About Christ the King · Ludlow, Massachusetts
Christ the King Parish (Polish: Parafia Chrystusa Króla) is a Roman Catholic parish in Ludlow, Massachusetts, established in 1948 to serve the town's Polish-American community. Originally built as a mission church of Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard in the early 1940s, it was elevated to full parish status on July 18, 1948, drawing approximately 1,300 founding members. The parish remains an important center of Polish-American Catholic life in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, offering a weekly Polish-language Mass alongside English liturgies and running a renowned perpetual adoration chapel dedicated to praying for vocations. Today the parish is pastored by Rev. Raymond A. Soltys and continues to blend its immigrant heritage with active devotional, sacramental, and parish-society life.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond A. Soltys
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts (Region 6; suffragan of the Archdiocese of Boston)
Why belong here
Christ the King is a vibrant bilingual Catholic community that blends its Polish-American heritage with active devotional and sacramental life. Parishioners can attend a weekly Polish Mass at 8:45 AM on Sundays, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in English or Polish before almost every Mass, and pray in the parish's perpetual adoration chapel — Our Lady of Mercy Chapel — which the Diocese of Springfield has designated for vocations. A wide network of parish societies (the Rosary Sodality, Sacred Heart Sodality, Holy Name Society, Men's Guild, Knights of Columbus) and regular devotions (Miraculous Medal Novena, daily Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet) make it easy to find fellowship, service opportunities, and spiritual growth for every age and background.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (English and Polish)
- Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (English and Polish)
- Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (English and Polish)
- Thursday: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (English and Polish)
- Friday: 6:30 AM – 6:50 AM (English and Polish)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (English and Polish)
- Saturday: 7:15 PM – 7:45 PM (English and Polish, following the 6:30 PM Mass)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel (for scheduled adorers; livestream available via ctkchapelludlow.com)
Parish History & Polish-American Heritage
Christ the King Parish (Polish: Parafia Chrystusa Króla) was born from the growth of Ludlow's Polish-American community in the early 20th century. Polish Catholics in Ludlow originally belonged to Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard, until Msgr. Joseph M. Tomikowski launched a mission closer to the Ludlow settlers in 1940. The completed church, designed by New York architect Anthony J. DePace, was dedicated on May 17, 1942, by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary. On July 18, 1948, the mission was elevated to a full parish of about 1,300 members under its first pastor, Rev. John Mieczkowski. A new social center, rectory, and expanded sacristy followed under the second pastor, Rev. Xavier S. Baranowski, and were dedicated by Bishop Christopher J. Weldon on September 29, 1968 — the parish's 20th anniversary. Today the parish remains a focal point of Polish heritage in Ludlow, sustaining the Polish-language Sunday Mass and a strong devotional life.
- Founded 1948; mission church dedicated 1942
- Founded by Polish immigrants from Immaculate Conception Parish, Indian Orchard
- First pastor: Rev. John Mieczkowski (1948–1963)
- Architect: Anthony J. DePace of New York
- Silver anniversary (1973) marked by Pontifical Mass with Bishop Weldon
Leadership & Clergy
Christ the King is pastored by Rev. Raymond A. Soltys, who oversees daily Masses, sacramental ministry, and parish organizations. He is assisted by deacons Joe and Michael, who support liturgical services, catechesis, and pastoral care. The parish falls within Region 6 of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts and is currently under the authority of Bishop William D. Byrne, the diocese's tenth bishop (installed 2021). Rev. Donald Noiseux served as temporary administrator in 2018 during a clergy transition.
- Pastor: Rev. Raymond A. Soltys
- Deacon Joe; Deacon Michael
- Diocese: Springfield in Massachusetts; Region 6
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. William D. Byrne
Parish Societies & Fellowship
Christ the King has long been sustained by a robust network of parish societies that combine spiritual devotion with fellowship and charitable outreach. These sodalities and guilds host bazaars, craft fairs, and banquets that raise funds for parish initiatives and scholarships, and they remain a visible expression of the parish's Polish-American heritage.
- Women's Rosary Sodality (hosts annual St. Nicholas Craft Fair & Gift/50-50 Raffle)
- Sacred Heart Sodality
- Holy Name Society
- Men's Guild
- Knights of Columbus (parish council)
- Parish Council
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule and the perpetual adoration chapel, Christ the King offers a daily rhythm of Marian and Eucharistic devotions. The Miraculous Medal Novena is prayed weekly, the Rosary is recited every morning before daily Mass, and a Wednesday-evening hour of rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet is held before the Blessed Sacrament. The parish also hosts community prayer for priests each Wednesday morning and marks the Solemnity of Christ the King each year with 40 hours of continuous Eucharistic adoration.
- Daily Rosary: 6:25 AM Monday–Saturday
- Miraculous Medal Novena: Tuesday 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet & Rosary: Wednesday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Community Prayer for Priests: Wednesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- 40 Hours of Adoration around the Solemnity of Christ the King (late November)
Religious Education & Sacraments
Faith formation at Christ the King is rooted in the long-running CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, which has served the parish's children and youth since the mid-20th century. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is coordinated through the parish office, and RCIA is available for adults entering the Church. Confessions are heard in English and Polish throughout the week.
- CCD / Religious Education for parish youth
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
- RCIA for adults
- Confession in English and Polish
Campus, Facilities & Visiting
The Christ the King campus sits on Warsaw Avenue in Ludlow and includes the original DePace-designed church, the 1968 social center (with a 750-seat auditorium, kitchen, and classrooms), the rectory, and the Our Lady of Mercy Adoration Chapel. A restored Carrara marble statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on the parish grounds. Visitors are welcome to attend Mass or stop in for prayer; the parish office can be reached at (413) 583-2630 for directions, accessibility information, and current bulletin details.
- Address: 41 Warsaw Avenue, Ludlow, MA 01056
- Phone: (413) 583-2630
- Email: [email protected]
- Chapel livestream: ctkchapelludlow.com
- Annual St. Nicholas Craft Fair held in the parish center each November
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Mieczkowski1948–1963
First pastor; appointed when the mission was elevated to a parish on July 18, 1948; died March 20, 1963 after a prolonged illness.
- Rev. W. Peter Piotrowski1963 (interim)
Administered the parish between pastors; secured the Graham property on Sewall Street.
- Rev. Xavier S. Baranowski1963–
Appointed second pastor by Bishop Christopher J. Weldon on September 23, 1963; oversaw the 1967–1968 building campaign that produced the social center, rectory, and sacristy dedicated September 29, 1968.
- Rev. Donald Noiseux2018 (interim)
Appointed temporary administrator during a period of clergy transition.
- Rev. Raymond A. Soltyspresent
Current pastor.