About Nativity of Our Lord · Pensacola, Florida
Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 9945 Hillview Drive in Pensacola, Florida, situated on property adjacent to the University of West Florida (UWF). Founded in 1972 as an outreach to the university community, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee and serves both area residents and the UWF Catholic campus ministry, known as Catholic Argos. The parish offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, including a Sunday evening Mass specifically for college students during the academic year, and maintains an active sacramental and devotional life with regular confessions and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- The Nativity of Our Lord
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
Nativity of Our Lord offers a distinctive combination of neighborhood parish life and active Catholic university ministry through its hosted Catholic Argos campus ministry at the University of West Florida. Parishioners can attend daily Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, and three Sunday Masses (including a special 4:30 PM student Mass during the academic year), take advantage of regular confession times and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and participate in programs such as GriefShare for those navigating loss. With its location adjacent to UWF and its long-standing partnership with the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, the parish welcomes both longtime Catholic families in the Pensacola area and the broader university community.
Mass times at Nativity of Our Lord
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM (First Monday only)
- 1st Friday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Saturday: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
- By appointment at any time
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
About Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church
Nativity of Our Lord is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, located at 9945 Hillview Drive in Pensacola, Florida, on a campus that sits alongside the University of West Florida. The parish was founded in 1972 as Catholic outreach to the university community and has continued that dual mission of serving both area Catholic families and the UWF student body. The church, parish hall, classrooms, the Catholic Campus Ministry 'Upper Room,' and parish grounds together form the parish campus. Visitors are welcomed to register with the parish and to participate in the regular liturgical and devotional life.
- Parish established: 1972
- Diocese: Pensacola–Tallahassee
- Campus partners: University of West Florida (Catholic Argos)
- Parish address: 9945 Hillview Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514
- Parish phone: (850) 477-3221
- Parish email: [email protected]
History of the Parish
The parish was founded in 1972, adjacent to the University of West Florida (itself established in 1963), with the explicit purpose of bringing Catholic ministry to the university community. Through the 1980s and into the 1990s, the assistant pastors assigned to Nativity of Our Lord also took on responsibility for guiding the growing Catholic presence on campus. In the 1990s the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee formalized this role by asking assistant pastors to lead the university ministry directly. In 2012 the diocese and parish deepened the partnership with a pastoral plan to grow and sustain the faith of Catholic students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This commitment was renewed in 2022 as Catholic Argos continued to expand its programming. The parish campus today reflects that joint history — a neighborhood parish sharing space with a vibrant campus ministry.
- 1972: Parish founded adjacent to the University of West Florida
- 1990s: Diocese formalizes assistant pastors' role in UWF campus ministry
- 2012: Renewed diocesan and parish commitment; pastoral plan developed
- 2022: Joint commitment to campus ministry renewed
- 2020: Fr. Henry 'Hank' Lech, Jr. appointed Administrator
Sacramental Life
Confessions are heard on the First Monday of each month from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, on First Fridays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and on Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. The parish also notes that confessions are available at any time by appointment, by contacting the parish office. Eucharistic Adoration is offered on First Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, giving parishioners a sustained period of prayer with the Blessed Sacrament.
- Confession: First Monday, 5:30–6:30 PM
- Confession: First Friday, 9:00–10:00 AM
- Confession: Saturday, 2:00–3:30 PM
- Confession: by appointment at any time
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Catholic Campus Ministry (Catholic Argos) at UWF
Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of West Florida — branded Catholic Argos — is hosted by Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, with its offices and events located on the parish campus (the CCM 'Upper Room'). Originally begun through parish outreach in 1972 and guided by assistant pastors through the 1990s, the ministry was renewed by the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee and the parish in 2012 with a formal pastoral plan, and again in 2022. The Director/Chaplain is appointed by the local Bishop and entrusted with forming UWF students as lifelong disciples. Catholic outreach currently serves a UWF student population of more than 13,000.
- Host parish: Nativity of Our Lord
- Diocesan oversight: Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
- Director/Chaplain appointed by the Bishop
- UWF student population served: 13,000+
- Pastoral plan renewed in 2012 and 2022
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond its sacramental schedule, Nativity of Our Lord hosts several ongoing ministries. Its GriefShare program is a 13-week grief recovery support group meeting in person at the parish, using video-based teaching and small-group discussion to help participants navigate loss. The parish also maintains a new-parishioner registration process for those wishing to formally join the parish community. Additional lay apostolates and parish groups operate as part of regular parish life.
- GriefShare (13-week grief recovery support)
- New parishioner registration
- Catholic Campus Ministry (Catholic Argos)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Henry 'Hank' Lech, Jr.2020–
Appointed Administrator of the Nativity of Our Lord in Pensacola on July 1, 2020, while serving at St. Rose of Lima in Milton.