About Christ the King · Kilgore, Texas
Christ the King Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Kilgore, Texas, within the Diocese of Tyler. Established in 1936, the parish has faithfully served the East Texas community for nearly nine decades, currently worshipping in a purpose-built church completed in 2018 and dedicated by Bishop Joseph Strickland. Its ministries are offered in both English and Spanish, and it runs one of the most extensive Mass and adoration schedules in the diocese, including daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, four Sunday Masses, regular Confession, and First Friday overnight Eucharistic Adoration.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. John Henao (current as of 2025/early 2026; effective July 1, 2026, Rev. Juan Carlos Rivera is assigned as Pastor of Christ the King Parish from Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
Christ the King offers an unusually rich Catholic life for a parish its size: daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, four Sunday Masses (including a Saturday Vigil and three Spanish Masses), scheduled Confession three days a week, and Eucharistic Adoration four days a week plus overnight on First Friday. Bilingual ministries welcome both English- and Spanish-speaking families, and the parish maintains ongoing liturgical ministries (acolytes, altar servers, lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers, music) alongside faith formation. As a parish founded in 1936 and now worshipping in a beautifully appointed 2018 church, it is a long-established Catholic home in the heart of East Texas.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Thursday: 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- First Friday: 8:00 PM continuous adoration until Saturday at 8:00 AM
About Christ the King Catholic Church
Christ the King Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish Roman Catholic parish within the Diocese of Tyler, located at 1407 Broadway Boulevard in Kilgore, Texas. The parish was established in 1936 and describes its mission in the words 'Faithfully Building & Proclaiming the Kingdom of God.' Its new church building was completed and consecrated in 2018, and the parish currently maintains one of the most active liturgical schedules in East Texas — including daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, four Sunday Masses, weekly Confession, and ongoing Eucharistic Adoration.
- Founded 1936
- Diocese of Tyler
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
- Liturgical rite: Roman-Latin
History of the Parish
Christ the King was established in 1936 in Kilgore and became the historic Catholic community of the East Texas oil country. For decades the parish worshipped in earlier facilities while planning a new building — original construction plans date back to 2011 under Fr. Daniel Dower. The current 7,500-square-foot church, designed by Newman Marchive Carlisle Inc. and built by WIELAND, was completed in April 2018 and dedicated on September 24, 2018 by Bishop Joseph Strickland, who consecrated the new altar in a rare liturgical celebration.
- 1936: Parish founded in Kilgore
- 2018: New church completed April and dedicated September 24 by Bishop Strickland
- 2021: New image of Christ the King unveiled for the Feast of Christ the King
Parish Art and Architecture
Inside the 2018 church, visitors are greeted by a striking mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the left wall, reflecting the parish's deep Marian devotion and bilingual community. To balance that image with a clear visual statement of the parish's name, Fr. John Henao commissioned Fr. Peter Gray, S.S., Ph.D. to paint an image of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. That painting was unveiled and dedicated on November 21, 2021, the Feast of Christ the King, with Bishop Strickland celebrating Mass and the parish gathering for breakfast afterward.
- Mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe (left wall)
- Painting 'Jesus Christ, King of the Universe' by Fr. Peter Gray, S.S., Ph.D. (2021)
Parish Ministries
The parish describes itself as a community of volunteers called to teach and guide one another in ministry. Liturgical and formational opportunities are open to parishioners who wish to serve, and the parish maintains a downloadable quarterly Ministry Schedule so that acolytes, altar servers, lectors and ushers can plan their service.
- Acolytes
- Altar Servers
- Music Ministry
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Faith Formation
Faith Formation
Faith Formation is a core area of parish life linked directly from the parish website's main menu. Families are invited to enroll and continue the religious education of children, with information available through the parish office.
- Faith Formation program (enrollment via the parish)
Parish Life
Beyond the sacraments, the parish maintains an active bulletin, online giving, prayer requests and a registration process for new parishioners. The parish's tagline — 'Come and join us in worship, study and fellowship' — captures the welcoming character of the community, both for long-time area Catholics and for new arrivals and visitors to Kilgore.
- Weekly bulletin (online)
- Parish registration
- Request-a-prayer
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The parish has been served in recent years by Fr. John Henao, who was assigned Pastor in June 2020 and is the priest who oversaw the 2021 unveiling of the new painting of Christ the King. The Diocese of Tyler's Summer 2026 assignments (announced by Bishop Gregory Kelly) transfer Fr. Henao to Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine and assign Fr. Juan Carlos Rivera, previously Pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity, as the next Pastor of Christ the King Parish effective July 1, 2026.
- Rev. John Henao — Pastor (assigned June 2020)
- Rev. Juan Carlos Rivera — Pastor-designate, effective July 1, 2026
- Very Rev. Daniel P. Dower — Former pastor (served during the new church build and 2018 dedication)
Visit and Contact Information
Christ the King Catholic Church is located at 1407 Broadway Boulevard, Kilgore, TX 75662. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (903) 483-2500 during office hours, and the parish website at ctkkilgore.org provides the weekly bulletin, Mass schedule, registration and online giving.
- Address: 1407 Broadway Boulevard, Kilgore, TX 75662
- Phone: (903) 483-2500
- Website: ctkkilgore.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Daniel P. DowerThrough at least 2018 (pastor at time of new church construction and 2018 dedication)
Led the parish during the long-planned and newly built church project (planning from 2011, completion April 2018). Personally thanked the construction team at Wieland for their 'flexibility and generosity.'
- Rev. John HenaoEffective June 2020 – summer 2026
Assigned as Pastor in the Diocese's June 2020 appointments and serving as pastor during the 2021 unveiling of the new painting of Christ the King, which he personally commissioned. Per the Diocese's Summer 2026 assignments, he is being reassigned as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Palestine effective July 1, 2026.
- Rev. Juan Carlos RiveraEffective July 1, 2026
Assigned as Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Kilgore from his prior pastorate of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinity.