About Christ the King · Jackson, Mississippi
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in West Jackson, Mississippi, within the Diocese of Jackson. Founded on October 13, 1945 and dedicated on October 26, 1947, the parish grew out of the historic Holy Ghost parish to serve the rapidly growing west-side and African American Catholic community. Located on John R. Lynch Street near Jackson State University, Christ the King has long been known as a center of Catholic life, hospitality, and social-justice witness in the capital city, and is the home parish of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Dyer (Sacramental Minister)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson (Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi)
Why belong here
Christ the King is a long-established west-Jackson parish with deep roots in the African American Catholic community and a clear identity of welcome. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 a.m., with additional weekday Masses on Wednesdays and (school) Fridays, and confession available before Mass or by appointment. The parish is also home to Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, a PreK3–6th grade ministry dedicated to character, compassion, and leadership in a Christ-centered environment — making the parish a natural choice for Catholic families in West Jackson.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before Sunday Mass (8:30 a.m.)
- By appointment
Our Story: The Founding of Christ the King
Christ the King parish traces its origin to the vision of Bishop Richard Gerow, who saw the rapid growth of West Jackson during and after World War II and wanted a new parish for the Black Catholic families of the Lynch Street corridor. On October 6, 1944 he and Fr. Joseph Eckert, SVD agreed to purchase lot 12 on Lynch Street for $8,000. Fr. Peter DeBoer was appointed on August 10, 1945 to organize the new parish, and October 13, 1945 is recorded as its official birthday. Fundraising began immediately: Bishop Gerow secured $10,000 from the American Board of Catholic Missions and the Negro and Indian Mission Board, and Fr. DeBoer raised an additional $1,000 on a trip to Wisconsin. The parish was dedicated by Bishop Gerow on October 26, 1947 before a large crowd of visiting clergy and parishioners, many of them moving over from Holy Ghost parish.
- Parish officially born: October 13, 1945
- Church dedicated: October 26, 1947 by Bishop Richard Gerow
- Lot 12 on John R. Lynch Street purchased October 6, 1944 for $8,000
- First pastor: Fr. Peter DeBoer (1945–1957)
The Church Building and Grounds
The front portion of the present church was designed by Jackson architect Jack Canizaro and built in the mid-1940s. When the original lot was cleared, several old oak trees were deliberately preserved — they still shade the property today. The first parish rectory was a humble 20-by-20 garage apartment: office, kitchen, and dining room on the ground floor, with a living room and bedroom for the priest upstairs. A frame parsonage that stood on the adjoining lot was later replaced by the current rectory.
- Architect: Jack Canizaro of Jackson
- Old oak trees preserved on the Lynch Street lot
- Original rectory: 20-by-20 garage apartment
Mass and the Sacraments
The parish's regular Mass schedule is simple and family-friendly: Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday evening Mass at 5:30 p.m., and a Friday morning School Mass at 8:45 a.m. Holy Day Mass is celebrated at 6:00 p.m. Confession is heard thirty minutes before Sunday Mass or by appointment. The parish's sacramental life reaches back to its earliest years, with the first infant baptism, the first confirmation in December 1951, and the parish's earliest weddings all part of its foundational story.
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m.
- Wednesday Mass: 5:30 p.m.
- Friday School Mass: 8:45 a.m.
- Holy Day Mass: 6:00 p.m.
- Confession: 30 minutes before Sunday Mass or by appointment
Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School
Christ the King is the home parish of Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, a PreK3 through 6th grade Catholic elementary school located at 1217 Hattiesburg Street, Jackson, MS 39209 (phone (601) 352-5441). The school is the successor of the Christ the King Pre-School and St. Mary's Elementary School, which together served the West Jackson community for more than fifty years before merging. Its mission is to provide a quality academic education dedicated to developing character, compassion, and leadership within a Christ-centered environment. The school is accredited and licensed by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Department of Health, and is named for Sr. Thea Bowman, the beloved Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration whose cause for canonization is open.
- Address: 1217 Hattiesburg Street, Jackson, MS 39209
- Phone: (601) 352-5441
- Principal: Christopher Payne
- Grades: PreK3 through 6th
- Accredited by the Mississippi Department of Education and licensed by the Mississippi Department of Health
- Named for Sr. Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A.
Supporting the School
Parishioners and friends can support Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School directly through the parish's online School Donation page or by sending a check to the school at 1217 Hattiesburg Street, Jackson, MS 39209.
- Online donation available via the parish School Donation page
- Checks payable to: Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, 1217 Hattiesburg Street, Jackson, MS 39209
Community, Identity, and the West Jackson Neighborhood
Christ the King sits on John R. Lynch Street near the campus of Jackson State University and has long been an important center of Catholic life and ministry in the city, particularly within the African American Catholic community. The Diocese of Jackson describes the parish as known for its strong spirit of faith, hospitality, and commitment to service. The early families — Filyours, Bankstons, the Hansel and M.K. Browns, Doris Allison, the Cornelius Turners, the Albert Odins, the H.H. Boutins, the Floyd Levys, the Jim Collums, and the Andersons, Halls, and Howards — set a tone of lay involvement that continues in the parish's lay leadership and parish council today.
- Located on John R. Lynch Street near Jackson State University
- Historic center of African American Catholic life in Mississippi
- Known for faith, hospitality, and service to West Jackson
Visit Us: Address, Contact, and Directions
Christ the King Catholic Church is located at 2303 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39209. The parish office can be reached at (601) 948-8867 or by email at [email protected]. From I-20, take the Ellis Avenue exit north; at the third traffic light turn right onto John R. Lynch Street, and the church is on the right at the first light. Deacon Denzil Lobo (Ecclesial Minister) and the parish secretary Maggie Spence staff the parish office alongside Fr. Joe Dyer, Sacramental Minister.
- Address: 2303 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39209
- Phone: (601) 948-8867
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: christthekingjackson.org
- From I-20: take Ellis Ave. north, then right onto John R. Lynch St. at the 3rd traffic light
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter DeBoer1945–1957
Founding pastor; previously an assistant at Holy Ghost where he taught church history. Negotiated with the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee to staff the school. Beloved for home visitations, leadership, and his German Shepherds.
- Fr. Mark Figaro, SVDfrom 1957
Successor to Fr. DeBoer; remembered as a vigorous preacher and champion of social justice; the last SVD pastor. Under his tenure the school graduated its first eighth-grade class and a new cafeteria-auditorium was built for just under $50,000.
- Fr. John Gasnereau
Followed Fr. Figaro as pastor during the parish's continuing growth.
- Fr. Joe Mercier
Served as pastor in the parish's later development, during which the first parish council was formed and lay leadership matured.
- Rev. Joseph (Joe) Dyerpresent
Current Sacramental Minister, with Deacon Denzil Lobo as Ecclesial Minister.