About Christ the King · Jacksonville, Florida
Christ the King Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, situated at 742 Arlington Road N. in the Diocese of St. Augustine. The parish is notable for its trilingual liturgical life, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese every week, and for its associated Christ the King Catholic School (K–8, 'Home of the Ravens') and CTK Early Learning Center on the same campus. Under the leadership of Monsignor James R. Boddie, Jr. — the first African American ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of St. Augustine and the State of Florida (1978) — the parish combines a traditional Catholic devotional schedule (daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, First Friday Nocturnal Adoration) with active youth, music, and ethnic-ministry programs.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Msgr. James R. Boddie, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
Christ the King offers an unusually rich devotional and cultural life for a single parish in Northeast Florida: eighteen scheduled Masses each week in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, plus a daily Mass schedule and a robust Eucharistic Adoration program that includes Nocturnal Adoration on First Fridays. Families can enroll children in the parish school (K–8, founded 1954) or the Early Learning Center on the same Arlington Road campus, while adults can take part in OCIA, an adult handbell choir, and active ethnic ministries — including the Vietnamese Cultural Center and Spanish liturgy community — supported by two parochial vicars, a deacon, and a permanent staff of religious educators, musicians, and youth ministers.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
- Sunday: 20 minutes before every Sunday Mass
- Anytime upon request — call the rectory to schedule an appointment
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Chapel)
- Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Chapel)
- Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Chapel)
- Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (all day, Chapel)
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Chapel)
- First Friday of the month: Nocturnal Adoration, 6:00 p.m. – midnight
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Msgr. James R. Boddie, Jr., and is served by two parochial vicars, a permanent deacon, and a lay staff that together run faith formation, music, youth ministry, and parish operations. Contact information for each staff member is published in the Diocese of St. Augustine directory and on the parish website.
- Pastor: Msgr. James R. Boddie, Jr. ([email protected]) — appointed 2014.
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Tan 'Bernie' Dang, CRM ([email protected]).
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carl Maes, SHM ([email protected]).
- Deacon: Deacon George Barletta — also Business Manager, Coordinator of OCIA, and Director of Ministries ([email protected]).
- Secretary: Nikki Wallace ([email protected]).
- Director of Religious Education: Sandy Hill ([email protected]).
- Director of Music: Edith Moore Hubert / 'Edie' ([email protected]).
- Director of Youth Ministry: Claudia Danger ([email protected]).
History of the Parish
Christ the King Parish was established in 1954 in Jacksonville's Arlington neighborhood and grew alongside its school, Christ the King Catholic School, which has served K–8 students on the same campus ever since. Over the decades it has become one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in Northeast Florida, with a Vietnamese community gathered around the Vietnamese Cultural Center initiated by Bishop Thanh T. Nguyen in 2000 and opened in 2007. The parish's current pastor, Msgr. James R. Boddie, Jr., first served Christ the King as a Parochial Vicar (1979–1980) and returned as pastor in 2014.
- Parish established 1954; parish school founded the same year.
- Vietnamese Cultural Center (Trung Tâm Lạc Việt) initiated 2000; grand opening 2007.
- Msgr. Boddie served Christ the King as Parochial Vicar 1979–1980.
- Monsignor Boddie received Papal Honors from Pope Francis in 2022.
- Msgr. Boddie appointed Pastor of Christ the King in 2014.
Music & Liturgical Arts
The parish describes itself as 'home to a very active and vibrant music ministry,' with choirs and ensembles in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese — including an Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Youth Group ensemble, and an Adult Handbell Choir built around a 3.5-octave set of Schulmerich handbells. Repertoire spans Gregorian chant, traditional hymns, and contemporary compositions; the ability to read music is welcomed but not required for most groups.
- English Adult Choir — leads the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, Holy Days, and special services.
- Children's Choir (English) — grades 1–8, usually sings at the 9:00 a.m. Children's Mass and on major feasts; rehearsals include musicianship and solfege.
- Spanish music ministry — vocalists, guitarists, and percussionists for the 7:00 p.m. Sunday Spanish Mass.
- Vietnamese music ministry — St. Joseph Choir (Ca Đoàn Thánh Giuse) and Loving & Faith Children's Choir (Ca Đoàn Tin Yêu) for Saturday 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m. Vietnamese liturgies.
- Youth Group Music Ministry — contemporary praise and worship ensemble for the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Teen Mass.
- Handbell Choir — teens and adults; rehearses Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Vietnamese Ministry & Cultural Center
The Vietnamese community at Christ the King is organized around the Vietnamese Cultural Center (Trung Tâm Lạc Việt), which has been the heart of religious, social, and cultural activity since Bishop Thanh T. Nguyen's inception in 2000 and its grand opening in 2007. The community gathers for Saturday 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m. Vietnamese Masses (with extra liturgies on Solemnities and First Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.), and supports youth formation, language classes, choirs, women's and men's prayer movements, and the Vietnamese Pastoral Council.
- Eucharistic Youth Movement (Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể) — cultural and spiritual activities for Vietnamese youth.
- Vietnamese Language and Culture Classes — offered during religious education hours.
- St. Joseph Choir (Ca Đoàn Thánh Giuse) — adult choir for Vietnamese Masses.
- Loving & Faith Choir (Ca Đoàn Tin Yêu) — children's choir, sings every second Sunday.
- Vietnamese Catholic Women Movement (Hội Các Bà Mẹ Công Giáo) — monthly prayers and sharing.
- Sacred Heart Movement for Men (Hội Liên Minh Thánh Tâm) — monthly prayers and sharing.
- Ministers of the Word, Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers, Hospitality Team, and Altar Servers.
- Cultural Center also serves as an entertainment venue and rental facility; Vietnamese culinary sales help fund its upkeep.
Faith Formation, Youth & OCIA
Faith formation at Christ the King spans parish Religious Education under Sandy Hill, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults entering the Church coordinated by Deacon George Barletta, and a High School Youth Ministry that meets Sunday evenings after the 5:00 p.m. Teen Mass. Altar Servers — coordinated by Deacon George — are open to any youth in fifth grade or higher who has received First Communion.
- Director of Religious Education: Sandy Hill ([email protected]).
- Coordinator of OCIA: Deacon George Barletta.
- Director of Youth Ministry: Claudia Danger ([email protected]).
- High School Youth Ministry nights: dinner and sharing after the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass until 8:00 p.m.
- Altar Servers: youth 5th grade+ who have received First Communion; serves weekend and seasonal Masses.
Christ the King Catholic School & Early Learning Center
Sharing the Arlington Road campus with the parish, Christ the King Catholic School has educated Jacksonville children since 1954 and today enrolls approximately 360 students in grades K–8 under the motto 'Home of the Ravens.' The school is fully accredited through the Florida Catholic Conference, operates under the Diocese of St. Augustine, and is staffed by State of Florida-certified teachers (or those holding Letters of Endorsement from Superintendent Conway). The CTK Early Learning Center complements the K–8 program on the same grounds.
- Christ the King Catholic School: founded 1954, K–8, 'Home of the Ravens', ~360 students, Florida Catholic Conference accredited.
- CTK Early Learning Center — (904) 724-7239.
- School Mass celebrated in the church on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m.
- School website: https://ctkschooljax.com/
Visiting, Sacraments & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors and new parishioners at the Rectory Office, located on the church campus at 742 Arlington Road N., Jacksonville, FL 32211. Mass and confession schedules, devotions, and contact information are all available online, and the parish also publishes links to live-streamed and televised Masses through the Diocese of St. Augustine, EWTN, CatholicTV, and Sirius/XM radio for the homebound.
- Rectory Office phone: (904) 724-0080; Fax: (904) 724-3340.
- General email: [email protected].
- Pastor email: [email protected].
- Marriage, Baptism, Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory.
- Confession appointments available on request.
- Live-streamed Mass: Diocese of St. Augustine YouTube channel.
- Televised Mass: EWTN (daily 8:00 a.m.), CatholicTV (Sunday 10:00 a.m.).
- Getting there: Arlington Expressway to Arlington Road exit; church and school on the corner at Arlington Road and Larkin Road.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. James R. Boddie, Jr.2014–present
First African American ordained a Catholic priest in the Diocese of St. Augustine and the State of Florida (May 28, 1978); served earlier at Christ the King as Parochial Vicar, 1979–1980; received the title of Monsignor from Pope Francis in 2022; appointed Pastor of Christ the King in 2014.