Christ Our Savior Parish in Struthers consists of two historical communities—both of which were primarily immigrant families drawn to the area by the iron and steel industry. The older community, St. Nicholas, was formed in 1865, including 15 Catholic families who were being served by the chaplain at Villa Maria Convent in Pennsylvania. In 1870, the community became a mission and began construction of a church building, which was completed a year later. The mission’s leadership changed hands between various Youngstown parishes and Villa Maria Convent, until it became a parish in 1885 with the patronage of Saint Nicholas. The history of the community was rife with challenges—and no fewer than three church fires—but it persevered, expanding, opening a school run by the Ursuline Sisters in 1928, and opening and maintaining several buildings.

The second community, Holy Trinity, was formed by 103 Slovak immigrant families in 1907. They had been traveling five miles to Cyril and Methodius Church, so they appealed to the Bishop of Cleveland, who approved the building of a parish. Their church building was dedicated on December 7, 1910. A school opened the same year and was originally staffed by Humility of Mary Sisters, but the Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Pittsburgh soon took over because they were more familiar with the Slovak language.By the time Holy Trinity Parish observed its 25th anniversary in 1932, 11 women from the parish had become Vincentian Sisters, and three had become Humility of Mary Sisters. When the Diocese of Youngstown was created in 1943, the Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Bedford, Ohio, replaced the Vincentian Sisters of Pittsburgh as school faculty. They served until 1983, and the school closed in 1991, due to declining enrollment.

The communities merged on July 1, 2011, under the name Christ Our Savior. Today, they have a community food pantry at Holy Trinity Church, a robust homebound ministry, coat and food drives and parish groups such as the Knights of Columbus Council 4471 and the Holy Name Society. St. Nicholas School continues to serve K-8 students in Youngstown to this day. Parishioners at Christ Our Savior Parish believe in the importance of community and coming together for the good of all. They are collaborating with Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lowellville.

Description from The March of the Eucharist, 2nd edition (2025) published by The Catholic Echo