Church of the Nativity

I found this church while church shopping (visiting every Catholic church in the region to find one that fit our family). This church is definitely much different than any other Catholic church. By that, I mean they were extremely welcoming and friendly, had outstanding music and a captivating homily that actually held my attention the entire time.
For the first time in my life, my attitude toward church changed from only going because it was an «obligation» (like my parents taught me, and their parents taught them) to me actually WANTING to go to church. My kids feel right at home in their children’s programs, and go home with lessons that are great conversation starters on the ride home. My kids also look forward to going to church — and that’s not anything I remember wanting to do as a kid.
Overall — I would recommend this church. It is worth a shot to take a look and see how this church might change your life (like it changed ours).

Absolutely the worst Church experience ever. I travel a lot and have been to many Catholic Churches and have never had such a terrible experience. They are all about getting you in and out in 30 minutes. The music is loud rock music which I can put up with and the big screen TV’s do leave you feeling you are in a studio not a Church. There are no kneelers and I have run into this before and that can be overlooked if the experience was actually a Mass. No Nicene Creed and no homily. Just a stay after so one of our religious educators can give you a class on the readings today. BUT the worst thing is they don’t like children. I have always gone to Church as a family. I was traveling with two friends and my daughter and her baby. He loves Church, makes very little noise and is fascinated with everything. During the mass an usher came to her to let her know they did have a room for people with small children in case she needed it. That’s fine. Then a few minutes later he came back to let her know again, she said I’m fine, I want to sit with my family. He says you don’t have a choice and escorted her from the Church to the room. We were visiting, she didn’t know anyone and was tearful. I saw them do this again right after CIA style with two attendants and an earpiece conversation as to the location of the offensive child. I suspect that this is because they are filming the mass in case you can’t attend you can watch online and they don’t want those coos to interfere with the broadcast. We got up and left. One of the attendants ran out to explain their position on children in the mass and for us to pray about it. REALLY? She basically stated that most people find children distracting and so they should be in their own room. Way to be pro-​family. I say if you find children so offensive than those people should be asked to leave and escorted to a separate room so they can feel isolated from the community.

It has been awhile since I’ve been to church and this morning I decided to ask Unilocal what Catholic Churches were near me. This church was only 7 minutes down the road I had no idea… I read the reviews and they were mixed but I decided to check it out for myself. It’s not your traditional Charolais mass by any means but I enjoyed that it wasn’t I listened more and really felt the meaning of the mass. I will most certainly be returning next Sunday

All that dazzle will blind you to lots of liturgical abuse. At first glance it’s a great church. There are age based day cares to watch your child while you’re at Mass, large TV screens so everyone can see, great music ministry, BUUUUUT there are no kneelers, no missiles to follow along with, if your child makes the slightest noise you will be booted out of Mass, and those fabulous coffee & donuts after Mass… you pay for them. Not a donation. A flat price.
I don’t know what makes this church so special that they can sit while the bread becomes the BODY OF CHRIST. It’s the most holy part of the Mass and the whole parish SITS. I’ve never seen anything like it. Most parishes at least will stand for the consecration if they don’t have kneelers. I’ve even seen people kneel without kneelers but not Church of the Nativity. Too cool I guess. After the final blessing they sneak in some sort of workshop series/​peptalk but you don’t really have the option of leaving. Oh, and the baby booting thing… I gather that because this church provides ample places for kids to be to avoid learning the Mass (daycares and a vestibule with a TV) that gives them the right to send the Masstapo in when a child makes any noise in the actual church.
If there are families that want to sit in the vestibule while their kids ‘play’ and run around fine. My husband and I choose to sit IN the main church so our children learn the Mass and participate. My 2 year old didn’t want to be left in day care and WE don’t like sitting apart from the parish in a much abused ‘cryroom’. What kind of message of community are we sending to the children or their families if we keep them at a distance? At Pope Francis’ sibling Mass filled with babies & toddlers he proudly boasted what a great choir they had at St. Peter’s. That choir being ansty toddlers and fussy babies. Not one was asked to leave.
The kicker with us is that our toddler was just whispering his body parts to my husband when we were asked to leave because we were distracting others. He wasn’t crying or kicking or screaming. So while there are a lot of great things going on at that church we will be going to a church that isn’t so ‘distracted’ by a toddler making noise and kneels for the most important part of the Mass. I think that is more important than huge TVs and great music.

As a Catholic, and first-​time visitor to the Catholic Church of the Nativity (megachurch), I was shocked by several things.
The consecrated hosts where not treated properly after mass. I can’t go into detail but I wrote to the Archbishop because it was a serious matter.
For those who don’t know, the Tabernacle at this church is not housed in the main altar/​church but in a side chapel for private devotion, which is another issue. But It should also be noted that there was a large screen television directly above the Tabernacle in the chapel blasting Christian music and church advertisements making it very difficult to meditate and pray.
Additionally, during mass the Nicene Creed was not prayed. The Nicene Creed is where we find the chief truths taught by the Catholic Church. I question this church and its authenticity.
7÷1÷2013: I have updated and edited this post because I received several phone calls and an e-​mail from the Archdiocese office. I was told that the situation (which I edited out) was serious, and it would be addressed.

Okay, so this is Roman Catholic meets evangelical/​Assemblies of God. No kneelers/​up down touch the ground. The music ministry is quite good as was the message.
Top it all off with a doughnut and coffee and how can you go wrong!?!

Confused. This is a Catholic Church but isn’t. There are no kneelers. You don’t go through the normal stand, kneel, sit routine. Mostly just sit. The music for services is like a Simon and Garfunkle concert. Very mellow but not very pious.
I’d have to say the best feature of this church is the people. It’s not like Catholic churches in the city. There are actually young, attractive, single people here. The God stuff is alrite but isn’t going to church all about finding that special someone? :-)