About Nativity of Our Lord · Green Bay, Wisconsin
Nativity of Our Lord Parish is a Roman Catholic community of more than 1,300 families and 4,400 members located in the heart of Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, just outside Green Bay. As a parish of the Diocese of Green Bay and a church literally built in the glow of Vatican II, it serves a wide and diverse area stretching from Lambeau Field to Austin Straubel Airport and including Bay Park Square Mall. Nativity is especially well known as the closest Catholic parish to Lambeau Field, the Resch Center, and the Titletown District — a fact that comes up every Packers season. Its mission statement is simple and direct: 'As disciples of Jesus we want to know God, love Jesus and serve others.'
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- The Nativity of Our Lord (the Birth of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Mathew 'Matt' Simonar
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
Nativity of Our Lord offers an unusually welcoming and geographically central Catholic home in the Green Bay area — you are steps from Lambeau Field and minutes from anywhere in Ashwaubenon. With weekend and weekday Masses, a robust K-11 faith formation program on Wednesday evenings, a half-century of Gospel-rooted outreach through ministries like Living Justice, Worship and Stewardship, and a commitment to serving nursing homes, hospitals and homebound members, there are concrete ways for every age and stage to belong here. The parish explicitly welcomes visitors for weekend Mass, Packers training camp and family celebrations, and offers live-streamed Masses for those who cannot attend in person.
Mass times at Nativity of Our Lord
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- First Friday after the 8:00 AM Mass
- By appointment
About Nativity of Our Lord Parish
Nativity of Our Lord is a parish of the Diocese of Green Bay serving the heart of Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, and the greater Green Bay area. Its mission statement reads: 'As disciples of Jesus we want to know God, love Jesus and serve others.' The parish community numbers more than 1,300 families and 4,400 registered members, and it explicitly welcomes visitors — whether they are coming for weekend Mass, in town for Packers training camp, or celebrating an occasion with family.
- Diocese of Green Bay
- 1,300+ families, 4,400+ members
- 200+ households active in Discipleship Formation
- Mission: 'As disciples of Jesus we want to know God, love Jesus and serve others.'
History
The parish has been in Ashwaubenon since 1964, founded in the immediate wake of the Second Vatican Council. Nativity describes itself as 'a church built in the glow of Vatican II,' shaped from the start by collaboration between pastors and lay leadership. Diocesan records note that Fr. O'Brien served as co-pastor before moving on to St. Mary Parish, Brillion, in 1979, and Fr. (later Msgr.) John Dewane was appointed pastor that same year. Over more than 50 years the parish has partnered with parishioners, local businesses and outside organizations to serve the broader community.
- Founded 1964 in Ashwaubenon, WI
- Rooted in Vatican II
- Fr. O'Brien — co-pastor (pre-1979)
- Msgr. John Dewane — pastor from 1979
Meet Our Leadership & Staff
Parish leadership is led by Fr. Mathew 'Matt' Simonar, who came to Nativity from the Antigo Area Catholic Churches. A native of southern Door County and a graduate of St. John Vianney (St. Paul, MN) and Mundelein (Chicago) seminaries, Fr. Matt has served across the Diocese of Green Bay — from Manitowoc to Oshkosh to Door County and Brillion — and was ordained 26 years ago. He is assisted by Deacon John Bundra (ordained 2014 and assigned to Nativity right after ordination) and a lay staff that includes the business manager, faith formation coordinator, bookkeeper, communications specialist, maintenance supervisor and housekeeper.
- Fr. Mathew 'Matt' Simonar — Pastor
- Deacon John Bundra
- Tricia Westhoven — Business Manager
- Dylan Zastrow — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Cindy Gottfredsen — Bookkeeper
- Jennie LeMere — Communications
- George Skolasinski — Maintenance Supervisor
- Mary Greene — Housekeeper
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program at Nativity of Our Lord serves children in grades K-11 on Wednesday evenings during the school year. The parish is actively recruiting catechists and substitutes, and the coordinator, Dylan Zastrow, can be reached at 920-499-6012. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation all flow through this office.
- Grades K-6: Wednesday 5:30–6:30 PM
- Grades 7-11: Wednesday 6:45–8:00 PM
- First Reconciliation — typically 2nd grade, early winter
- First Eucharist — typically 2nd grade, Spring
- Confirmation — typically 11th grade, with retreat, service hours and sponsor
Worship & Liturgical Ministries
Quoting Vatican II's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy — 'Liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the church is directed; at the same time it is the fountain from which all her power flows' — the Worship Ministry coordinates nine Liturgical Ministries and five additional volunteer opportunities so that parishioners can share their God-given gifts at Sunday Liturgy. For more information contact Deacon John Bundra at 920-499-5156 ext. 209.
- 9 Liturgical Ministries
- 5 Volunteer opportunities
- Contact: Dcn. John Bundra, 920-499-5156 ext. 209
Living Justice & Outreach
Living Justice is the parish's social-concerns arm, an extension of the Parish Pastoral Council working jointly with the Diocese of Green Bay and other social-concerns efforts. The group meets 7-9 times per year on the second Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM. Anyone can drop in to learn where they might be called to serve — no long-term commitment is required.
- Feed My Starving Children MobilePack
- Hope Center Food Pantry
- Hygiene for the Homeless Collection
- Ecumenical Partnership for Housing
- Nativity Christmas Giving Tree
- Angel Tree (children of incarcerated guardians)
- Lenten Stations & Soup
- Family Bingo
- Veterans Recognition
- Senior Fridays
Parish Pastoral Council & Stewardship
The Parish Pastoral Council is made up of thirteen parish members — some selected in prayer and some appointed by the commissions — who lead the parish in a consultative role, formulate policy, foster communication and establish goals that witness to the parish's vision of Gospel values. Minutes of Pastoral Council meetings are available to parishioners on request.
- 13-member Parish Pastoral Council
- Works alongside Living Justice, Worship and Faith Formation commissions
- Contact via parish office: 920-499-5156
Sacraments
Beyond the regular Mass and Reconciliation schedule, Nativity prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation — First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation — through its Faith Formation office. Baptisms, marriages and funerals are coordinated through the parish office, and Reconciliation is always available by appointment in addition to the published Saturday and First Friday times.
- First Reconciliation — early winter
- First Eucharist — Spring
- Confirmation — junior year of high school
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Funeral — by arrangement through the parish office
Prayer Garden & Facilities
The parish maintains a Nativity Prayer Garden that is open to the community for prayer and quiet reflection — a small but distinctive feature of the campus. The main entrance to the sanctuary and office is off Oneida Street, with a secondary access off the Cormier entrance by driving around the church.
- Nativity Prayer Garden — open to the community
- Main entrance: off Oneida Street
- Secondary access: Cormier entrance (drive around the church)
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; closed Friday
Catholic Education & Community Partners
Nativity of Our Lord is a contributing parish to the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) system and supports students at Notre Dame Academy. The parish reaches a wide cross-section of schools, serving members from more than a dozen high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.
- Contributing parish to the GRACE school system
- Supports students at Notre Dame Academy
- Serves families from 12+ area schools
Get Involved
Whether someone wants to grow as a disciple, teach in Faith Formation, sing in the liturgy, serve at the food pantry, or simply stop by the parish office, the parish encourages people to reach out and find a fit. The website lists a Volunteer Sign Up Form and a webform to contact the Parish Pastoral Council chair and vice-chair.
- Volunteer Sign Up Form on the website
- Contact Fr. Matt Simonar: 920-499-5156
- Contact Dylan Zastrow (Faith Formation): 920-499-6012
- Contact Dcn. John Bundra (Worship): 920-499-5156 ext. 209
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. (later Msgr.) John Dewaneco-pastor through 1979; appointed pastor 1979
Later moved on to diocesan administration; died in 2025 at age 89.
- Fr. O'Brienserved as co-pastor before 1979
Left in 1979 to become pastor of St. Mary Parish, Brillion.