About Christ the King · Cambridge, Minnesota
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Cambridge, Minnesota community in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Located at 305 Fern Street North, the parish is the lead church of the Isanti Area Catholic Community (IACC), a three-parish cluster formed in 2013 with Sts. Peter & Paul in Braham and, since 2014, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Isanti. Sharing clergy and ministries across the cluster, Christ the King offers weekend vigil Mass, weekday liturgies, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a full faith-formation program for children, youth, and families.
- Established
- c. 1940s
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Peter VanderWeyst
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Cloud
Why belong here
Christ the King offers the faithful of Cambridge and the surrounding area a full sacramental life — Saturday vigil Mass, Tuesday and Friday weekday Masses, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and regular confession — within a tight-knit, multi-generational community. As the anchor parish of the Isanti Area Catholic Community, it shares faith-formation programs, music, and charitable outreach with neighboring St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Isanti and Sts. Peter & Paul in Braham, giving families a wider circle of Catholic fellowship across Isanti County. Active ministries for children (Family Formation K–6), youth (LifeTeen 7th–11th), Confirmation, Liturgy and Music, and the Knights of Columbus mean there are concrete ways for newcomers to get involved.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. (Christ the King, Cambridge)
- Tuesday 5:15 p.m. (Christ the King, Cambridge)
- Friday 9:00 a.m. (Christ the King, Cambridge)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Christ the King, Cambridge)
About Christ the King Catholic Church
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish at 305 Fern Street North in Cambridge, Minnesota, part of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. The parish worships, forms disciples, and serves the local community in partnership with the two other parishes of the Isanti Area Catholic Community. The parish publishes regular updates through Flocknote (email and text) and a parish bulletin.
History of the Parish and the Isanti Area Catholic Community
Christ the King has served the Cambridge area for approximately seven decades, producing two priestly vocations (Fathers Aaron and Matthew Kuhn). In 2013, the parish entered a cluster with Sts. Peter & Paul in Braham under a single pastor, Fr. Donald Wagner; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Isanti joined in 2014 to form the Isanti Area Catholic Community (IACC). The cluster has weathered the 2022 diocesan restructuring — including a successful petition that spared Sts. Peter & Paul from merger — and welcomed Bishop Patrick Neary for a pastoral visit in January 2024.
- c. 1940s: Parish founded in the Cambridge, Minnesota area.
- 2010: Father Matthew Kuhn ordained; only the second priest ever ordained from Christ the King.
- July 2013: Christ the King and Sts. Peter & Paul, Braham, cluster under Fr. Donald Wagner.
- July 2014: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Isanti, joins to complete the IACC.
- 2018: Cluster's parochial vicar departs; weekend Masses reduced from six to three.
- 2022: Diocesan restructuring plan announced; Braham saved from merger after parishioner research.
- January 2024: Bishop Patrick Neary conducts pastoral visit to the IACC.
Leadership, Clergy and Staff
Christ the King is pastored by Rev. Peter VanderWeyst, who serves as the current pastor of the Isanti Area Catholic Community. The parish is assisted by two deacons, Rev. Mr. Gene Kramer and Rev. Mr. Vince Charles, and supported by a small lay staff including the secretary/bookkeeper and facilities manager.
- Pastor — Rev. Peter VanderWeyst
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Gene Kramer
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Vince Charles
- Secretary/Bookkeeper — Patty Miller
- Facilities Manager — George Bemis
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Christ the King is structured around a family-based model that serves children, youth, and parents together. Programs are run cluster-wide under the 'One Accord' umbrella introduced by Fr. Don Wagner, and the community has since adopted the Pathways Family Faith Formation program highlighted in Bishop Neary's January 2024 pastoral visit.
- Family Formation — Kindergarten through 6th Grade
- LifeTeen — 7th through 11th Grade
- Confirmation preparation
- One Accord — combined family faith-formation program across the IACC
- Pathways Family Faith Formation program
Liturgy, Music and Prayer Life
The parish maintains an active Liturgy and Music ministry that supports the weekend vigil, weekday Masses, and Friday Eucharistic Adoration. Father Matthew Kuhn, a Christ the King native, was known for singing in parish choirs and at Cambridge-Isanti High School before his ordination.
- Liturgy and Music ministry
- Friday Eucharistic Adoration (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at CTK)
- Shared perpetual adoration in the Mercy Chapel at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Parish Ministries, Guilds and Outreach
Christ the King supports a range of parish organizations and volunteer opportunities. Lay groups include the long-standing Christ the King Women's Guild and the local Knights of Columbus council, both of which have hosted parish events such as vocations receptions and festival activities.
- Knights of Columbus
- Christ the King Women's Guild
- Volunteer and Ministry Opportunities
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church, including regular opportunities for Reconciliation before weekend and weekday Masses. Sacramental preparation for Confirmation is offered through the parish faith-formation program, and parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office for Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Eucharist (weekend and weekday Masses)
- Reconciliation (Saturday, Tuesday and Friday at CTK)
- Confirmation preparation
- Baptism, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick (by appointment through the parish office)
Getting Involved and Staying Connected
The parish encourages newcomers and visitors to sign up for Flocknote, the cluster's email and text communication system used for Mass-schedule updates, faith-formation announcements, and parish news. Volunteer and Ministry Opportunities are listed on the parish website, with roles spanning liturgy, faith formation, hospitality, and outreach.
- Flocknote — email and text updates from the parish
- Volunteer and Ministry Opportunities page on ctkcambridgemn.com
- Cluster-wide bulletin published by the Isanti Area Catholic Community
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Donald (Don) Wagner2013 – c. 2018
First pastor of the Isanti Area Catholic Community; oversaw the 2013 Christ the King / Sts. Peter & Paul cluster, the 2014 addition of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the launch of the 'One Accord' family faith formation program.
- Rev. Peter VanderWeystcurrent
Current pastor of Christ the King and the Isanti Area Catholic Community.