About Nativity · Washington, District of Columbia
Nativity Catholic Church (formally, Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus) is a historic Roman Catholic parish in the Brightwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C., serving about 1,000 families and households along Georgia Avenue NW. Canonically established in 1901 after beginning as a mission in 1899, the parish was founded by Irish and German Catholic families and has grown into one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the Archdiocese of Washington, with strong African American, Hispanic, and Filipino communities. The present Gothic Revival church was built in 1942 and is famous for the connection to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received her Missionaries of Charity there in 1987. Today, under the pastoral care of Very Rev. Pawel Sass, V.F., the parish offers Mass in English (with two choirs: the El Shaddai contemporary ensemble and the Nativity Gospel Choir) and in Spanish, alongside a robust Religious Education program and the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Very Rev. Pawel Sass, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Nativity is a deeply welcoming, culturally diverse parish that has served Brightwood for more than 125 years, with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish and a Music Ministry anchored by the Nativity Gospel Choir, the El Shaddai contemporary ensemble, and Filipino and Hispanic choirs. The parish offers a full sacramental life, a Coordinator of Religious Education (Melinda Robinson), the Neo-Catechumenal Way, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and active community outreach including large food distributions. For Catholics seeking a parish with deep historical roots, vibrant liturgical music, and a true sense of family across generations, Nativity is a fitting spiritual home.
Mass times at Nativity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: immediately after the 12:00 PM Noon Mass
- First Friday of the month: 7:00 PM
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (per Discover Mass listing)
About Nativity Catholic Church
Nativity Catholic Church (formally, Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Brightwood neighborhood of Washington, D.C., canonically established in 1901 after beginning as a mission in 1899. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington and serves roughly 1,000 families and households from a campus of five buildings on Georgia Avenue NW at 13th Street. The parish is renowned for its cultural diversity — rooted in its Irish and German founders, embraced by Washington's Black Catholic community from the 1960s, and now home to large Hispanic and Filipino populations — and for its connection to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Parish History
The parish began as a mission in 1899 and was established as a parish in 1900, with the first Mass celebrated at the original church on February 3, 1901. Irish and German Catholic families built up the campus over the early twentieth century; Nativity School opened in 1925 under the Franciscan Sisters of Glen. The present Gothic Revival church, inspired by rural English and Irish country churches, was built in 1938–1942. Beginning in the 1960s, the Black Catholic community of Washington embraced Nativity, preserving its heritage and ministry; in recent decades a large influx of Central and South American parishioners, as well as Filipino Catholics, has made the parish one of the most multicultural in the Archdiocese.
- Mission begun 1899 in Brightwood along Georgia Avenue
- First Mass celebrated February 3, 1901
- Present church built 1938–1942 in Gothic style
- Black Catholic community embraced Nativity beginning in the 1960s
- Major Hispanic immigration wave in recent decades
- 125th anniversary Mass celebrated February 22, 2026 by Cardinal McElroy
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Connection
In 1987, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta received 14 young women into her Missionaries of Charity at Nativity Church; a historic plaque outside the church commemorates the event. The pastor at the time, Msgr. William Curlin, served as chaplain of the Missionaries of Charity's Gift of Peace home, which cared for people with AIDS. Curlin was later named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington in 1988 and Bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1994; he died in 2017.
Architecture & Campus
The campus, anchored by the 1942 Gothic Revival church inspired by rural English and Irish country churches, includes five buildings along Georgia Avenue NW near the historic site of Fort Stevens. Side altars inside the church house devotional images of Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness of the Americas), Our Lady of Antipolo (venerated by Filipino Catholics), a dark-skinned crucifix of El Señor de Esquipulas (venerated by Guatemalan Catholics), and portraits of the 'Saintly Seven' U.S. Black Catholics under consideration for sainthood.
- Original wood-frame church built 1900 at Georgia Avenue and Peabody Street
- Present church built 1938–1942 in Gothic style
- Five-building campus including rectory and former school
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Very Rev. Pawel Sass, V.F., a native of Poland and priest of the Archdiocese of Washington who has served as pastor for approximately six years (since around 2020). The staff includes Laura Juarez (Administrative Assistant), Melinda Robinson (Coordinator of Religious Education), Patrick Edwards (Director of Liturgy & Music), and Errainier Carter (Bookkeeper). Two priests of the Neo-Catechumenal Way serve at the parish, Rev. Santiago Martin and Rev. Emanuel P. Lucero, and Deacon Federico Mariano assists in ministry.
- Very Rev. Pawel Sass, V.F. — Pastor
- Laura Juarez — Administrative Assistant
- Melinda Robinson — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Patrick Edwards — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Errainier Carter — Bookkeeper
- Rev. Santiago Martin — Neo-Catechumenal Way
- Rev. Emanuel P. Lucero — Neo-Catechumenal Way
- Deacon Federico Mariano
Music & Liturgy Ministry
Music is at the heart of Nativity's liturgical life. The parish is served by four distinct choirs: the Nativity Gospel Choir (which sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass), the El Shaddai contemporary ensemble (at the 8:00 AM Mass), and Filipino and Hispanic choirs that animate the parish's bilingual liturgies, including the 1:00 PM Spanish Mass. Patrick Edwards serves as Director of Liturgy & Music.
- Nativity Gospel Choir
- El Shaddai Contemporary Choir
- Filipino Choir
- Hispanic Choir
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Nativity is coordinated by Melinda Robinson and includes preparation for the Sacraments and ongoing catechesis for parishioners of all ages. The parish also hosts two priests of the Neo-Catechumenal Way, Rev. Santiago Martin and Rev. Emanuel P. Lucero, who shepherd small faith communities within the parish.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Melinda Robinson
- Neo-Catechumenal Way communities
- Sacramental preparation programs
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Beyond the liturgy, Nativity sustains a network of parish organizations and outreach efforts. Long-running groups include the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Parish Finance Council, while the parish itself is well known for its community outreach — most notably the large food distributions it hosted during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve neighbors in Brightwood.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Parish Finance Council
- Community food distribution outreach
Nativity Catholic School (1925–2007)
Nativity Catholic School opened in 1925 and was originally staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Glen. The school served generations of Brightwood children through the twentieth century but ultimately closed in 2007 as part of a broader Archdiocese of Washington reorganization. The parish's 125th anniversary materials note that 'thousands of children received instruction and Sacraments here' over its 82-year run.
- Opened 1925
- Originally staffed by the Franciscan Sisters of Glen
- Closed 2007 as part of archdiocesan restructuring
Accessibility & Facilities
Because the 1942 church has steps at every entrance, accessibility has been a long-standing concern. On May 11, 2025, Father Pawel Sass and parishioners broke ground on a long-awaited lift/elevator to make Nativity accessible to parishioners with disabilities — a project that parishioners had worked toward for more than 35 years. The parish offices are open Monday through Friday, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM; for sacramental emergencies outside office hours, callers should dial (202) 726-6262 and press 8.
- Lift/elevator groundbreaking: May 11, 2025
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sacramental emergency line: (202) 726-6262 ext. 8
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Nativity at (202) 726-6262 or by email at [email protected]; the parish office is located at 6001 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011. The church itself fronts Georgia Avenue NW near Peabody Street in the Brightwood neighborhood, not far from the historic Civil War site of Fort Stevens. Parking is available on the surrounding streets of the campus.
- Address: 6001 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011
- Phone: (202) 726-6262
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.nativitychurch.net/
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. William Curlin
Pastor in the 1980s; chaplain of the Missionaries of Charity's Gift of Peace home; received 14 young women into the order with St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta at Nativity in 1987; named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington in 1988 and Bishop of Charlotte, NC in 1994; died 2017.
- Very Rev. Pawel Sass, V.F.c. 2020–present (about 6 years as of Feb 2026)
Native of Poland; priest of the Archdiocese of Washington; led restart of parish life after the COVID-19 pandemic; oversaw groundbreaking of accessibility lift/elevator in 2025; led 125th anniversary celebration in 2026.