Rev. John P. Nickas

(Asbury Park Press)

REV. JOHN P. NICKAS
AGE: 68 WHOSE SISTER LIVES IN TOMS RIVER
Rev. John P. Nickas, 68, passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, in Turkey. Father Nickas was most recently made Pastor Emeritus in 2005 of St. Peter Claver Church, Montclair, where he served as pastor from 1996-2004, where he founded the Healing Mass, and belonged to the Health Ministry, Peace Action, and Homecall, which provides housing for the poor. He also continued his work as coordinator of of the AIDS Ministry for the County of Essex for the Archdiocese of Newark. He was residing in the Msgr. James Kelley Residence in Caldwell since 2004. Fr. Nickas became pastor of St. Rocco's Church, Newark on Sept. 16, 1977. As a pastor of the church, he began many community outreach programs. He worked with homeless men and families, founding two shelters in 1981 in the City of Newark to help fill the needs of the homeless. He was the director of the homes in 1986. He was the founder of St. Rocco's children center (1981) and founder and executive director of The Learning Experience Alternative High School, Newark. In 1972, he founded St. Joseph's Day Care Center, Newark, and in 1973 he founded St. Ann's Community Day Care Center. During his tenure as pastor, St. Rocco's Church was designated a National Historic Landmark. Father Nickas was a founding member, Board of Trustees of Coalition 6, Newark, a group of six Catholic Churches that addressed the problems of the community. He served on the boards of the YM-YWCA, Newark; the Community Nursing Association, East Orange; Urban Housing Corporation, Newark and Project Live, Newark. He was president of the Board of Trustees of St. Ann's Community Day Care Center, Newark. Father Nickas served as a member of the Coalition for the Homeless, Newark; the Essex County Council for the homeless, Mental Health Task Force; The Collaboration Group, Newark, the Central Ward Coalition of Youth. Born in Newark, he was raised in Maplewood and was a graduate of Our Lady of Sorrows School, South Orange, then graduated from Seton Hall Prep and Seton Hall University in 1962. He then studied for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Newark on May 28, 1966 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. He earned a Master of Divinity degree on Pastoral Ministry at Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1975 and studied for a doctorate at Drew University. Father Nickas also has done graduate work at Seton Hall University, Kean College, Rutgers University, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Arizona. His first pastoral assignment was to the Blessed Sacrament Church, Franklin Lakes, where he spent a year from 1966-1967, when he was assigned to St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, Newark, until 1969. He then became assistant pastor of St. Rocco's Church. In September 1970, he was in residence at St. Ann's Church, Newark, where he served in various capacities until he became pastor of St. Rocco's Church. He then became pastor and pastor Emeritus at St. Peter Claver Church, Montclair.
He was predeceased by his parents, John and Helen Nickas; a brother, Harry Nickas; and a sister, Virginia Kuhn. He is survived by his sister, Anne Marie McGovern of Toms River; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be from 2 p.m. Sunday until the Vigil Prayer service at 6 p.m. at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove St., Montclair. Visiting hours will also be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Aloysius Church, Caldwell, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass celebrated by Archbishop John J. Myers. Interment will be at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah. Donations in lieu of flowers to Msgr. James Kelley Residence, 247 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell, NJ, 07006, in his memory, would be appreciated.