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HISTORY OF SAINT NICHOLAS
Saint Nicholas has been a landmark of the
Wyoming Valley since the 1850's. Our very
first church was built on the site that is
now occupied by Bishop Hoban High School. On
Christmas Day, 1858, the second structure
was dedicated, this time on Canal Street
(now Pennsylvania Boulevard). When that
building became too small for the
congregation, our present magnificent church
was built. The cornerstone was laid in 1883;
the structure completed in 1887.
The immigrant German settlers who founded
our church were concerned with Christian
education. An elementary school occupied the
basement of the second church until 1859
when a small wooden structure was built to
house the school. This was supplanted by a
brick building in 1868 and our current
school was constructed in 1915. A high
school was initiated in 1928 at this
location and then merged to form Bishop
Hoban in 1971. Now the building houses
elementary students from the Saint Nicholas'
and Saint Mary's parishes. Our present
convent was dedicated in 1963; the rectory
in 1972.
The Sisters of Christian Charity came to the
parish from Germany in 1872 to teach at
Saint Nicholas School. Currently, Saint
Nicholas Convent provides a home for the
Sisters who teach in our elementary school,
Bishop Hoban High School, Saint Boniface
School, Sacred Heart School (Luzerne) and
Bishop O'Reilly High School.
From the beginning, Saint Nicholas'
parishioners have been aware of the needs of
the parish, both spiritual and physical, and
have met them most admirably. The following
pages indicate their concern, a concern that
reaches far beyond the confines of the
parish walls to those in need. The
responsibility accepted for that concern has
always been a proud tradition at Saint
Nicholas. With the help of God and the
responsible support through stewardship of
time, talent and treasure of each member,
our parish will continue to grow in service
to God and humanity.
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