About Christ the King · Citra, Florida
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic mission church in the small community of Citra, Florida, within Marion County. It is administered by Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala and belongs to the Diocese of Orlando. Mass is celebrated four times a week in both English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is available, and the mission is known locally for its warm parish life, Legion of Mary devotion, a weekly Soup Kitchen, and active outreach including an orphans-sponsorship ministry in Uganda and a sister-parish relationship.
- Established
- 1994
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Father Patrick J. Sheedy (Pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish, Ocala, which oversees the Christ the King mission)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Christ the King offers a small, family-feel Catholic mission that welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking families, with four Masses each week, the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Sunday Mass, and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration available throughout the week. The parish is known for the Legion of Mary devotion, a Tuesday Soup Kitchen feeding neighbors in need, Faith Formation classes for children in grades K–2 and Confirmation prep for grades 7–8, and a global outreach supporting sponsored orphans in Uganda. As a mission of the large and active Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala, parishioners draw on the wider parish's Catholic school, Trinity Catholic High School, youth ministry programs (EDGE and Life Teen), St. Vincent de Paul–style outreach (Brother's Keeper), and Ministry to the Sick, while enjoying the close-knit community life of Citra.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 3:45 pm (some bulletins list 5:15 pm)
- Sunday 9:45 am
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration available (parishioners are encouraged to commit one hour a week to the adoration chapel)
About Christ the King Catholic Mission
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Catholic mission in the rural community of Citra, Florida, in northern Marion County. Founded in 1994, the mission is administered under Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala and is one of two mission communities served by that parish. The mission's stated mission is: 'We, the community of Christ the King Catholic Church, are committed to following Christ's teachings of loving God and our neighbors, through faith, service and worship. Our mission is to seek the kingdom of God and to be an example to everyone, of God's unending love and mercy, with the help of the Holy Spirit.' The community welcomes new parishioners and winter visitors, with registration forms available in the church foyer.
Parish Staff and Clergy
As a mission, Christ the King shares its clergy with the parent Blessed Trinity Parish. The pastor of record for the mission is Fr. Patrick J. Sheedy, pastor of Blessed Trinity. Fr. Joseph Maniangat is the priest in residence at the mission and is the priest most directly serving the Christ the King community. Deacon Stephen Floyd serves as the on-site mission Administrator. Several additional deacons assist the larger Blessed Trinity community and the missions.
- Pastor: Fr. Patrick J. Sheedy (Blessed Trinity, 352.629.8092)
- In Residence / Mission Priest: Fr. Joseph Maniangat (397.4919)
- Associate: Fr. Zbigniew Stradomski
- Associate: Fr. Titus Kachinda
- Mission Administrator: Deacon Stephen Floyd (484.5619)
- Deacon James Maubach
- Deacon Heriberto Berrios
- Deacon Jose (Chepe) Perez
- Deacon Rodulfo Reverol
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation for the children of the mission is coordinated through the larger Blessed Trinity program. Faith Formation classes for grades K–2 are offered at Christ the King, and Confirmation preparation for grades 7–8 is also offered at the mission site, while grades 3–6 attend classes in English and Spanish in the Blessed Trinity school classrooms on Sunday mornings. Older youth are invited into the parish's two flagship youth programs: EDGE for middle-schoolers (grades 6–8), which meets twice a month, and Life Teen for high-schoolers, which the parish has hosted as a Life Teen parish for 20 years, including Masses, retreats, mission trips, Bible studies, and XLT nights. For more information, contact Ana Vanegas, Director of Faith Formation, at [email protected] or 352.629.8092 ext. 3222.
- Faith Formation for K–2 at Christ the King
- Confirmation preparation (grades 7–8) at Christ the King
- EDGE — middle-school youth group (grades 6–8)
- Life Teen — high-school youth ministry (Life Teen parish 20+ years)
- Contact: [email protected] / 352.629.8092 ext. 3222
Sacraments
Christ the King and its parent parish, Blessed Trinity, prepare parishioners for the seven sacraments with the support of bilingual staff and visiting priests. Baptisms and Weddings typically require class attendance and a preparation period, and homebound or hospitalized parishioners can request Communion and the Anointing of the Sick through the parish office.
- Baptism — preparation class required (Spanish classes held at La Guadalupana; English classes 2nd Tuesday 7:30 pm at Blessed Trinity Community Center)
- Marriage — minimum 4 months of preparation; call the Church Office for an appointment with a priest
- Sick Calls / Anointing of the Sick — call 352.629.8092 or Sister Juliet ext. 3211
- First Communion, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation via Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — Sun 9:45 am, Wed 3:45 pm, or by appointment
Parish Ministries and Devotions
Christ the King has a small but active core of devotional and outreach ministries that are central to its identity. The Legion of Mary meets weekly after the Wednesday afternoon Mass, fitting the missionary character of the parish, and the Tuesday Soup Kitchen (12:00–2:00 pm) has become a well-known point of service to surrounding neighbors in need. Perpetual Adoration adds a quiet, contemplative backbone to the parish's life.
- Legion of Mary — Wednesdays after the 4:00 pm Mass
- Soup Kitchen — Tuesdays 12:00–2:00 pm
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — parishioners commit one hour/week
- Faith Formation (children)
- Hall Rentals — 352.484.5619
Outreach and Charitable Works
Though a small mission, Christ the King has a notable global and local outreach footprint. The parish has raised tens of thousands of dollars to support orphans in Uganda (sponsorship cost roughly $250 per child per year, covering food, shelter, and school fees), and parishioners are invited to support a building fund for a sister parish church overseas — a recent bulletin reported about $112,646 raised toward a $260,000 goal. On the local front, Christ the King parishioners can also tap into the wider Blessed Trinity outreach ministries, including Brother's Keeper (serving those in need), Angels in Arms, and Elder Care.
- Uganda Orphans sponsorship ($250/child/year; over 119 sponsors reported)
- Sister Parish church-building campaign (raising toward $260,000)
- Brother's Keeper (Blessed Trinity outreach to those in need; 622.3846)
- Angels in Arms (Blessed Trinity; 622.6167)
- Elder Care ministry (671.2823)
Visiting, Registering, and Getting Involved
New parishioners and winter visitors are warmly welcomed and encouraged to register using forms available in the church foyer, by placing completed forms in the collection basket, online at blessedtrinity.org, or by stopping by the parish office in Ocala (Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–5:00 pm). Hall rentals for showers, birthday parties, and other events can be arranged at 352.484.5619. For Sick Calls, the parish phone line is 352.506.0282 (then key in your number) or contact the Blessed Trinity office at 352.629.8092. The parish also recommends downloading the myParish app for schedules and announcements.
- Register in the church foyer, online at blessedtrinity.org, or at the parish office
- Hall Rentals — 352.484.5619
- Sick Calls — 352.506.0282 (key in your number) or 352.629.8092
- myParish App — myparishapp.com (search 'myParish' in your app store)