Nativity B.V.M. celebrates 125 years
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
PHILADELPHIA — Nativity B.V.M. Church in Port Richmond, where Cardinal
Justin Rigali celebrated a 125th anniversary Mass on Oct. 28, stands out
in a crowd. Of five Catholic churches clustered on or near lower Allegheny
Avenue, it is the oldest — and the only one designated for all nationalities.
But even Nativity, originally called Our Lady of the Nativity and founded
in 1882, really has German roots. The Redemptorist Fathers, who worked
primarily in the German community, purchased the property for a school
building and chapel.
At the time, Port Richmond was a growing community with people of many
nationalities working on or near the docks. But by 1885, it was clear
that the worshipping community was predominantly English-speaking Irish.
The Redemptorists sold the property to the Archdiocese, and Father Francis
Quinn became Nativity’s first diocesan pastor.
The Sisters of St. Joseph replaced the Sisters of Christian Charity at
the school, which already needed to be expanded, and the new pastor purchased
the former St. Cecilia chapel from what is now Visitation Parish, and
had it moved to Port Richmond.
The great, permanent church of today was completed in 1901, after the
parish overcame a major setback — a hurricane in October 1893 blew
down most of the eastern wall of the not-yet-completed main church, and
virtually destroyed the lower church.
Since then, Nativity has survived through the nation’s prosperity,
wars and hardship. A larger school was built in 1918; the parish operated
soup kitchens during the Great Depression, and the World Wars saw many
young parishioners march off to serve their country. During World War
II, Nativity’s pastor, Msgr. Philip Donahue, established Our Lady
of Port Richmond Chapel to serve seamen visiting the still-booming port.
Through many changes, some things stayed the same. The school’s
principal, Sue Campbell, has been a parishioner for 25 years, and is a
former director of religious education there. She has been impressed over
the years, enrolling children in sacramental programs, how many of them
lived in the parish of their parents and grandparents — although
that does not hold as firmly today.
“Overall, there is a good spirit,” Campbell said of the parish. “There is a good CCD [and] a large group of volunteers.
We have good liturgies, with great singing, and Father [Anthony F.] Orth,
our pastor, gives excellent homilies.”
Nativity School has 263 children in grades K through eight, which is the
same number as last year — although change is coming.
Nativity is in dialogue with neighboring parishes about possibly merging
schools, the principal said. Meanwhile, the school is still lively.
Father Orth, who has been pastor for five years, believes Nativity is
one of the most beautiful churches in America. And among thriving parish
programs, he especially cites a vibrant prayer group, and a Pre-Cana ministry
that even draws couples from surrounding parishes: “We have about
60 couples a year.”
“Nativity is Port Richmond, and Port Richmond is Nativity,”
he said. “It is ‘Philadelphia’ Catholic. The people
are down-to-earth, and up- front.”
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo parish and a freelance writer.
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