Our Lady of Peace Church was established on June 27, 1952, by the decree of Bishop Emmett M. Walsh, Bishop of the Youngstown Diocese.

Most of the early parishioners came from the parishes of St. John’s and St. Peter’s. The first pastor, Father Paul Marceau, began celebrating parish mass at the Sancta Clara Monastery Chapel.

Ground was broken for the new church on November 8, 1953, the cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1954, and the first mass was celebrated on December 8, 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, Ohio, and then by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. The sisters resided in the convent, built in 1957. Presently, the school numbers around 200 students in Grades K through 5 supporting a diverse population.

In May of 1999, a new Parish Activity Center, located at the northwest end of the property, was dedicated. Alumni Hall, the Gymnasium, serves both the school and the wider community.

In 2012, the church began an extensive renovation program, incorporating important mementos from the former St. Paul’s Canton Church.

St. Paul’s Catholic Church of Canton started humbly in 1907 as a chapel, a remodeled section of the barn which stood on the property purchased that year. A temporary school shared the barn which the Sisters of the Humility of Mary volunteered to staff.

The optimism of Father Joseph Paulus, who organized the fledgling parish, was soon dashed 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, with a new pastor, Father John F. Maloney, the future still did not look promising. However, the church was not disbanded, and from May 1911 to December 1918, the parish continued to function, recording marriages, baptisms, and deaths. Although not a resident pastor, Father W.C. Zierolf kept afloat the parish, which comprised mostly of working-class families. When the parish passed to Father J.W. Schmitz, he initiated a building plan for a permanent church and school.

By 1921, the church and school were completed.

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. Throughout its history, St. Paul’s was always the “helping hand” on which people of the community could count.

The process of merging the two parishes on one campus called for a new name that represented the living legacy and the future of both parishes and respected the dedication of Our Lady of Peace and St. Paul’s. Christ the Servant was the chosen name for the parish.

The process for the transition to one worship site continued to take precedence in the pastoral care of Christ the Servant and in creating a responsible reply to the future challenges of the Catholic community.

On January 23, 2011, Pastor 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 the two churches throughout their history:

Christ The Servant Parish

Msgr. Lewis F. Gaetano 2008-22 - Now Pastor Emeritus

Fr. Scott Kopp 2022-24

Fr. Daniel Finnerty 2024-Present