August 26, 2009

Platteville church to mark 120 years

PLATTEVILLE, Colo.—St. Nicholas Church is preparing to celebrate its 120th anniversary beginning at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 30 with a procession carrying an icon of St Nicholas, a bilingual Mass, picnic and games. Everyone is invited.

St. Nicholas of Myra Church, located at 514 Marion Ave., was built in 1889. According to early records of the church, services were held in family homes as early as 1885. When the original church was completed, the first Mass was offered on Jan. 29 by Father James G. Hickey. Fifteen charter families are listed.

To replace the first church a new church was erected and completed in 1946 just one-half block west of the original site. St. Nicholas Church was a mission church of St. Augustine’s Church in Brighton from 1887 to 1920. A rectory was built in 1920 and Father Miles Sweeney became the first resident pastor.

In late 1920, Father John Shea became pastor and served until 1942. St. Nicholas Parish continues to use the beautiful chalice that was a gift to Father Shea when he was ordained in 1915.

In 1942 Father Thomas Doran became pastor and under his leadership the present church was completed in 1946. Father John Scannell served as pastor of St. Nicholas and the mission of St. Williams in Fort Lupton until 1955. He painted the church before the beautiful carving of St. Nicholas was place in the niche above the doors.

Fort Lupton experienced rapid growth and a new church with an apartment for the priest was built there. St. Nicholas became a mission of St. Williams and was served by many faith-filled pastors living in Fort Lupton, including Father Greg Mirto.

In June 2002, Father William Smith was appointed pastor of both St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist Church in Johnstown. St. Nicholas once again received the designation of a parish.

Father Emilio Franchomme was appointed pastor in June 2007 and continues to serve St. Nicholas Parish. In June 2009 newly ordained Deacon John Volk was appointed to assist Father Franchomme with both parishes.

Melvin Camp, the oldest parishioner of St. Nicholas Parish, celebrated his 100th birthday this past January. St. Nicholas has 290 registered families. In addition to two Masses on Sundays, Mass on Mondays and Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on First Fridays, St. Nicholas offers a religious education program for children, adult faith formation classes, Bible studies and is a partner of the Weld Food Bank.