About Christ the King · Belton, Texas
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Belton, Texas, in the Diocese of Austin, serving the Belton–Temple community of central Texas. The parish proclaims its mission: "To grow the Body of Christ, by Word and Sacrament, bringing people to God." Worship is offered in both English and Spanish (with the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass celebrated in Spanish), and the parish runs a full range of faith formation, youth ministry, music, and outreach programs, including a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, Knights of Columbus Council/Assembly, Edge middle school youth ministry, Confirmation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Vacation Bible School, and the annual Springfest fundraiser.
- Established
- 1969
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Father Sang Quan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Christ the King offers a bilingual worship community (English and Spanish), daily and Sunday Masses with Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a robust sacramental life — including OCIA (formerly RCIA), First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation, and Confirmation. Families are supported by Edge (middle school youth ministry), Sunday Night Lights (high school youth ministry), the King's Chorus and Coro en Español choirs, and faith formation for every grade, while outreach runs through a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, Knights of Columbus Council and 4th Degree Assembly #2766, Meals on Wheels, and Belton Helping Hands. The parish is also a community-builder, with the annual SpringFest weekend — featuring Loteria Night, live music, food booths, a live auction, and a $5,000 raffle — as a joyful gathering for the entire Belton–Temple area.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM
- Thursday: 5:30 PM to 6:15 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Friday: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Our History
The parish traces its roots to 1876, when a small number of Belton residents purchased land for a mission church that was built in 1898 as a mission of St. Mary's in Temple (Diocese of Galveston). After the property was sold to Belton ISD in 1959, five acres were purchased in north Belton. Father Frederick Schmidt, C.S.C., administered the new Christ the King Mission under the new Diocese of Austin and built the 1969 multipurpose Christus Center. Successive priests — Dussan, Johnson (first Pastor), Goertz, Meiller, Chatham, Msgr. Adomanczyk, Davis, Boiko, Vaz, Dean, Hudson, Misko, Kim, and currently Fr. Sang Quan — have shaped a campus that now includes a 1998 'new Church,' a Religious Education Center, the Christus Center, a Family Life Center, and the rectory.
- 1876 — land purchased for Catholic mission at 6th Ave. and N. East St.
- 1898 — small frame mission church built
- 1959 — original mission property sold to Belton ISD; five acres purchased in north Belton
- 1969 — Fr. Frederick Schmidt builds the Christus Center
- 1974 — first Pastor, Fr. Oliver Johnson, breaks ground for fellowship hall with classrooms
- 1988 — Fr. Charles Davis renovation: stained glass windows by parishioners, new pews, new rectory
- 1998 — Fr. Rocky Vaz builds the 'new Church' and the Religious Education Center
- 2009 — City of Belton honors the parish for its 40th Anniversary
- 2019 — parish celebrates its 50th jubilee with Bishop Joe Vasquez
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Director of Faith Formation (Patricia St. Amour) coordinates sacramental preparation, weekly religious education, and adult formation. Programs run through the school year and serve children, youth, and adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA) is offered in both English (classroom 206) and Spanish (classroom 207) beginning in September, and culminates with reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- Patricia St. Amour — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Religious Education for elementary grades
- First Reconciliation preparation (2nd grade)
- First Holy Communion preparation (2nd grade)
- RCIC for children over 8 not yet baptized (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation at Easter Vigil)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults (English and Spanish)
- Adult Confirmation (8-week formation)
Youth Ministry
Christ the King runs a comprehensive middle and high school youth ministry rooted in the Life Teen model. Edge is the Catholic middle school program for grades 6–8, meeting Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Family Life Center; it is led by a trained Core Team of adult volunteers. Sunday Night Lights is the high school program and the home of the Confirmation journey for 10th–12th graders; Confirmation adds an 8-week preparation on top of Sunday Night Lights.
- Elizabeth Ordner — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Edge — 6th through 8th grade (Wednesdays 6–8 PM in the Family Life Center)
- Edge Core Team — trained adult volunteers
- Sunday Night Lights — high school youth ministry
- Confirmation — 8-week program for 10th–12th graders
Music & Liturgy
The Music Ministry supports every Sunday liturgy with volunteer cantors, choir singers, and instrumentalists. Two main choirs anchor the program: the King's Chorus, which sings for many 10:30 AM Masses and special feasts, and the Coro en Español for Spanish-language liturgies. Lisa Hynes serves as Coordinator of Sacred Music and Benjamin Vazquez as Sacred Music (Español). The parish also participates in an annual Diocesan combined choir concert and is part of the Diocese of Austin's new network of children's choirs for students in grades 4–8.
- Lisa Hynes — Coordinator of Sacred Music ([email protected])
- Benjamin Vazquez — Sacred Music (Español)
- King's Chorus — 10:30 AM Mass and special feasts
- Coro en Español — Spanish-language Masses
- Annual Diocesan combined choir concert
- Diocesan children's choir network for grades 4–8
Outreach & Charity
Outreach at Christ the King flows through parish ministries, the parish-based St. Vincent de Paul Conference, and partnerships with local nonprofits. The parish has a long history of Meals on Wheels service and assisting Belton Helping Hands, and continues to host the SVdP Food Pantry and utility-assistance program as a direct service to neighbors in need.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference (established September 2022, contact 254-444-2556 or [email protected])
- SVdP Food Pantry — 1st Wednesday 3–5 PM and last Saturday 9–11 AM in the portable building
- Utility Bill Assistance Program
- Friends of the Poor Walk (annual, Fall)
- Meals on Wheels team
- Helping Hands Food Ministry parish liaison
- Belton Literacy volunteer team
- Respect for Life ministry
Knights of Columbus & Men's and Women's Groups
The parish is home to a Knights of Columbus Council and the 4th Degree Assembly #2766, formed in 2001 under Fr. Dick Hudson. The Women's Ministry (a Diocesan Council of Catholic Women affiliate) and the men's 'That Man is You' program round out the parish's adult spiritual life. Bi-monthly meetings, fellowship events, and service projects are coordinated through these groups.
- Knights of Columbus Council
- Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly #2766
- Women's Ministry / DCCW
- That Man is You men's ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
SpringFest & Parish Events
SpringFest is Christ the King's largest annual fundraiser and a weekend-long community celebration typically held on the first weekend of May. It opens Saturday evening with Loteria Night (Mexican Bingo) in the Family Life Center and continues Sunday on the parish grounds with food booths, kids' games, a live auction, a plant sale, a Catholic book exchange, and live music — past line-ups have included Leon River Band, a mariachi trio, and DJ Rockin Rick. A raffle drawing has featured a $5,000 Visa gift card grand prize. Other signature events include Vacation Bible School (summer, Family Life Center) and an annual Flag Day Celebration.
- SpringFest weekend — Loteria Night Saturday; festival Sunday
- $5,000 Visa gift card raffle grand prize
- Live music (Leon River Band, mariachi trio, DJ Rockin Rick)
- Plant sale and Catholic book exchange
- Vacation Bible School (summer, Family Life Center, $20 per child)
- Flag Day Celebration (annual)
Lumen Gentium Award
The Lumen Gentium Awards were inaugurated by the Bishop to recognize parishioners who exemplify the spirit of Christ, and have been given every other year at Christ the King. Honorees have included couples and individuals active across virtually every parish ministry — Knights of Columbus, Women's Ministry, extraordinary ministers, lectors, acolytes, St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Springfest committees, Bible studies, Respect for Life, jail ministry at the Bell County Jail and Crane Unit, the homebound, and the bereavement committee.
- 2006 — Robert and Alma Trevino
- 2007 — The Children of Pedro and Tiburcia Jimenez
- 2008 — Jerry Simpson, Sr.
- 2009 — Suzi Rockwood
- 2010 — Gabriel and Teresa Quinones
- 2011 — John and Joan Gillette
- 2012 — Dan and Lita Daniel
- 2013 — Diane Waite
- 2015 — Tom and Wanda Slye
- 2017 — Ronnie and Karen Hinze
- 2021 — Pete Trevino
- 2023 — Bob and Colleen Saxon
Parish Team & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Father Sang Quan and served by Deacons Rudy Sepulveda and Gustavo Escruceria. The lay staff coordinates parish operations, faith formation, youth ministry, music, communications, accounting, and maintenance. The parish office is open Monday 1:00 PM–5:00 PM and Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed Saturday and Sunday).
- Fr. Sang Quan — Pastor ([email protected])
- Dcn. Rudy Sepulveda — Deacon
- Dcn. Gustavo Escruceria — Deacon ([email protected])
- Krista Kaulfus — Director of Parish Operations
- Patricia St. Amour — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Elizabeth Ordner — Youth Ministry Coordinator ([email protected])
- Lisa Hynes — Coordinator of Sacred Music ([email protected])
- Benjamin Vazquez — Sacred Music (Español)
- Jackie Rodriguez — Maintenance Coordinator ([email protected])
- Elida Castro — Parish Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Maria De Leon — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Mary Helen Rodriguez — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Receptionist — [email protected]
- Communications — [email protected]
- Religious Education Elementary — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frederick Schmidt, C.S.C.1969–1972
Bilingual Holy Cross priest from New York City; first administrator of the Christ the King Mission under the new Diocese of Austin; in 1969 built the multipurpose building now known as the Christus Center.
- Fr. Luis Dussan1972–
Succeeded Fr. Schmidt as administrator of the Christ the King Mission.
- Fr. Oliver Johnson1970s
Mission Administrator; first Pastor of Christ the King Parish; purchased a house on 15th Avenue for use as a rectory; in April 1974 broke ground for the fellowship hall with five classrooms, large room, and kitchen.
- Fr. Victor Goertzfrom 1979
Succeeded Fr. Johnson.
- Fr. Vaughn Meiller1979–
Succeeded Fr. Goertz.
- Fr. Donald Chatham1980s
Purchased property for the site of the new church.
- Msgr. Marion Adomanczyk1980s
Succeeded Fr. Chatham.
- Fr. Charles Davis1987–1988+
Conducted a major renovation of the church interior including stained glass windows constructed by parishioners, installed new pews, and built a new rectory in March 1988.
- Fr. John Boikolate 1980s/1990s
Succeeded Fr. Davis.
- Fr. Rocky Vaz1990s
Built the Religious Education Center under the direction of Tom Vitek and parish volunteers; in 1998 built the 'new Church' attached to the original building and the Religious Education building.
- Fr. Harry Deanlate 1990s–early 2000s
Succeeded Fr. Vaz.
- Fr. Richard 'Dick' Hudson2001–~2010
Instituted Acolytes and Altar Servers, formed the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly (#2766), renovated the original 'Day Chapel,' purchased two portable buildings; instrumental in celebrating Christ the King's 40th Anniversary.
- Fr. James Misko2010–2014
Led Main Sanctuary renovation, Day Chapel renovation (the day chapel had been destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and renamed the Christus Center), Administrative Offices and Parish Hall renovations, landscape beautification, hiring of a Director of Youth Ministry and Director of Faith and Formation, and elevated SpringFest.
- Fr. John Kim2014–2019
Demonstrated 'geekish' and frugal capabilities.
- Fr. Sang Quan2019–present (Administrator July 2019, Pastor June 2020)
Current pastor; led the establishment of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in 2022 and guided the parish's spiritual renewal and capital campaign.