About Christ the King & Pope John XXIII Parish -Liverpool C.C. @ Christ the King · Liverpool, New York
Christ the King Parish in Liverpool, New York, is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Syracuse that has served the Village of Liverpool and surrounding northern Onondaga County since 1964. In 2020 it was officially linked with neighboring Pope John XXIII Parish to form a single parish family served by one pastor across two worship sites (Christ the King at 21 Cherry Tree Circle and Pope John XXIII at 8290 Soule Road). Together with Epiphany Parish the three communities collaborate as the Liverpool Catholic Community, sharing faith formation, youth ministry, sacramental preparation, and pastoral staff. Christ the King continues to offer weekend and daily Mass, Reconciliation, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, and a full slate of lay liturgical, faith-formation, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Zachary Miller
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Christ the King is a welcoming, mid-sized parish rooted in the Liverpool community since 1964, with strong lay involvement across dozens of ministries. Parishioners can worship at a friendly neighborhood church on Cherry Tree Circle, attend weekday Mass or Thursday morning Eucharistic Adoration, and join a vibrant liturgical team (readers, commentators, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, ushers/greeters, sacristans, music ministers) on a rotating schedule that fits family life. As part of the linked Christ the King & Pope John XXIII parishes and the larger Liverpool Catholic Community (which includes Epiphany), members have ready access to faith formation for all ages, youth ministry, Bible studies, men's spirituality groups, Vacation Bible School, and active outreach — all under the pastoral care of Fr. Zachary Miller and four permanent deacons.
Mass times at Christ the King & Pope John XXIII Parish -Liverpool C.C. @ Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 3rd Monday of the month: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM at Christ the King (rotating schedule across the linked Liverpool parishes — 1st Monday at Pope John XXIII; 2nd & 4th Monday at Epiphany)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at Christ the King
Christ the King Parish at a Glance
Christ the King is one of three parishes that together make up the Liverpool Catholic Community in the Diocese of Syracuse, New York. Founded in 1964, it worships at 21 Cherry Tree Circle on the north side of the Village of Liverpool. In 2020 it was officially linked with Pope John XXIII Parish to create one parish family with two worship sites under a single pastor; together with Epiphany Parish they share faith formation, youth ministry, and sacramental preparation across the area.
- Founded 1964 — 21 Cherry Tree Circle, Liverpool, NY 13090
- Diocese of Syracuse
- Linked since 2020 with Pope John XXIII Parish
- Forms the Liverpool Catholic Community with Epiphany Parish
- Pastored by Rev. Zachary Miller with four permanent deacons
Worship & Liturgical Schedule
Christ the King offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, weekday Mass on Tuesday, Thursday, and the 1st Friday of the month, and participates in the wider community's rotating schedule for Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration. Weekend Masses are celebrated in English; weekday Masses at Christ the King are at 8:30 AM. The Monday 4:30 PM Novena Mass is hosted on a rotating basis among the linked parishes.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM
- Tuesday & Thursday: 8:30 AM
- 1st Friday: 8:30 AM
- Monday Novena Mass: 4:30 PM (rotating location across the linked parishes)
Pastoral Leadership
Christ the King and Pope John XXIII are shepherded by Rev. Zachary Miller, ordained a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse in 2015 and a former Army National Guard/Reserve servicemember. He is assisted by four permanent deacons — Dc. Tom Cuskey (Liturgy & Homebound Ministry), Dc. Ralph Jahnige, Dc. Larry Messina (Bereavement & Funeral Ministry), and Dc. Michael Ruf (Adult Spirituality) — along with Margaret Ostaszewski (Pastoral Associate of Volunteer Ministries) and office assistant Beth Hornbarger. A deacon candidate, John Finn, is expected to join the team after ordination in 2026.
- Pastor: Rev. Zachary Miller
- Deacon Tom Cuskey — Liturgy & Homebound Ministry
- Deacon Ralph Jahnige
- Deacon Larry Messina — Bereavement & Funeral Ministry
- Deacon Michael Ruf — Adult Spirituality
- Margaret Ostaszewski — Pastoral Associate of Volunteer Ministries
- Beth Hornbarger — Office Assistant
History & Heritage
Christ the King was established in 1964 to serve the growing Catholic population on the northern edge of the Village of Liverpool in Onondaga County. By the early 1980s it had become a stable Sunday destination for families in the Cherry Tree Circle neighborhood. Among its known pastors was Rev. Michael J. Carmola (1981–1985), who went on to direct diocesan priest personnel and the Christ the King Retreat House in Fayetteville. In 2020 Bishop Douglas J. Lucia's parish-linking initiative formally joined Christ the King with Pope John XXIII to form one parish with two worship sites served by a single pastor, today part of the wider Liverpool Catholic Community.
- Parish founded 1964
- Rev. Michael J. Carmola served as pastor 1981–1985
- Linked with Pope John XXIII in 2020 under Bishop Lucia's initiative
- Co-founded the Liverpool Catholic Community with Epiphany Parish
Liturgical Ministries
Christ the King & Pope John XXIII invite parishioners to share their baptismal gifts through a full team of liturgical ministries operating on a rotating schedule. Training is provided for every role, and ministers can indicate their preferred Mass time when signing up. The parish notes that 'as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as stewards of God's varied grace' (1 Peter 4:10).
- Readers & Commentators (Commentators are used at Christ the King & Pope John XXIII)
- Altar Servers — youth (Grade 3 and older, post-First Communion) and adult (funeral liturgy)
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Ushers & Greeters — combined ministry at Christ the King & Pope John XXIII
- Sacristans
- Music Ministry / Liturgical Coordinator
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith Formation is offered for both youth and adults across the linked parishes. Children's Faith Formation relies on volunteer catechists, aides, sacramental-preparation helpers, office and resource support, and safety monitors — all of whom must complete diocesan Safe Environment training and a background check. Adult Faith Formation opportunities include Bible studies and men's spirituality groups meeting at the Christ the King campus.
- Youth Faith Formation (K–Confirmation)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Bible Studies (recurring at Christ the King)
- Men's Spirituality — open to all men
- Volunteer catechists and aides needed
- Diocesan Safe Environment training required for all adult volunteers
Youth & Family Life
Open to all teens, the Youth Ministry of the Liverpool Catholic Community gathers young people for formation, fellowship, and service under the direction of the pastoral staff. Baptisms are prepared for through periodic Baptism Prep Classes, and families with school-age children can register for Vacation Bible School, which is hosted at Epiphany Parish each summer (typically the second full week of July, 9:00 AM to noon).
- Youth Ministry — open to all teens
- Annual Vacation Bible School (mornings in July at Epiphany Parish)
- Baptism Prep Classes scheduled periodically
- Confirmation preparation (shared across the linked parishes)
Pastoral Council & Trustees
The Christ the King & Pope John XXIII Pastoral Council advises the pastor on parish life and mission. Members represent both worship sites and serve alongside the clergy, deacons, and pastoral associates. Trustees are elected from each church to safeguard parish temporalities.
- Chairperson: Rick Beiswenger (Pope John XXIII)
- Members: Tom Ahern (CTK), Tom Batovsky (CTK), Ann Miller (PJ23), Jecinta Nwaezeapu (PJ23), Joan Raven (CTK), Laura Ryder (PJ23), Matt Yaworsky (CTK)
- Trustees (Pope John XXIII): Jacqueline Bressette, John Marzocchi
- Trustees (Christ the King): Kim Henty, Pat Lynch
Safe Environment & Outreach
All adult volunteers whose ministry brings them into regular contact with children, young people, or vulnerable adults must complete diocesan Safe Environment training (a 2-hour initial session) and pass a criminal background check, with credentials renewed every five years. Margaret Ostaszewski serves as Safe Environment Site Coordinator for Christ the King & Pope John XXIII. The linked parishes also participate in St. Vincent de Paul outreach to neighbors in need.
- Safe Environment Site Coordinator: Margaret Ostaszewski (315-652-6591 ext. 401)
- Diocesan Office of Safe Environment: 315-470-1421
- Background check and 5-year renewal required
- St. Vincent de Paul conference referenced at the linked parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Zachary Millercurrent
Pastor of the linked parishes of Christ the King and Pope John XXIII; ordained a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse in 2015; Army National Guard/Reserve veteran; also serves as Chaplain to the Central New York Police Chiefs and on-call chaplain at Crouse Hospital and Upstate Medical.
- Rev. Michael J. Carmola1981–1985
Pastor of Christ the King, Liverpool; later director of diocesan priest personnel and of Christ the King Retreat House.