Nativity of Our Lord

Founded on February 17, 1917, by Archbishop Henry McNicholas, Nativity of our Lord Parish was created by combining parts of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Norwood and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Deer Park. Fr. William Egan was appointed as the first pastor. The present church, built of Indiana limestone, was constructed during the tenure of Fr. Henry Imbus, the fourth pastor of Nativity. Construction began on June 13, 1967, and it was dedicated on May 18, 1969, by Archbishop Karl J. Alter, with some of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in mind. Prior to its construction, the church was located in what is now the parish's gym.

On the south wall, a plaque listing the names of Nativity parishioners who served in World War II can be found, along with a Covenant entered into by Nativity Parish and All Saints Episcopal Church on September 7, 1977, while Fr. Joseph Allison was pastor. On the north wall, next to the entrance, there is a plaque in honor of Fr. Jerome Bartel, in whose memory the church was dedicated. The left wall of the St. Joseph shrine contains a plaque honoring four parishioners who died during the conflict in Vietnam.

Nativity School opened in 1921 and was staffed by the Ursulines of Cincinnati and later by the Sisters of Mercy. The school expanded in 1928 and again in 1952. In 2001, Nativity began to develop a Master Plan to prepare for its future in Pleasant Ridge, which included renovations to buildings and grounds, such as the church, the school library, and construction of St. Sebastian Hall for a gym. For over 90 years Nativity School has offered an education second to none to families on Cincinnati’s east side.