As pastor of clustered parishes Nativity and St. Columbkille, Msgr. Tim Dyer, has brought many gifts to the two parishes - not the least of them, his sense of humor and peace, organizational ability and a great care for his people.

"These have been the happiest years of my priesthood," says the veteran pastor. "I love these people. I love being here."

The clustering of the two parishes, though not an easy task at first, now appears very natural. Msgr. Dyer and his associate pastor, Father Angel Castro, have utilized some of the same staff for both parishes and at the same time have assisted each parish to grow and develop as individual communities.

Msgr. Dyer attributes his vocation to the civil rights movement. "In the 1960s I saw those dogs attacking people in Birmingham, and I never wanted to be a 'sacristy priest' after that." He has worked toward development of leadership within the parish, involvement of the people in liturgy and catechesis. He points to the courtyard leading to the side door of the church and says, "Every brick was laid by parishioners." He also indicates the importance of the parish's emphasis on whole family catechesis in English and Movimiento Familiar Cristiano in Spanish, all under the leadership of Paula Escobar, the parish business manager.

Notre Dame de Namur Sister Judy Flahavan, principal of Nativity School, sees her parish as filled with people who are "very kind, happy, wanting to help, willing to sacrifice. It's just the community of people that I love." The 313-student school (pre-K to 8) thrives despite economic challenges due to assistance from parishioners and others outside the community.

"There is work to do here: to help children have a better life," says Sister Judy. "The thing that really pulls me is the goodness of the people here."

When Msgr. Dyer first arrived at Nativity, he wanted to visit homes and then he heard from others that Notre Dame de Namur Sister Dolores Pardini had already visited 1,000 homes. Now after 26 years working in the parish --- as DRE, in bereavement ministry, visiting of the sick and helping the St. Vincent de Paul Society --- Sister Dolores is still visiting homes, keeping a pulse on the Nativity community.

Commitment also drives Social Service Sister Marie Lindemann, coordinator of Youth Ministries for Nativity and St. Columbkille. She also relies heavily on Juan Carlos Alvarado, a "core person" working with youth who she says "was born and bred for ministry."

Parish youth are involved in the parish fiesta and Thanksgiving food drive, collect Christmas toys, sponsor a basketball tournament within their own group, and recently attended a retreat at the L.A. Convention Center sponsored by El Sembrador. Youth ministry is now self-starting, and "that is the joy," says Sister Marie. Regarding the clustering of parishes, she says, "We found a model that can work."

Among Nativity's longtime parishioners are Ida and John Coleman. She sings in the choir and helps in the parish office; he has been an usher and lector. Both help at the parish fiesta, and belong to the parish Belizean community.

"We grow with all the changes that take place in the parish and in the church," says John. "We are challenged on a daily basis. We are loved by God. It is what makes us able to do it all. Life is full of change. The key is how do you accept all this - what are you rooted in? Where is your faith?"

In 32 years at Nativity, the Colemans have seen Nativity grow from a majority African American parish to a majority Hispanic parish. "Embrace the other community as they come along," says John. "They make up the church. It enriches the church and it delights us as individuals. We mirror the community. It is a sample of God's creation."