About Christ the King · Deerfield, Kansas
Christ the King is a small Roman Catholic mission parish located at 812 Main Street in Deerfield, Kansas, in the Diocese of Dodge City. With roughly 50 registered households, it is a rural community served by a single weekly Mass celebrated on Saturday evening. The mission is pastored as part of a tri-parish grouping along with St. Anthony Church in Lakin and St. Raphael Church in Syracuse, sharing clergy and administrative staff across the three communities.
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Tran (Tran)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Dodge City
Why belong here
Christ the King is a tight-knit rural mission parish in western Kansas where the faith of about 50 households is celebrated in an intimate weekly Saturday Vigil Mass. The mission is part of a tri-parish collaboration with St. Anthony in Lakin and St. Raphael in Syracuse, sharing pastoral ministry and Christian Initiation support — meaning parishioners benefit from connected clergy and faith formation programs while still gathering as a small local community. With a DRE and a Director of Christian Initiation on staff, the parish offers formation for children and sacramental preparation for those entering the Church.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
About Christ the King Mission
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic mission parish in the small western Kansas town of Deerfield, entrusted to the pastoral care of the Diocese of Dodge City. With about 50 registered households, it is one of the smaller worshipping communities in the diocese and offers a single weekly Mass to its members. The mission belongs to a tri-parish grouping that also includes St. Anthony Church in Lakin and St. Raphael Church in Syracuse, and shares pastoral and administrative staff across the three towns.
- Located at 812 Main Street, Deerfield, KS 67838
- Approximately 50 registered households
- Member of a tri-parish collaboration: St. Anthony-Lakin, St. Raphael-Syracuse, Christ the King-Deerfield
- Roman Rite, Diocese of Dodge City
Patron and Feast
The parish takes its name from Christ the King — the title given to Jesus in the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 through the encyclical Quas Primas, and is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of the liturgical year.
- Patron: Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Feast: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
- Established as a feast by Pope Pius XI in 1925
Clergy and Staff
Christ the King is currently pastored by Rev. Peter Tran, who also serves as Pastor of St. Anthony Church in Lakin and St. Raphael Church in Syracuse, and additionally holds the role of Pastor/JCL with Tribunal Ministry for the diocese. Day-to-day parish coordination and faith formation are handled by a small team of lay staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Peter Tran (Tran) — phone 620-355-6405
- Parish Secretary: Laurel Horton
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Lisa Gannett — phone 620-355-6611
- Director of Christian Initiation: Karen Burden — phone 620-355-6388
Tri-Parish Collaboration
Because Christ the King is a small mission, it shares its pastor and key formation staff with St. Anthony in Lakin and St. Raphael in Syracuse. The parish's mailing address and primary office phone route through St. Anthony Church, which serves as the administrative hub for the three communities.
- St. Anthony Church — 600 Soderberg St, PO Box 983, Lakin, KS 67860 (hub parish)
- St. Raphael Church — Syracuse, KS
- Christ the King — 812 Main St, Deerfield, KS
Faith Formation and Christian Initiation
Religious education for children and the parish's Christian Initiation (RCIA) ministry are supported by two named lay leaders, with phone numbers published in the diocesan directory. Families interested in enrolling children in religious education or adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Catholic Church are encouraged to contact the parish through St. Anthony's office.
- DRE: Lisa Gannett — 620-355-6611 (Religious Education)
- Director of Christian Initiation: Karen Burden — 620-355-6388 (RCIA / adult sacraments)
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach Christ the King through the St. Anthony office in Lakin, which handles administration for the tri-parish grouping. The parish secretary, Laurel Horton, is the main point of contact for routine parish business, and the church is located on Main Street in Deerfield.
- Parish office / mailing: 812 Main Street, PO Box 455, Deerfield, KS 67838-0455
- Alternate correspondence: c/o St. Anthony Church, 600 Soderberg St, PO Box 983, Lakin, KS 67860-0983
- Office phone: 620-355-6405
- Pastor line: 620-426-7444
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Rene Labrador
Listed as Pastor of Christ the King, Deerfield on a 2016 directory entry (unitedstateschurches.com, last updated April 10, 2016).