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History of St. Nicholas Parish
St. Nicholas began as a mission of St. Leo's in Tacoma. Prior to 1914, Mass and sacraments were offered by visiting priest in the homes of some of the pioneer Catholic families. Many o f their descendants are active in the parish to this day.
In late 1913, one half acre of land was purchased from Mrs. Mary Oliver for $300 as the location of a permanent church. Construction began in December 1913, and was completed in the spring of 1914. Father Vasta offered Mass in the newly completed church on Easter Sunday, 1914.
Money needed to build the church was raised through subscription and was also collected from canneries and fisherman's supply houses. Bishop O'Dea blessed the new church, although the exact date was not recorded.
The first marriage performed in the new church was that of Annie Ross and John Masnow of Hoquiam. Anna Stanich was the first baby baptized.
The first permanent pastor of St. Nicholas was Father Robert Kreutz who received this appointment upon his arrival from Germany n 1931. A small rectory was built in 1933 with the most of the work being accomplished by the parishioners. In 1936, Father N. H. Hen replaced Father Kreutz.
On December 24, 1943, Father James Toner became pastor. Then, on April 14, 1945, Father Henry Kruft was appointed as administrator of St. Nicholas.
On December 3, 1958, ground was broken for the new (and current) church. On March 22, 1959, Father Kruft offered the first mass in the new church. Father Kruft retired in 1970 and was succeeded by Father Anthony V. Domandich.
In May 1970, construction began on the religious education building and first used on January 21, 1971 by Our Lady Good Counsel Guild.
On June 22, 1974, Father Michael Angelovic became pastor. Shortly thereafter, a new rectory was built.
In 1973, under the direction of Clara Spadoni McCabe, restoration of the old church building began. This facility is in continuous use today for meetings, receptions and other non-profit events. In 1981 and 1997, the Peninsula Historical Society leased and occupied the basement of the old church.
In July 1986, Father Kurt Wuellner was appointed as pastor, replacing Father Angelovic. In July 1987, Father William Lane became Pastor. Upon Father Lane's reassignment, Father Gary Weisenberger became pastor for the next 13 years. Father Renaldo Bocateja was assigned Priest-Administrator in 2004, when Father Weisenberger left for assignment in Fife.
Fr. Hung Nguyen, our current pastor, came to St. Nicholas (Date here)
Parents began Holy Family School, an independent Catholic school, in 1995 with 14 Students in leased space at St. John Episcopal and the Assembly of God church. As the school grew, classes were added and it was apparent the school needed its own building. In 2000 the school was recognized by the Archdiocese of Catholic Schools. In 2001 it moved to its present location behind the church. Currently it serves over 200 students in grades K-8, 90 of which are from parish families.
St. Nicholas Catholic Church aspires to fulfill the threefold mission of Jesus Christ: to proclaim the Good News of God's saving lobe for all people, to establish a prayerful community of believers, and to give practical expression to the Gospel by serving the needs of others, thereby witnessing to the reality of God's saving Love.