On This Date in Nativity History
Summer 1986
Late in the summer of 1986, Father Cedric Wilson arrived at Nativity to begin an association with our community that has lasted for more than 35 years. A native of Chicago, Father Wilson was ordained to the Priesthood in 1978 for the Order of Saint Augustine. In 1986, he was serving in Miami when the call came to move to Northern Virginia. It was something of a last-minute response to an unexpected circumstance: a priest who had been assigned to Nativity was unable to come, so Father Wilson was sent as a replacement. Father Wilson has served in many parishes throughout the Diocese, including Good Shepherd, St. Agnes, and St. Leo, as Visiting Priest or Priest in Residence. Currently, he is an Assisting Priest at Nativity.
Father Wilson received his doctorate in psychology from Howard University, and has worked as a psychologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and at Northern Virginia Community College. He studied Spanish in Mexico and is fluent in the language, so he also serves as the Pastors Delegate for the Hispanic Community at Nativity. He celebrates Mass in Spanish regularly on Saturday evenings and on Holy Days. One of the highlights of the liturgical year for our Spanish-speaking community is the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Latin America and of Mexico. Since 2010, when Father Wilson became the regular celebrant, these celebrations are always joyous moments, with mariachi music, dancers, and community spirit. These photos (taken by Mary Castellano) show Father Wilson celebrating Mass and arriving at the Fall Festival.
