, and to serve the needs of the larger community through outreach ministries and service to others, while recognizing the diversity of those we serve.' The parish is named for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated each year on September 8.
Parish Staff and Administration
Father Matt Pennington serves as Pastor and can be reached at [email protected] or 805-544-2357 x104. The parish office is staffed Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and the office team handles administration, the bulletin, music and tech direction, ministry scheduling, bookkeeping, faith formation registration, and outreach.
- Father Matt Pennington — Pastor ([email protected], x104)
- Kayla Peracca — Office Admin, Bulletin Editor, Music & Tech Director ([email protected], x101)
- Leanne Berning — Office Admin, Ministry Scheduler ([email protected], x103)
- Katie Rose Walters — Bookkeeper, Confirmation & Youth Ministry ([email protected] / [email protected], x203)
- Stephanie Purvis — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, ages 3.5 to 6th grade ([email protected], x201)
- Kevin Ross — Edge Ministry, Junior High ([email protected])
- Helen Magee — Hospitality, Mass Coordinator ([email protected])
- Candy Spahr — Outreach Ministry ([email protected], x202)
- Mary Ann Statler — Liturgical Environment ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Nativity of Our Lady runs a complete faith formation program for children, youth, and adults. Children from age 3.5 through 6th grade are served through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium, a Montessori-style approach that treats children as spiritual beings already in relationship with God and uses Scripture, liturgical symbols, and biblical images to help them encounter the mystery of God's presence. Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation is built into this two-year journey.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (PreK–6th Grade)
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a spiral of Sacred Scripture, reflection, and works spanning ages 3 through 12, organized into Level I (ages 3–6), Level II (ages 6–9), and Level III (ages 9–12). It is not a traditional classroom religion program; rather it journeys with the child, providing access to liturgical symbols, biblical metaphors, and images through which children encounter God. Children engage with the sacred through respectful interaction with materials, drawings, prayers, contemplation, and deep insights shared with catechists and parents.
- Contact: Stephanie Purvis, [email protected], 805-544-2357 x201
- Registration open through mid-October or until classes fill
- First Eucharist and First Reconciliation prepared within the two-year CGS journey
- Includes Sunday sessions, six nights of reflection, and two retreats
- Parent involvement is a major part of the journey
Edge Middle-School Ministry (7th & 8th Grade)
Edge is the parish's junior-high youth ministry, meeting most Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Nativity. It gives 7th and 8th graders a chance to interact with peers while learning essentials of the Catholic faith. Registration is completed online and stays open until mid-October or until the program fills. Teenagers can also earn service hours by assisting with Children's Liturgy of the Word.
- Contact: Kevin Ross, [email protected]
- Wednesday evenings, 7:00–8:30 PM at Nativity
- Open to 7th and 8th graders
Confirmation (High School)
Each fall Nativity invites high school students into a two-year Confirmation program that prepares them to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Registration is processed in early September or until the program fills; forms are available on the parish's Forms page.
- Contact: Katie Rose Walters, [email protected], 805-544-2357 x203
- Two-year preparation, begins each fall
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
Adults seeking to become Catholic, or Catholics seeking to complete their initiation sacraments, journey through OCIA (formerly known as RCIA). Inquiries are directed to the parish office at [email protected] or 805-544-2357.
- Contact: [email protected], 805-544-2357
Adult Faith Formation
Nativity offers adult faith formation through recorded talks, video reflections, and book discussions that grapple with contemporary issues and church teaching. The parish has posted video series by Father Jim Nisbet on living at peace in difficult times (during COVID and amid social unrest), reflections on the infancy narratives of Jesus, and discussions on the Virgin Mary. Father Matt Pennington has led discussions on Dr. Larry Dossey's Prayer Is Good Medicine and on The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Nativity's YouTube and Facebook used for community conversation.
- Father Jim Nisbet: Living at Peace in Difficult Times (two talks)
- Father Jim Nisbet: The Infancy Narratives
- Father Jim Nisbet: Reflections on the Virgin Mary
- Father Matt Pennington on Prayer Is Good Medicine (Dr. Larry Dossey)
- The Book of Joy discussion (Dalai Lama & Archbishop Tutu)
Bible Studies and First Friday Speakers Forum
Two weekday Scripture study groups meet after the 9:00 AM Mass for ongoing study and discussion: a Men's Bible Study on Tuesdays at 9:30 AM and a Women's Bible Study on Thursdays at 9:30 AM. From October through May, the parish also hosts a First Friday Speakers Forum — Mass at 9:00 AM followed by brunch and an inspirational speaker in the parish hall.
- Men's Bible Study — Tuesdays, 9:30 AM
- Women's Bible Study — Thursdays, 9:30 AM
- First Friday Mass and Speakers Forum — 9:00 AM Mass plus brunch and speaker, October through May
Liturgical Ministries
The parish invites parishioners to serve in Liturgical Ministries, including Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers, Ushers/Greeters, and Lectors. Training, spiritual formation, and ongoing support are provided for everyone who participates. Children's Liturgy of the Word — a special Liturgy of the Word for children at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass during the school year — uses adult volunteer Group Leaders and teenage Leader Assistants; teens can earn service hours.
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Gift Bearers
- Ushers / Greeters
- Lectors
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (at 11 AM Mass; ages 3–5 and 6–9)
- Liturgical Environment team (Mary Ann Statler)
Hospitality and Outreach
Pastoral care extends beyond the sanctuary through the Hospitality Ministry (coordinating Mass logistics and welcoming) and the Outreach Ministry, led by Candy Spahr, which serves the larger San Luis Obispo community. Hospitality and Mass Coordination are handled by Helen Magee. The parish's published mission explicitly names 'outreach ministries and service to others' as a core pillar of parish life, recognizing the diversity of those served.
- Hospitality / Mass Coordinator — Helen Magee
- Outreach Ministry — Candy Spahr, [email protected], x202
Parish Jubilee and Feast Day Celebration
Each year near September 8 — the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Nativity of Our Lady celebrates its Jubilee with a single combined 11:00 AM Mass under a big tent on the parish grounds. Chairs are provided, and a ticketed BBQ meal (purchased in advance after weekend Masses) follows along with other activities. A parish jubilee was marked in 2016, and Father Matt Pennington preached a Jubilee Homily on September 8, 2019.
- Annual Jubilee Mass near September 8 (11:00 AM, under the big tent)
- Followed by ticketed BBQ and family activities
- Father Matt Pennington Jubilee Homily — September 8, 2019
- 2017 'You are Not Alone' Jubilee homily series
Visiting and Practical Information
The parish welcomes visitors at 221 Daly Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, with phone (805) 544-2357 and email [email protected]. The Parish Office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and the website advertises 'Plenty of Parking!' Confessions are currently by appointment only. The parish website links to current bulletins, livestreams, and recordings of daily and Sunday Masses on YouTube, and points visitors to the diocesan website (Diocese of Monterey) and to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Vatican online resources.
- Address: 221 Daly Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
- Phone: (805) 544-2357
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
- Plenty of parking on site
- Confessions by appointment only
- Current bulletins, livestream, and recorded Masses linked from nativityslo.org