Nativity was the first Catholic church in Bloomington. The first Mass was held on
November 9, 1949, at the Bloomington Town Hall on Penn Avenue. After that, weekly
Masses were held at Bloomington High School or even Oxboro Theatre. The first building
on the current campus was constructed mostly by parishioners. Ground was broken for
Nativity’s school building and gymnasium on November 8, 1950. In 1951, Nativity of Mary
School opened with 140 students and church services moved to the school gymnasium.
The present church was dedicated on September 18, 1980. Most of the money for the
building was raised through church festivals. In 1991 an addition was made to the church
to include the gathering space, Caritas room, pipe organ, and a lower level with meeting
rooms. The school also expanded to include access between the church and school and
make the cafeteria bigger. Today, about 1,200 families give their time and talents in 60
different ministries.