Christ the King Catholic Church
We continue to grow, as we build, bless, and become the Body of Christ.
Christ the King Parish Facts:
- Established under the Diocese of Tucson on September 19, 1959.
- Comprised the eastern part of Mesa and included the underdeveloped areas (including Apache Junction at the time).
- Became part of the Diocese of Phoenix when the diocese was established in 1969.
- Father John Cullinan, our founding pastor, was appointed on September 21, 1959.
- Sunday Mass was offered in the cafeteria of East Junior High School.
- Beginning of 1960 Masses moved to the Mesa Knights of Columbus Hall on Broadway (now the Community Center).
- The new church (now part of the school) and four classrooms were dedicated by the Most Rev. Francis J. Green D.D. on Sunday, January 22 1961.
- Presentation Hall was designed and constructed Bishop Green dedicated the new facility on the Feast of Christ the King, November 22, 1981.
- St. Peregrine Cancer Shrine dedicated on November 22, 2009.
Christ the King School Facts:
- Four additional classrooms and the convent (now the Parish Center) were completed in 1964.
- September of 1964 - space was made available for a school to open with grades one through six.
- 1964 - Fr. Cullinan invited four Presentation Sisters from Ireland to staff the school.
- 1966 - students for grades seven and eight were recruited.
- May 1967 - first graduating class.
- 1979- Kindergarten added.
- The Presentation Sisters continued to teach and staff the school until 1988.
Pastor History
Father John Coleman
Pastor from 1993 to 2000
Father Chris Carpenter
Pastor from 2000 to 2006
Father Steven Kunkel
Pastor from 2006 to 2014
Father Matthew Henry
Pastor from 2014 to 2016
Father Rolyn Francisco
Current Pastor
Pastor from 2016 to Present