About St. Nicholas · Struthers, Ohio
St. Nicholas Church in Struthers, Ohio is the older of two worship sites that together form Christ Our Savior Parish in the Diocese of Youngstown. Founded in 1865 by 15 Catholic families drawn to the Mahoning Valley by the iron and steel industry, it was served first by the chaplain at Villa Maria Convent in Pennsylvania and became an independent parish under the patronage of Saint Nicholas in 1885. On July 1, 2011, St. Nicholas merged with the Slovak-founded Holy Trinity Parish to create Christ Our Savior Parish, which today sustains both church buildings and operates St. Nicholas School, a community food pantry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus Council 4471, and a robust homebound ministry serving the people of Struthers.
- Established
- 1865
- Patron
- Saint Nicholas (named in 1885 after its chaplain, Rev. Nicholas Franche of Villa Maria, Pennsylvania)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Kraszewski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Youngstown (Mahoning Deanery)
Why belong here
Christ Our Savior Parish — anchored by historic St. Nicholas Church on Fifth Street — is a tight-knit Mahoning Valley Catholic community rooted in the immigrant heritage of Struthers' iron and steel families. Parishioners worship at two beautifully preserved churches (St. Nicholas and Holy Trinity), send their children to St. Nicholas School (serving K-8 since 1928), feed neighbors through a community food pantry at Holy Trinity Church, bring Communion to the homebound, and gather in active groups including the Knights of Columbus Council 4471, Holy Name Society, Altar and Rosary Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Infant Jesus of Prague Guild, Parish Nurses, and the Moms' and Dads' Club. It is a place where 'community and coming together for the good of all' is lived out weekly.
Mass times at St. Nicholas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call the parish office (330-755-9819) to schedule confession.
Our Story — From 1865 Mission to Christ Our Savior Parish
St. Nicholas traces its origins to 1865, when a priest was assigned to serve the Catholic families who had settled near the iron mills along the Mahoning River. The first Mass was celebrated in the Grimm house on Mount Nebo. Within a few years the community built a chapel on Bridge Street and in 1871 moved up to a hilltop overlooking Lowellville Road and Yellow Creek Park — the site of John Struthers' original cabin. In 1885 Bishop Richard Gilmour of Cleveland formally erected the community as a parish and gave it the name of its longtime chaplain, Rev. Nicholas Franche of Villa Maria, Pennsylvania. Two church fires — one in 1907 and another in 1944 — destroyed earlier buildings; the present St. Nicholas Church was begun with a groundbreaking on July 8, 1945 and had its cornerstone laid November 25, 1945. In 2011 Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. merged St. Nicholas with neighboring Holy Trinity Parish to form Christ Our Savior Parish, retaining both church buildings for worship.
St. Nicholas School
St. Nicholas School opened in 1928 on what had been Creed Farm land and has operated continuously ever since. Originally staffed entirely by Sisters of the Ursuline Order under the direction of its first principal, Sister Charles Hoffman, O.S.U., the school added classrooms in 1950 to accommodate growing enrollment and now welcomes lay teachers alongside religious. Today St. Nicholas School serves K-8 students from across the greater Youngstown area as the parish school of Christ Our Savior Parish. Principal Elizabeth (Betty) McCullough — herself a 22-year veteran of the school — leads a faculty committed to the highest standards of Catholic education.
- Address: 762 Fifth Street, Struthers, OH 44471
- Phone: 330-755-2128 | Fax: 330-755-2129
- Principal: Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) McCullough
- Email: [email protected]
- Serving K-8 students from across the Youngstown area since 1928
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Christ Our Savior Parish offers a full CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program, weekly Bible Study beginning September 11, 2025, and a new Youth Ministry Program launching in September 2025 for high school students. Registration forms for the 2025-26 CCD year and the 2025 Youth Ministry year, along with a Parent Handbook, are available on the parish website. The Religious Education office can be reached at 330-755-6245.
- 2025-26 CCD Registration Form (available on cosparish.org)
- 2025 Youth Ministry Registration Form
- Parent Handbook 2025
- Bible Study begins September 11, 2025
- Youth Ministry launching September 2025 for high schoolers
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Christ Our Savior Parish is animated by a wide array of lay groups that serve worship, fellowship, and outreach. Liturgical ministries include Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, sacristans, greeters, gift bearers, choirs, musicians, and ushers. Spiritual and service organizations include the Holy Name Society, Altar and Rosary Society, Infant Jesus of Prague Guild, Parish Nurses, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus Council 4471, and the Moms' and Dads' Club of St. Nicholas School.
- Altar and Rosary Society — Priscilla Carlucci
- Holy Name Society — Jeff Jenci
- Infant Jesus of Prague Guild — Ann Bobby
- Knights of Columbus Council 4471 — Grand Knight Steve Vernarsky; meets 1st & 3rd Mondays
- Moms' and Dads' Club — Brent Hannai
- Parish Nurses — Donna Carchedi
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Joann Burgmyer
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers
- Catholic Men's Fellowship, Christ Renews His Parish retreats
- Marriage Preparation and Counseling
- Bereavement Help and a Crocheting/Knitting Group
Outreach: Food Pantry, Homebound Ministry, and Giving
Service to neighbors in need is a hallmark of the parish. The Christ Our Savior Food Pantry is housed at Holy Trinity Church and is open Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, sponsored by the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society and open to anyone in the community who needs assistance. A homebound ministry brings Holy Communion to parishioners unable to attend Mass. The Parish Nurses organize an annual coat and food drive and the Christmas Giving Trees, while the St. Vincent de Paul Society personally reaches out to Struthers-area individuals and families in need regardless of faith.
- Food Pantry at Holy Trinity Church — Mondays 9:30–11:30 AM
- Sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Homebound Ministry (Communion visits)
- Annual coat and food drive
- Christmas Giving Trees
- Donations accepted in collection boxes at the back of both churches
Parish Staff
Christ Our Savior Parish is led by Pastor Rev. Thomas Kraszewski, with Rev. Bernard R. Bonnot serving as Pastor Emeritus and Deacon John Terranova assisting in diaconal ministry. Elizabeth (Betty) McCullough is principal of St. Nicholas School, and Gerald (Jerry) Land serves as Director of Religious Education. Matthew L. White is Director of Music. A team of parish secretaries supports the office, bulletin, billing, fundraising, and Scrip programs.
- Rev. Tom Kraszewski — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Bernard R. Bonnot — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon John Terranova — Permanent Deacon
- Elizabeth (Betty) McCullough — School Principal
- Gerald (Jerry) Land — Director of Religious Education (330-755-6245)
- Matthew L. White — Director of Music
- Rosie Hollen — Asst. Office Manager, Bulletin Editor, Billing
- Katie Harold — School Secretary
Contact and Visit
The parish office is located at 764 Fifth Street, Struthers, Ohio 44471, alongside the school and Great Hall on the same block overlooking the Mahoning River. Office hours and Mass/Confession appointments can be arranged by phone at 330-755-9819. The parish can be reached by email at [email protected].
- Parish Office: 764 Fifth Street, Struthers, OH 44471-1765
- Phone: 330-755-9819 | Fax: 330-755-9949
- Emergency line: 330-755-9810 ext. 111
- Religious Education: 330-755-6245
- School: 330-755-2128
- Pirohy Orders: 330-755-0064
- Email: [email protected]