About Christ the King · Omaha, Nebraska
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish in west Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1953 by Father Robert P. Hupp as the first new parish established in the Archdiocese of Omaha in 34 years. The parish serves the growing Catholic population of west Omaha from its campus at 654 South 86th Street, which includes the church — distinguished by its 'floating' geometric roof and the life-of-Christ stained glass windows — plus Christ the King School (Preschool through 8th grade, on the campus at 831 S. 88th St.). It is pastored by Father John L. Pietramale (since July 1, 2021), assisted by two permanent deacons, Deacon Jon Fulcher and Deacon John G. Pflug, and offers daily and Sunday Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, a full Catholic school, parish center rentals, and a robust schedule of ministries including Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, youth group, and Bible study.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Christ the King (Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. John L. Pietramale (Pastor since July 1, 2021)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
Christ the King is a parish with daily Mass (six days a week), a robust reconciliation schedule (including Saturday afternoons, First Fridays, and a First Sunday evening hour), and Eucharistic Adoration — a classic devotional parish anchored in the sacraments. It also runs its own fully accredited Catholic school (Preschool through 8th grade) on the campus, supports a youth group, hosts Knights of Columbus and Ladies Guild councils, runs Bible studies, and welcomes parishioner families into community life through the rental-ready Parish Center. Families looking for a west-Omaha parish that balances traditional Catholic devotion with a lively school and ministry network will find a long-standing, multi-generational home here.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Fridays: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- First Sunday of the month: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office at (402) 391-3606 to schedule outside these times
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered at the parish (call the parish office for the current weekly schedule)
About Christ the King Parish
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Omaha serving the west-Omaha community. The parish's stated mission is to 'serve God's people: Share the Gospel, Assist the poor, Comfort the suffering, Educate, Celebrate community, [and] Provide strength through the Sacraments.' Its ministry offerings span daily and Sunday Mass, Baptisms, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, Funerals, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, Youth Group, Bible Study, and First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation.
Parish History
Christ the King was announced on June 8, 1953 by Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan and founded by Father Robert P. Hupp — the first new parish in the Archdiocese of Omaha since 1918. The parish took shape on 13.8 acres next to the developing Countryside Village shopping center at 75th & Pacific Street. Father Hupp's first-person memoir, published online in serial chapters, narrates the early years: his arrival with suitcase, portable Navy Mass kit, and shaggy dog Zeke; the women's census that mapped the founding families; the first Mass celebrated in the ballroom at Peony Park on July 19, 1953; the groundbreaking for the school/auditorium complex on February 4, 1954; and the later construction of the church itself, which broke ground in 1960.
- June 8, 1953 — Parish announced via The True Voice (now The Catholic Voice).
- June 10, 1953 — Father Hupp receives the deed to the property; he first lives at St. James Orphanage.
- July 19, 1953 — First Mass at Peony Park ballroom, with Boys Town choir.
- February 4, 1954 — Ground broken for the four classrooms and auditorium.
- 1954 — Christ the King Catholic School opens its doors.
- 1960 — Ground broken for the present church; its angular roof was designed to 'float' like clouds above the stained glass.
The Building & Architecture
The church's most distinctive architectural feature is its geometric roof, which was deliberately designed to appear to float like clouds above the stained glass, so that colored light pours down onto the Colorado redstone walls inside. Embedded in those walls are the Stations of the Cross, hand-made in Italy by Professor Arnaldo Miniati, with scriptural meditations inscribed in gold beneath each one. The stained-glass cycle tells the story of Christ from his Nativity (far northwest corner) to his return to his heavenly kingdom (northeast side, near the Sacristy). Across the campus, the Christ the King Parish Center seats 240 on the main floor and can be configured to hold up to 400 guests; parishioners may rent it for life-event occasions.
- Stations of the Cross by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Miniati
- Life-of-Christ stained glass cycle (Nativity to Ascension/Return)
- Floating geometric roof above the sanctuary
- Colorado redstone interior walls with gold-inscribed scripture
Sacraments
The parish prepares families and individuals for all seven sacraments in concert with the Archdiocese of Omaha's policies: Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral liturgies. (Holy Orders and vocations are coordinated through the archdiocesan vocations office.)
- Baptism — infant preparation offered
- First Holy Communion — parish-based prep
- Confirmation — parish-based prep
- Reconciliation — First Communion and ongoing weekly schedule
- Marriage — diocesan policy and parish preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral Masses
Christ the King Catholic School
Christ the King Catholic School has been part of the parish campus since opening its doors in 1954 and now spans more than 70 years of continuous operation. The school is Preschool through Grade 8 and sits at 831 S. 88th St., Omaha. Class sizes are intentionally small — about 40 students per grade level, with two classrooms per grade K–8. It is fully accredited by the State of Nebraska, and its facility includes two science labs, an updated computer-technology lab, an art studio, a library, Before- and After-School Care, a full-time resource teacher, a campus security officer, and a full-time school counselor. The Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs are grounded in early-childhood research and emphasize hands-on learning, exploration, and meaningful play.
- Preschool, Pre-K, and K–8 on the parish campus
- 40 students per grade, 2 classrooms per grade (K–8)
- Two science labs, computer lab, art studio, library
- Before- and After-School Care
- Full-time resource teacher, campus security officer, school counselor
- State of Nebraska accreditation
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Beyond the liturgy and sacraments, Christ the King runs a wide ministry network for parishioners of every age. The Knights of Columbus and the Ladies Guild represent the parish's two longest-standing lay organizations; together with Youth Group, Bible Study, and Community Outreach they cover most of the life of the parish. Annual events include the SPICE Dinner (fundraiser supporting Parish Investment in Catholic Education) and a large parish Garage Sale.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Guild
- Youth Group (including Steubenville conferences)
- Bible Study
- Community outreach and service
- Parish Center rentals (parishioners)
- SPICE Dinner (Catholic-education fundraiser)
- Parish Garage Sale
Visit, Contact & Campus
The parish church and rectory are at 654 S. 86th Street, Omaha, NE 68114; Christ the King Catholic School is across the campus at 831 S. 88th St. The parish office can be reached at (402) 391-3606. The Parish Center, which seats up to 240 (configurable to 400), is available for parishioner rentals by contacting Rebecca at 402-201-6663. The parish maintains a Facebook page as its primary social-media presence (facebook.com/ctkomaha).
- Parish office: (402) 391-3606
- Parish Center reservations: 402-201-6663 (Rebecca)
- Church address: 654 S. 86th St., Omaha, NE 68114
- School address: 831 S. 88th St., Omaha, NE 68114
- Facebook: facebook.com/ctkomaha
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert P. Hupp1953 – c. early 1970s
Founding pastor. Ordained May 18, 1940, at St. Cecilia's Cathedral by Archbishop James Hugh Ryan. Served as Navy chaplain in WWII, directed the Catholic Youth Organization, and was pastor of St. Mary's in Wayne, NE before being appointed to plant Christ the King. Wrote the founding memoir that the parish publishes on its website as a multi-chapter history.
- Rev. John L. Pietramale2021 – present
Returned to Christ the King as pastor on July 1, 2021; he had previously served as an associate pastor here from 1996 to 2001. Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese in 1992; celebrated his 30th anniversary as a priest in 2022. Previously pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes / St. Adalbert.