St. Nicholas Parish, Jacobs Creek, PA To Celebrate Restoration of Fire Damaged Church

October 18, 2002

JACOBS CREEK, PA - Members of all parishes and all clergy are invited to join the parish family of St. Nicholas in Jacobs Creek, PA to celebrate the restoration of their church after a fire in January 2001. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas and pastor Rev. Father Daniel Montville have announced the following information for Saturday, May 10, 2003: Services begin at the church at 10 AM and include blessing of the church interior and icons and a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Immediately following, approximately 12:30 to 1 PM, a brunch will be served at the Holiday Inn in Belle Vernon, located on PA Route 51.

As one of the smallest of our Diocesan parishes, they were grateful for the support of their sister parishes of the diocese in raising funds for this restoration. As much work as possible was volunteer labor of the parishioners, including clean-up, carpentry and various other skills. This is reminiscent of the work of many since deceased coal miners whose volunteer labor constructed the current brick building in the 1960's. Also the contract bid estimate was higher than the final payment the contractor requested. With these additional efforts, the insurance and donated funds provided all necessities.

When the local mines were active decades ago, this parish had many hundreds of members. Many members worked at the Darr mine, site of the worst coal mining disaster in PA history with 239 killed on December 19, 1907. However, giving up a day's pay, the members of the parish were attending the St. Nicholas Holy Day Liturgy when the ground shook at the time of the accident. The saving of the lives of these coal miners is represented in the Miracle of St. Nicholas icon located in the Greek Catholic Union's Carpathian wooden style chapel located in Beaver, PA.

Jacobs Creek is located near the intersection of Interstate 70 and PA Route 51. In New Stanton, the PA Turnpike splits off as a separate Interstate 70 about 15 miles from this intersection. Follow PA Route 981 through Smithton. The cost of the brunch will be $15. To have an estimate of the number of meals to be served, if you are likely to attend, please contact Becky Bobich at 724-872-6509.