About Christ the King Cathedral · Lubbock, Texas
Christ the King Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock, located at 4011 54th Street in Lubbock, Texas. The parish grew out of a Catholic school built in 1957–58 on the southern edge of Lubbock amid cotton fields, was formally erected as a parish on January 1, 1961, and was chosen as the cathedral church when Pope John Paul II created the Diocese of Lubbock on June 17, 1983. The cathedral campus includes Christ the King Diocesan Schools (Pre-K through 12), a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and a range of faith-formation and outreach ministries serving about 1,000 Massgoers each weekend.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jose Kochuparambil, JV (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lubbock
Why belong here
Christ the King is the spiritual heart of the Diocese of Lubbock — the place where the bishop celebrates major liturgies, ordinations, and the annual Patronal Feast Day Mass. A family-sized community of about 1,000 weekly Massgoers gathers here for reverent English-language liturgy, daily Mass, Saturday confessions, and a Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24/7. Parents can send their children to Christ the King Diocesan Schools (Pre-K through 12) right on the same campus, and parishioners are served by a full faith-formation program (OCIA, youth ministry, Confirmation preparation), choirs, outreach ministries, and the wider diocesan events hosted at the cathedral.
Mass times at Christ the King Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the chapel (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
About Christ the King Cathedral
Christ the King Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock, located at 4011 54th Street in Lubbock, Texas. The parish was formally erected on January 1, 1961, and the church was built in 1968 to serve a growing Catholic population in South Lubbock. In 1983 the Diocese of Lubbock was created by Pope John Paul II and Christ the King was chosen as its cathedral — the seat from which the diocesan bishop ministers. The cathedral is home to Christ the King Diocesan Schools (Pre-K through 12), a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and a full range of faith-formation and outreach ministries. The parish's mission statement centers on continuing the mission of Jesus through worship, formation, community, and service.
- Parish mission: 'We, the people of Christ the King Cathedral parish, continue the mission of Jesus…'
- Located at 4011 54th Street, Lubbock, TX 79413
- Phone: (806) 792-6168
- Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch)
History of the Parish and Cathedral
The story of Christ the King begins in 1957, when parishioners of St. Elizabeth's Church in Lubbock pledged the funds to build a Catholic school on a cotton field on the southern edge of the city. Christ the King School opened in 1958, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California, and quickly grew from grades 1–3 to include elementary grades. The school building itself doubled as worship space for the new mission until a separate church could be built. The community was formally established as Christ the King Parish on January 1, 1961, with Fr. Drury as first pastor. The first Mass in the new brick church was celebrated on Christmas Eve 1968, and the church was dedicated the following year.
- 1957 – School groundbreaking (pledged by St. Elizabeth parishioners)
- 1958 – Christ the King School opens; Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange staff it
- January 1, 1961 – Parish formally erected; Fr. Drury first pastor
- December 24, 1968 – First Mass in the new church
- 1968–69 – Church dedicated
- June 17, 1983 – Diocese of Lubbock created; Christ the King becomes cathedral
- January 1983 – Rectory adapted as episcopal residence
- 1998 – Sanctuary remodeled in keeping with post-Vatican II norms
- 2019 – High-school grades move to a diocesan model
- 2022 – Elementary and high schools unified as Christ the King Diocesan Schools
Architecture and Campus
The cathedral is a modern, single-story brick church completed in 1968, notable for its stained-glass windows, prominent bell tower, and a sanctuary remodeled in 1998 to reflect post-Vatican II liturgical arrangements. The campus includes Christ the King Diocesan Schools (Pre-K through 12), a rectory that serves as the bishop's residence, a separate Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the diocesan Catholic Center, and ample free parking.
- Style: Modern, brick
- Stained-glass windows
- Bell tower
- 1998 sanctuary remodeling
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel on site
- Free parking around the campus
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Jose Kochuparambil, JV, who was assigned as Rector on August 1, 2021. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Wesley Beal (assigned July 1, 2020) and a deacon team: David Close, Benny P. Phillips (retired), Gary Simmons, Steve Tjia (retired), and Michael Steen. The diocesan bishop is Most Rev. Robert Milner Coerver (third Bishop of Lubbock, appointed by Pope Francis in 2016). Lay staff include Marcy Gonzalez (secretary), Marivel Villarreal and Monica Lopez-Cedillo (faith formation), and Kathy Felts (OCIA).
- Rector: Very Rev. Jose Kochuparambil, JV
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wesley Beal
- Deacons: David Close, Benny P. Phillips, Gary Simmons, Steve Tjia, Michael Steen
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. Robert Milner Coerver
- OCIA Coordinator: Kathy Felts
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at Christ the King is offered for all ages. Kathy Felts coordinates the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for those entering or returning to the Catholic Church. Children's faith formation (Parish School of Religion) and youth ministry — including Life Teen and Confirmation preparation — are coordinated by Marivel Villarreal and Monica Lopez-Cedillo. The parish also prepares couples for marriage and offers ongoing adult enrichment through the diocese's Renew and Christian Formation programs.
- OCIA (formerly RCIA)
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Life Teen youth ministry
- Confirmation preparation
- Adult faith formation
- Marriage preparation
Christ the King Diocesan Schools
Christ the King Schools are the only Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lubbock and trace their history to 1957–58, when the school was built on a cotton field and staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The school grew from grades 1–3 to a full Pre-K through 12 program. In 2019, Bishop Coerver transitioned the high-school grades to a diocesan model, and in 2022 the elementary and high schools were unified as Christ the King Diocesan Schools, supported by parishes across the diocese.
- Pre-K through 12th grade
- Only Catholic school system in the Diocese of Lubbock
- Founded 1957; originally staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
- Unified as diocesan schools in 2022
Music and Liturgy
The cathedral supports an active music ministry with adult and children's choirs that lead the congregation at weekend Masses, holy days, and special diocesan liturgies. Liturgical ministries also include altar servers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Adult choir
- Children's choir
- Altar servers
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
Parish Outreach and Organizations
Outreach is a core part of the cathedral's mission, in partnership with diocesan Catholic Family Services and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Knights of Columbus, and Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The parish supports ministries to the poor, families in need, and the Hispanic Catholic community throughout the South Plains.
- Knights of Columbus council
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
- Catholic Family Services
- St. Vincent de Paul-style outreach to the needy
Diocesan Role
As the cathedral of the Diocese of Lubbock, Christ the King is the seat of the diocesan bishop and the site of the major liturgies of the diocese. The cathedral hosts the annual Patronal Feast Day Mass with the bishop, the Chrism Mass during Holy Week, ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate, and the diocesan-wide Kaleidoscope of Faith gathering. The Diocese of Lubbock covers 25 counties in West Texas, carved in 1983 from the Dioceses of Amarillo and San Angelo, and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
- Mother church of the Diocese of Lubbock
- Hosts the bishop's principal liturgies, ordinations, and the Chrism Mass
- Diocese established June 17, 1983 by Pope John Paul II
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Antonio
Visiting the Cathedral
Visitors are warmly welcomed at Christ the King Cathedral. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed for lunch). The public may attend any Mass, come for Saturday confessions from 3:00–5:00 PM, or spend time in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Points of interest include the stained-glass windows, bell tower, the historical marker noting the cathedral's 1958 founding and 1983 elevation, and the outdoor statue of St. Francis surrounded by insects symbolizing humility. The campus is fully accessible with ample free parking.
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed for lunch)
- Stained-glass windows and bell tower
- St. Francis statue on the grounds
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel open 24/7
- Free accessible parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Drury1961 –
First pastor of Christ the King Parish at its formal erection on January 1, 1961; the new parish initially worshipped in the school building.
- Various successive pastors
The cathedral's official website and parish bulletin list a succession of pastors between the 1960s and 2021, but individual names and terms are not consistently published online.
- Very Rev. Jose Kochuparambil, JV2021 – present
Current Rector, assigned August 1, 2021; assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Wesley Beal (assigned July 1, 2020) and a deacon team.
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