Attention families with children 4 years old and under! We’d love to see you at our Young Adult Family Ministry, one Saturday morning a month from 9am-10:30am at Nativity. This Saturday, Feb. 10 is the next gathering. Our goal is to create a place where Nativity’s young families can meet one another, form friendships, and grow in faith together. We will provide coffee and pastries, social time with other parents, group prayer, and discussion of faith and parenting (Examples: sleep problems, helping your kids through Mass, how to pray with your family, etc.). Bring your kids- we have plenty of age-appropriate toys to share! For questions or to rsvp, email Alison Fram, Director of Young Adult Ministry, afram@nativityburke.org

It's time again for Nativity Parish Soup Suppers! Two opportunities are coming up in Lent.... to volunteer to make soup for one of the Wednesday Soup Suppers (http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d48adab2ba2f58-parish) and to come and enjoy the homemade soups! More information below.

Once a month on a Friday evening, a “Joyful Noise” praise and worship event takes place at Nativity. In addition to vibrant and beautiful praise music, Eucharistic Adoration is offered as well as a chance for confession with Fr. Vaccaro. The praise team would love to see you for the next one on Friday, Feb. 9, from 7:30-9pm in the Church!

An invitation from Nativity's Youth Theater Ministry to a showcase this Saturday evening!

A positive thought as you begin another week...

"My dear parishioners, We pray 'deliver me from evil.' The celebration of the sacraments and spiritual good works are the most powerful things on earth. The Lord Jesus was a healer and had power over the evil one. There are 188 references to the evil one in the New Testament. It is part of the ministry of Jesus to drive out evil. We have Jesus Christ and that is what we hold on to in the midst of temptation and when we have sinned. The evil one is not God and does not have the power of God. Perfect love drives out fear and Jesus is perfect love. Prayer, the sacrament of penance, spiritual reading, and living a life of loving service brings us grace. You have nothing to fear. Today we celebrate Catholic Schools Week. We are so blessed at Nativity to have a Catholic School and Religious Education Center. Forming our children in faith, knowledge, and service is part of our mission. It is a great investment that provides dividends for years to come. Today we celebrate the gift of our Catholic School, our principal, Ms. Maria Kelly, our teachers and students, and our parents who work together for the success and growth of our children in faith and love. Nativity School is a place where every child is loved. We have 20 openings in our school. If you think your child would love this gift of a Catholic education, please call the school. We offer tuition assistance when there is a need so all will have access to our school experience. Happy Catholic Schools Week. Love and blessings, Fr. Bob Cilinski"

A reminder from today’s Gospel: “Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.” Mark 4:5-6

This Saturday is one of our parish’s Confirmation Retreats. The participating students will reflect on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as they prepare for their upcoming Confirmation. Please keep these students and adult leaders in your prayers!

"Two buses of Nativity parishioners attended the March For Life this past Friday. Nativity Youth Ministry also attended the LIFE IS VERY GOOD rally with 8,000 teenagers at Eagle Bank Arena on the campus of George Mason University on the eve of the March. Thanks to all who defend the value of every person." Fr. Bob

From Fr. Bob's Sunday message: "My dear parishioners, Fr. Frank Ready, the founding pastor of Nativity, was invited back to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fr. Martin Center in the fall of 2014. On that occasion, in his homily, Fr. Ready told us, "Do not be afraid of your future. The Holy Spirit will guide you and be with you. Always trust in the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen all that you do." This would be a last will and testament of our founding pastor to the Nativity community, for Fr. Ready would soon return to God after a long life of service to the gospel. The gospel we hear this Sunday is the call of four disciples by the seashore when Jesus personally says to them, "Come follow me." We are told that they dropped their nets and followed immediately. I find that rather amazing because I sometimes have much more hesitation and caution when God calls me. There must have been something so compelling and attractive about Jesus and his message. It stirs within us an idealism of how the world should be. It summons up ideas about "mission" and being part of something greater than ourselves. Jesus needs us for the Kingdom to bring light to the darkness of our world. We are all part of God's plan, an important part of the building of the kingdom of God. We can clutter our lives with lots of noise and activity. We can easily drown out the call. But if we quiet ourselves and give God some space and some time, we can hear that call of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, to follow Him. So, trust in God. He will never leave you. He will give you companions who together work for the kingdom of God which is bringing light into our world.... a light shining in the darkness. Fr. Ready's words at a groundbreaking encourage us. "Do not be afraid of your future. The Holy Spirit will guide you and be with you. Always trust in the Holy Spirit to inspire and strengthen you." Love and blessings, Fr. Bob Cilinski"