About Christ the King · Jersey City, New Jersey
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bergen Hill section of Jersey City, New Jersey, located at 768 Ocean Avenue. Founded on July 3, 1930, it holds the distinction of being the first Black Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Newark, built by and for Black Catholics during the Great Migration. Nearly a century later, it remains an active faith community in Hudson County offering weekend and weekday Masses, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), religious education for children, Eucharistic adoration, and a wide range of ministries and prayer groups. The parish is pastored by Rev. Fr. Esterminio 'Mino' Chica and continues to identify itself with the motto 'Ninety-five years of Faith, Hope and Love.'
- Established
- 1930
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Esterminio 'Mino' Chica
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Newark
Why belong here
Christ the King welcomes all who are seeking a place to worship and serve. The parish offers Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, weekday Masses Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM, and Eucharistic adoration every Thursday evening, plus the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and OCIA for adults. Members are encouraged to share their time, talent, and treasure through ministries such as the Men's Prayer Group, Women's Bible Study, the Adult and Youth Choirs, Religious Education for children, the Pastoral Council, and the Finance Council — making Christ the King a true community of faith, hope, and love.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays before the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Masses
- Thursdays at 7:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday at 7:00 PM
Parish History & Heritage
Christ the King is the first Black Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Newark. It was announced at a public meeting on July 3, 1930 at P.S. 14 on Union Street in Jersey City, after the first Mass celebrated by Father Joseph A. Shovlin on July 6, 1930 in John E. White's funeral home at 767 Ocean Avenue. Bishop Thomas J. Walsh dedicated the new church on December 20, 1931, and within two years the parish had grown to more than 1,200 members. Ninety-five years later it remains a living landmark of Black Catholic faith in Jersey City, identified by the motto 'Ninety-five years of Faith, Hope and Love.'
- Founded July 3, 1930
- Cornerstone laid October 26, 1930 by Monsignor John A. Duffy
- Dedicated December 20, 1931 by Bishop Thomas J. Walsh
- First Black Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Newark
- Major benefactors: John and Margaret Smith ($50,000); baptismal font donated by Dr. Lena Edwards Madison
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, a priest-in-residence, a weekend associate, and a deacon, alongside a pastoral associate, business manager, and office manager. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The parish phone number is (201) 333-4862 and the fax is (201) 433-0352; the general email is [email protected].
- Pastor — Rev. Fr. Esterminio 'Mino' Chica ([email protected])
- Priest-in-Residence — Rev. Fr. John Wassell ([email protected])
- Weekend Associate Priest — Rev. Fr. Walter Modrys
- Deacon — Rev. Charles Simmons ([email protected], 908-358-9990)
- Pastoral Associate — Mrs. Rosemary Nwabueze ([email protected])
- Business Manager — Ms. Ann Warren ([email protected])
- Office Manager — Mrs. Diana Maina ([email protected])
Prayer Groups & Faith Formation
Adult faith life at Christ the King is supported by a Men's Prayer Group on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM (led by Deacon Charles Simmons) and a Women's Bible Study also on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Both groups meet via Zoom. The parish also promotes adult faith formation courses offered through the Archdiocese of Newark to deepen Scripture and Catechism study.
- Men's Prayer Group — Wednesdays 7:00 PM, Zoom ID 850 5525 5323, Passcode 619-623
- Women's Bible Study — Wednesdays 7:00 PM, Zoom ID 895 6250 1007, Passcode 438223
- Adult Faith Formation courses via rcan.org
Religious Education & OCIA
Children's Religious Education classes meet on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon, with a $25 per child registration fee. Adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church or wishing to complete the sacraments participate in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), directed by Pastoral Associate Rosemary Nwabueze and meeting in the rectory.
- Religious Education for children — Saturdays 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Registration: $25 per child, contact Rosemary Nwabueze
- OCIA for adults — contact Rosemary Nwabueze ([email protected])
Sacraments
Christ the King celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Christian Initiation. Baptism is celebrated seasonally with required preparation for parents and godparents. Couples considering marriage must contact the pastor at least one year in advance and complete the parish marriage preparation program. Anointing of the Sick and emergency pastoral visits are available by calling the parish office.
- Baptism — celebrated seasonally; baptism preparation required
- Marriage — one year advance notice; marriage preparation program
- OCIA — for adults seeking full membership
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
Music Ministry
Music at Christ the King is led by Greg Searvance as Adult Choir Director, with Mrs. Michelle Adolphus directing the Youth Choir. The parish identifies this ministry as 'Sacred Music Ministry' and counts it among the ways members share their talents with the community.
- Adult Choir — Greg Searvance, Director
- Youth Choir — Michelle Adolphus, Director
Parish Councils & Leadership
Pastoral and financial leadership at Christ the King is shared by elected councils and trustees drawn from the parish. The Pastoral Council includes the deacon, the pastoral associate, and several lay members; the Finance Council oversees stewardship of parish resources.
- Pastoral Council: Deacon Charles Simmons, Rosemary Nwabueze, Candice Johnson, Claudeen Stainrod, Iris Jones, Michelle Adolphus, Diana Maina
- Finance Council: Yolanda Jackson, Fred Garlin, Shalitha Nelson, Monica Harwell, Verdena Johnson, Cecelia Faulks, Donna Boyer-Lendor, Ronald Hunt (and others)
- Trustees: Mrs. Verdena Johnson, Mrs. Cecelia Faulks
Parish Membership & Stewardship
Christ the King explicitly welcomes all who seek a place to worship. Members are expected to share in the stewardship of time, talent, and treasure and are encouraged to join one of the parish ministries. The parish's published mission statement commits it to being 'open to the voice of God leading us to a greater love for each other,' to learn the beauty of the Catholic faith, and to become 'a welcoming and healing community in words and actions, in the legacy of our church's ancestors.'
- Mission: welcoming and healing community in the legacy of the parish's ancestors
- Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
- Offering envelopes available from the church office
Contact & Visit
Christ the King Roman Catholic Parish is located at 768 Ocean Avenue in the Bergen Hill section of Jersey City, NJ 07304. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and can be reached at (201) 333-4862 (fax 201-433-0352). For sick and emergency visits, the parish can be reached at 201-333-4862 or 201-303-3960.
- Address: 768 Ocean Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304
- Phone: (201) 333-4862
- Fax: (201) 433-0352
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph A. Shovlin1930–
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Thomas J. Walsh to organize Black Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Newark; celebrated the first Mass on July 6, 1930.