About Christ the Servant Parish
The process of merging our parishes, Our Lady of Peace and Saint Paul’s, called for a new name that represents the living legacy and the future of both parishes as one. Our Churches themselves are dedicated and remain Our Lady of Peace Church and Saint Paul’s Church; however the parish itself now comes under a new title. In consultation with the pastoral and finance council of the parishes, and unanimously recommended by those present and affirmed by three members who were excused from attendance, the reconfigured parish now becomes Christ the Servant Parish. This decree became effective on the Feast of Christ the King this November 21, 2010.
Our Lady of Peace Church Community was established on June 27,1952 by the decree of Bishop Emmett M. Walsh, Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown.
Most of the early parishioners were from the parishes of St. John and St. Peter. Today about 900 families call Our Lady of Peace “Home.”
The first pastor was Fr. Paul Marceau, who began celebrating parish Mass at the chapel of Sancta Clara Monastery.
Ground was broken for the new church on November 8th 1953, the cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1954 and the first Mass was celebrated on December 8th, 1954 – the feast of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception.
A very important mission of the church began with the establishment of the Parish school in 1957. The Sisters of the Daughters of Charity staffed the school for many years, followed by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown and then by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. The school now numbers about 270 students K thru 8.
The sisters occupied the convent , built in 1957 to the west of the Church until it gradually became a Parish center, housing the school kindergarten and library and parish meeting rooms.
In 1975 major renovations were made in the Church which included the establishment of a small chapel for private prayer on the west side of the sanctuary.
In May of 1999 the new Parish Activity Center, located at the northwest end of the property, was dedicated.
St. Paul's Catholic Church of Canton started humbly in 1907 as a chapel. It was a remodeled section of the barn which stood on the property purchased that year. Sharing the barn was a temporary school, which the Sisters of the Humility of Mary volunteered to staff.
The optimism of Father Joseph M. Paulus, who organized the fledging parish, was soon dashed, however, when instead of the expected 130 families, only 30 families signed on as members. With an average monthly collection of $17, there was not enough money to build a church and not even enough children to justify a school.
By 1910 there was a new pastor, Father John F. Maloney, but the future did not look promising. The parish was not disbanded, however. From May 1911 to December 1918 the parish continued to function, recording marriages, baptisms and deaths under the signature of Father W.C. Zierolf. Although he was not a resident pastor, Father Zierolf apparently kept afloat the parish, which was comprised mostly of working families who benefited from increased work during the early years of World War I. When the parish passed to Father J.W. Schmitz, he was able to initiate a building plan for a permanent church and school.
By 1921 the church and school were completed and three years later Father J.A. Stefanic became the pastor, retaining the position until 1948.
As all long-established parishes, in the following 60 years St. Paul’s experienced growth and decline, which generally followed the economic and social patterns of the city where it was located. Throughout its history, St. Paul’s was always the “helping hand” on which people in the community could count.
The process of merging our parishes, Our Lady of Peace and Saint Paul’s, called for a new name that represents the living legacy and the future of both parishes as one. Our Churches themselves are dedicated and remain Our Lady of Peace Church and Saint Paul’s Church; however the parish itself now comes under a new title. In consultation with the pastoral and finance council of the parishes, and unanimously recommended by those present and affirmed by three members who were excused from attendance, the reconfigured parish now becomes Christ the Servant Parish. This decree became effective on the Feast of Christ the King this November 21, 2010.
The process for the transition to one worship site continued to take precedence in the pastoral care of Christ the Servant Parish and in creating a responsible reply to the future challenges of the Catholic Community.
On January 23, 2011, Monsignor Lewis F. Gaetano announced Our Lady of Peace Church as the chosen worship site for Christ the Servant Parish.
The following priests have served as pastors of our churches through their history.
| Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church |
St. Paul's Catholic Church of Canton |
| Msgr. Paul Marceau 1952-68 |
Fr. Joseph M. Paulus, 1906-1910 |
| Fr. John Rath 1968-75 |
Fr. John F. Maloney, 1910-1911 |
| Fr. William Picard 1975-78 |
Fr. W.C. Zierolf, 1911-1918 |
| Fr. Conrad Gromada 1978-83 |
Fr. J.W. Schmitz, 1918-1924 |
| Msgr. P. Breen Malone 1983-86 |
Fr. J.A. Stefanic, 1924-1948 |
| Fr. John Nentwick 1986-2005 |
Fr. Ernest J. Smith, 1948-1953 |
| Fr. Thomas Crum 2005-2009 |
Fr. Herman Klocker, 1954-1973 |
|
Fr. J. Robert Coleman, 1973-1986 |
|
Fr. Dacian Barrette 1986-1987 |
|
Fr. Joseph P. Martin 1987-2000 |
|
Fr. John Zuzik 2000-2003 |
|
Fr. Nicholas Mancini 2000-2003 |
|
Fr. Joseph Gleixner 2003-2008 |
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Msgr. Lewis F. Gaetano, Administrator and Pastor of Christ the Servant Parish, 2008-Present