150 yeaRS OF CATHOLICISM

150 yeaRS OF CATHOLICISM

In Struthers

Early history: John Struthers settled in the Ohio Valley in the 1790s, naming his settlement Marbletown, which prospered with Hopewell Furnace, an iron mill, in the early 1800s. From 1797-1817, Catholic Daniel Shehy and his family, who were among the first settlers, had no priest. Irish and German immigrants, many Catholic, arrived. In Northeast Ohio, Catholics went from 606 in 1820 to 43,000 in 1860. In 1865, John Struthers’ son, Thomas, returned to Marbletown, which was renamed Struthers. That year, a priest was assigned there; the first Mass was in the Grimm house on Mount Nebo. The community bought land for a church, later building a chapel on Bridge Street, near the current post office. In 1871, the group moved to a hilltop near Yellow Creek overlooking Lowellville Road and Yellow Creek Park, where John Struthers’ cabin once stood. It became St. Nicholas parish in 1885 to honor its chaplain, the Rev. Nicholas Franche of Villa Maria, Pa.

Early 1900s: The Valley’s steel industry attracted immigrants and St. Nicholas had an influx of Italian parishioners. In 1907, fire destroyed the church at 45 Lowellville Road and a larger one was built. Catholic Slovak Union’s Struthers-based, St. Michael the Archangel Branch 259, formed Feb. 28, 1897. In 1900, about 103 Struthers Slovak Catholic families bought land on West Washington Street. By Sept. 22, 1907, they founded Holy Trinity Church, where the cornerstone was laid Oct. 7, 1907. A school began with Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Pittsburgh as teachers.

1920s and ’30s: Because of population growth, St. Nicholas opened a school on Creed Farm land that opened in 1928.

1940s: In 1943, the Diocese of Youngstown was formed. In 1944, St. Nicholas burned down. Groundbreaking was July 8, 1945, and the cornerstone placed Nov. 25, 1945, at the site on Fifth Avenue.

1950s-’60s : Holy Trinity parishioners planned a church, school, rectory and convent on Bridge Street with groundbreaking April 21, 1952. On May 31, 1953, the cornerstone was laid. In 1961, 211 students were in Holy Trinity School.

1970s: In 1974, the first St. Nicholas Festival took place. Youngstown Sheet and Tube closed Sept. 19, 1977, affecting Struthers.

1980s-’90s: Construction of St. Nicholas all-purpose building began; it was later renamed the Great Hall. St. Nicholas School enrollment decreased. St. Nicholas elementary building was leased in 1988 to a day care. Holy Trinity School also dealt with decreasing enrollment, resulting in the Vincentian faculty leaving. In 1986, a St. Nicholas son-of-the-parish, Timothy McCarragher, who was completing seminarian training in Rome, served in the Vatican’s Christmas Midnight Mass for St. John Paul II. In 1985, the Rev. Stephen Karas of Holy Trinity began a 3R Capital Campaign to renovate the church. Declining enrollment closed Holy Trinity School in 1991.

2000s: In 2010, the diocese implemented a plan to close, consolidate and merge churches. St. Nicholas and Holy Trinity merged as Christ Our Savior Parish. In 2012, the parish undertook a three-year Preserving Our Past, Ensuring Our Future capital improvement campaign. There are multiple religious, social and service organizations that engage parishioners in the mission of the parish. Liturgical ministries include Eucharistic ministers, gift bearers, greeters, leaders of prayer, lectors, choirs, musicians, sacristans, servers and ushers. Spiritual growth ministries include Bible study, Catholic Men’s Fellowship, Christ Renews His Parish with annual retreats, marriage preparation and counseling, religious education and family and youth ministries. Service and social ministries included are bereavement help, crocheting and knitting group, Giving Tree at Christmas, Holy Name Society, home visitor, Moms and Dads Club of the school, parish nurses and St. Vincent de Paul. The Rev. Bob Bonnot, pastor, said St. Vincent groups at the two sites help all people in need in the community. Stewardship activities that raise funds include bingo three times a week, St. Nicholas Festival, dinners and picnics, Night at the Races, pirogi sales and 300 Clubs. There also is a Catholic Committee on Scouting for Catholic Boy and Girl Scouts to earn religious awards.

Source: Church history