October 03, 2025

St. Nicholas School in Passaic Celebrates 85 Years of Faith and Learning

This Sunday, October 5^th, St. Nicholas School celebrates its 85 years. It brings together children of many backgrounds as one family in God. Guided by prayer each day, teachers help students learn to love, protect, and care for one another — continuing a tradition of faith and community for 85 years.

Eighty-five years is more than a number — it is thousands of lessons taught, prayers lifted, songs sung, and friendships formed within the walls of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Passaic, NJ. Since opening its doors in 1940, the school has woven together faith, culture, and academic excellence for generations of students.

Today, as it marks this milestone anniversary, St. Nicholas looks back with gratitude and forward with hope, continuing its mission to light the path for young hearts and minds.

Sr. Kathleen Hutsko, principal of St. Nicholas School in Passaic, alumni, and parish voices, share about the mission that has guided 85 years of Catholic education. About the traditions kept alive through prayer, service, and… music.

“Our mission is to inspire, captivate, and develop young minds so that they will grow not only educationally but also spiritually and socially. Providing lifelong Christian values is highlighted by our Byzantine Ukrainian rite. Every teacher and staff member believes in this motto: a child is not a vessel to be filled but a lamp to be lit.”

That vision is supported by Sr. Cecilia, a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate who teaches religion at St. Nicholas. “Our Religion curriculum aims to help foster each one’s growth in God’s tremendous love for him or for her and to be able to pass the faith on to future generations.”

“I believe St. Nicholas School has remained a strong, viable environment of faith-filled education for several reasons: the vision of the parish priests; the dedication and fidelity of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate; the sacrifices of our well-qualified teachers; the loving generosity of the parishioners, and our parents desire for a quality faith-filled education for their children.”

St. Nicholas opened its doors and hearts to the Ukrainian immigrants that came to the U.S. in the early 1900’s to nurture the language, history and tradition, but also to provide them with an education and skills to succeed in the new world. In 2022, SNUCS doors and hearts were again opened to provide that security, peace of mind and a quality education for the Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland as Russia waged war upon the Ukrainian people.

However, St. Nicholas opens its doors to all races, ethnic backgrounds and believes it becomes richly tapestried as the embroidered ritual cloths adorning the icons in our churches.

According to Sister Kathleen, music has always been a vital tradition. “At one time the school boasted not only of a chorus but an orchestra as well. Our beautiful folk songs, carols, and sacred music are part of our rich, national heritage, and we have tried to preserve them for future generations”, she states.