About Christ the King · Houtzdale, Pennsylvania
Christ the King Parish is a Roman Catholic community located at 123 Good Street in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. The parish was established in 1970 through the merger of three historic Houtzdale parishes — St. Lawrence (Irish), St. Barbara (Polish), and Sacred Heart of Jesus (Slovak) — and a new parish church was dedicated in 1978 on the property of the former Sacred Heart. Today Christ the King worships alongside its affiliated mission, Immaculate Conception Church in nearby Osceola Mills, under the pastoral care of the Diocese of Erie. The parish serves a multi-generational Catholic community rooted in the immigrant and coal-mining heritage of central Pennsylvania's Clearfield County, offering daily and weekend Masses, the sacraments, faith formation, and a variety of parish councils and committees.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Johnathan Schmolt
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania
Why belong here
Christ the King offers a stable schedule of daily and weekend Masses, weekly Saturday confession, and a family of ministries — from faith formation for children and adults to Bible study, a Pastoral Council, an Evangelization Committee, and a Fundraising Committee — all under the care of a resident pastor and parochial vicar. The parish also partners with Immaculate Conception in Osceola Mills and St. Agnes and St. Basil in the surrounding area, giving members a wider community of fellow Catholics across rural Clearfield County. For anyone moving to the Moshannon Valley or returning to the practice of the faith, the parish extends a warm welcome rooted in over 50 years of local Catholic heritage.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. (Christ the King, Houtzdale)
Parish History
Christ the King Parish was established in 1970 through the merger of three historic Houtzdale parishes — St. Lawrence (Irish), St. Barbara (Polish), and Sacred Heart of Jesus (Slovak) — under the leadership of Father Leonard Kuziora. A new parish church was dedicated in 1978 on the property of the former Sacred Heart, whose building was renamed Grace Chapel. The merger reflects the immigration history of Houtzdale as a coal and lumber town, and elements of all three original churches — stained-glass windows, patron-saint statues, bells, and even portions of walls — are preserved in today's building.
The Diocese of Erie
Christ the King is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, which covers 13 counties of northwest Pennsylvania and was established in 1853. The parish is listed by the diocese as established in 1970 and is registered with the address 123 Good Street, Houtzdale, PA 16651. In March 2026 the diocese formally linked Christ the King with St. Agnes Parish (Morrisdale) and St. Basil Parish (Coalport), assigning Rev. Cory Pius as parochial vicar for all three partnered parishes.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Johnathan Schmolt, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Cory Pius (assigned March 2026 to also serve St. Agnes and St. Basil). Permanent Deacon Eugene J. Miller serves as Deacon Assistant. Retired clergy in residence include Rev. Joseph Staszewski and Rev. Stephen Collins. Pauline Raab is the parish support staff member, and Casandra Kitko is the Religious Education Leader.
Parish Staff
- Rev. Johnathan Schmolt — Pastor
- Rev. Cory Pius — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Eugene J. Miller — Deacon Assistant
- Rev. Joseph Staszewski — Retired
- Rev. Stephen Collins — Retired Resident
- Pauline Raab — Support Staff
- Casandra Kitko — Religious Education Leader
Sacraments
Christ the King prepares parishioners for and administers the seven sacraments on a regular schedule. Baptisms are arranged by calling the rectory for an appointment. Couples planning to marry should contact the office at least six months before the anticipated wedding date. The Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish for oneself or a loved one. Confession is offered weekly before the Saturday Vigil Mass and by appointment.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for the children and adults of Christ the King is coordinated through Religious Education Leader Casandra Kitko and the diocesan Faith Formation Office. The partnered parishes of Eastern Clearfield County share a Faith Formation Director (FFD) whose ministry includes catechetical programming, sacramental preparation, youth ministry, and adult faith formation (retreats, small groups, Bible studies). Faith Formation programming follows the General Directory for Catechesis, the National Directory for Catechesis, and the diocesan standards, with strict adherence to the Diocese of Erie's Child Protection policies.
Parish Life & Ministries
Parish life at Christ the King centers on a working network of councils and committees that draw on parishioner leadership. The weekly bulletin lists recurring gatherings such as Bible Study, Pastoral Council, Evangelization Committee, and Fundraising Committee meetings, as well as community dinners and social events hosted at the parish or its mission church. Stewardship is a regular theme in parish communications, and the parish maintains an active social media presence via its Facebook page.
Parish Organizations & Groups
- Pastoral Council
- Evangelization Committee
- Fundraising Committee
- Bible Study (Thursday evenings)
- Stewardship Committee
- Community Dinner program
- Safe Environment / Child Protection team
Visiting Clergy & Special Events
- Hosting of well-known Catholic speakers such as Fr. Larry Richards
Partner Parish: Immaculate Conception, Osceola Mills
Christ the King shares pastoral ministry with Immaculate Conception Mission Church at 408 Stone Street, Osceola Mills. The two parishes share a bulletin, office staff, and clergy. Immaculate Conception has its own weekday Mass schedule (Thursday evening and special-feast Masses), confession by appointment, a community dinner series, and a soup social after Mass. Visitors to either church can worship at either site as part of the same faith family.
Immaculate Conception Schedule (Osceola Mills)
- Weekend Mass: check bulletin
- Weekday Mass: check bulletin for Thursday schedule
- Confession: by appointment
- Community Dinner: Tuesday 4:30 p.m.
- Soup Social: after Thursday 5:30 p.m. Mass
Visit, Contact & Office
Parishioners and visitors can reach Christ the King at 123 Good Street, Houtzdale, PA 16651. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The phone number is (814) 378-7653, and email is [email protected]. The parish is also active on Facebook at facebook.com/ctkic, and the official website at ctk-ic.org hosts the current bulletin, parish news, Mass schedule, and a link to the Discover Mass digital bulletin.
Office & Contact Information
- Address: 123 Good Street, Houtzdale, PA 16651
- Phone: (814) 378-7653
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ctk-ic.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/ctkic
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Leonard Kuziora1970 (founding pastor)
Led the 1970 merger of St. Lawrence (Irish), St. Barbara (Polish), and Sacred Heart of Jesus (Slovak) parishes into Christ the King Parish.