History & Mission

CROATIANS IN PITTSBURGH AREA

New immigrants from Croatia, coming to America recruited primarily to work in steel mills and mines, grouped together for support. Many lived and worked in small communities: Allegheny, Etna, Lawrenceville, and Millvale in the Pittsburgh area

FIRST CHURCH ESTABLISHED

Leaders in the Croatian community in Allegheny organized a parish that would nurture their Catholic faith and preserve the Croatian language and customs. St. Nicholas Church, located in the city of Allegheny (currently comprising the North Side and North Shore of modern day Pittsburgh), was the first Croatian Church established in America in 1894.
Bishop Richard Phelan of the Diocese of Pittsburgh was receptive to the idea of building a new church for the growing numbers of Croatians. The place selected as most convenient by Fr. Franjo Glojnaric, pastor, was Bennett Hill in Millvale.
Taking into consideration the number of Croatians in Etna, Lawrenceville, and Millvale, this appeared to be the most logical and accessible location. To undertake such a goal is evidence of the young energy and love of Church of our Croatian ancestors.

Bishop Phelan authorized Fr. Glojnaric to proceed with the building of the church. Bennett Hill was owned by William J. Mellon. This parcel of land was purchased for $7,500 on October 16, 1899. On the hill there were two frame buildings, one a farmhouse and the other a barn. The farmhouse became the rectory, and the barn was used for meetings.

PLANS FOR A NEW CHURCH MADE

A meeting, which took place in the barn on January 21, 1900, was the starting point for the building of the future of the Millvale parish. Complete plans for the new church were presented to the parishioners by Fr Glojnaric. He informed those present that the Bishop had seen the plans and had approved them. The cost of the church would be approximately $24, 000.

There were 192 parishioners present. All agreed to the plans and authorized that $20,000 be spent on the new church. All insisted that the materials used must be the best. It was also agreed that a central heating system be installed as well as electric lights. The difficulty was that in those days Millvale did not have electricity.
At the end of this meeting it was suggested that the barn be remodeled and that Mass be celebrated there. Some of the parishioners thought it would not be proper to say Mass in the barn, but Fr. Glojnaric answered, "Christ was born in a barn... ". It was then agreed to secure the Bishop's permission to use the barn and to procure an altar.

Permission was received from Bishop Phelan and on March 4, 1890, the first Mass was celebrated in the remodeled barn by Fr. Glojnaric .
Committees were then selected to supervise the building of the new church and to collect donations to finance the project.
 

MOVING OF THE PARISH HOUSE

After consideration, it was decided that the church be built where the rectory (former farmhouse) stood. The house was moved for $1,035. This cleared the place to build the church on the top of the hill as it was originally planned.
 

CHANGING OF CHURCH PLANS

Because of continuing controversy and misunderstandings as to where to build the church, plans where changed. The church was shortened in length twenty feet, thus reducing the cost of building almost in half.
Finally on June 3, 1900, the contract was signed to build the church. Sauer was the architect and Murphy Brothers, the contractors. A few days later the altar, the pews, and the bells were ordered at the cost of about $2,360.
 

​DEDICATION OF THE CORNERSTONE

The cornerstone was dedicated on May 15, 1900. A collection was taken which amounted to $797.97 (in those days a large amount). In addition, many parishioners loaned money to the parish at 4 percent interest.
 

BLESSING OF THE NEW CHURCH

After many meetings, discussions, and often bitter struggles, the Croatians were finally able to see their dreams realized. They were able to see their new church located on the "beautiful hill". It was constructed in Romanesque style and seated 550 persons. Its splendor was enhanced by the gift of a $2,000 organ from Andrew Carnegie.
On November 25, 1900, the parishioners, Croatians from the area, friends and various organizations assembled on the "hill" to celebrate the first Holy Mass in the newly constructed church, named St. Nicholas.
The cost of the church including land purchase, pews, church furnishings, and parish house expenses was $33,838. Since the total collection of money including loans from parishioners amounted to $11,141.44, the remaining debt of the church was $23,000.
 

​THROUGH THE 20th CENTURY

Because the size of the Croatian community in Pittsburgh was so great, and as a result of the distance from Allegheny on the North Side to Millvale, a second parish also named St. Nicholas was authorized by Bishop Phelan. In a similar time frame, St. Nicholas North Side was established along East Ohio Street on what is now Route 28.

On March 26 1921, at two o'clock in the morning, fire destroyed the church in Millvale. The organ, which had been donated by the late Andrew Carnegie, was burned to ashes. Everything waS ruined, except for a statue of the Virgin Mary, which remained standing at the altar.

Following the fire, Father Josip Gabriel Soric, in residence at the time, built a provisory altar in the hall and began holding services there until May 30 1922 when a new structure was dedicated.

A part of the $50,000 loss was covered by insurance, so plan to build a new church were drawn immediately by architect Sauer. Many parishioners were employed in the building of the new structure and about $20,000 were paid to them in wages.

Both parishes flourished during the rest of the century as separate entities, each with its own school, convent and staff consisting of two priests each, and teaching staff of nuns.