About Christ the King · Rutland, Vermont
Christ the King Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Rutland, Vermont, located at 66 South Main Street, and it forms one half of the Rutland-Wallingford Catholic Community alongside St Patrick Parish in Wallingford. The parish grew out of an 1844 land purchase by Bishop Louis de Goesbriand and was originally constituted in 1906 as Holy Innocents, split from St Peter's Parish. The present white marble neo-Gothic church, designed by the noted Boston Catholic architects Maginnis and Walsh, was completed in 1929 and the parish was renamed Christ the King in honor of the feast on which it was dedicated. Today the parish is led by Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, with Fr. Sahaya Arockiaraj serving as Parochial Vicar, and it operates Christ the King School, a daily Mass schedule, Friday adoration, and regular confession times.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
Christ the King offers the full rhythm of a traditional Catholic parish in the heart of Rutland — daily English Masses Monday through Friday, a Saturday vigil and two Sunday Masses, plus Friday adoration from noon to 2:30 pm and regular Friday and Saturday confessions. The parish runs Christ the King School, hosts parish hall gatherings in Engle Hall and Moroney Hall, and joins with St Patrick Parish in Wallingford to form the Rutland-Wallingford Catholic Community, so newcomers and visitors are welcomed into an active, sacramental, and prayerful family.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (Christ the King)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Christ the King)
- Or by appointment — call (802) 773-6820
Adoration times
- Friday 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Holy Hour)
History of Christ the King Parish
Christ the King Parish traces its origins to 1844, when Bishop Louis de Goesbriand, the first Bishop of Burlington, purchased land on Green Street (now Killington Avenue) in Rutland. St Mary's School opened on that site in 1886, and in 1906 St Peter's Parish was divided, with the new eastern parish named Holy Innocents. The first Mass was celebrated on 20 January 1907 in Eagles Hall, and a basement church begun in 1908 stood incomplete for years. The present white marble church, designed by Maginnis and Walsh of Boston, was completed in 1929 and the parish was renamed Christ the King.
- 1844 — Bishop de Goesbriand purchases land on Green Street (Killington Avenue)
- 1885–1886 — St Mary's School built and opened on the site
- 1906 — St Peter's Parish is divided; the new eastern parish is named Holy Innocents
- 20 January 1907 — First Mass celebrated in Eagles Hall, Rutland
- 1908 — Construction of a basement church begins on Killington Avenue & South Main Street
- 1928–1929 — Present white marble church designed by Maginnis and Walsh
- 27 October 1929 — First Mass in the present church, Bishop Joseph John Rice presiding; parish renamed Christ the King
Pastorate Succession
The parish has been served by a succession of pastors beginning with Rev. William Lonergan in 1906. The second pastor, Rev. Bernard J. Kelly, died in 1932; his assistant Rev. John M. Barnes acted as pastor until Rev. John M. Kennedy was appointed later that year. Father Kennedy led the parish for nearly forty years until 1971, retiring the church debt and being named a monsignor by Pope Pius XII in 1947. He was succeeded in 1971 by Rev. James T. Engle, who carried out a Vatican II renovation of the church, and in 1985 by Rev. Reid C. Mayo, who built Engle Hall and expanded parish parking along Killington Avenue. Rev. Justin J. Baker succeeded Father Mayo in 2008, and the current pastor, Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, was appointed in 2016.
- Rev. William Lonergan (from 1906)
- Rev. Bernard J. Kelly (d. 1932)
- Rev. John M. Barnes (interim, 1932)
- Rev. Msgr. John M. Kennedy (1932–1971)
- Rev. James T. Engle (1971–1985)
- Rev. Reid C. Mayo (1985–2008)
- Rev. Justin J. Baker (2008–2016)
- Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois (2016–present)
Parish Architecture & Building
Christ the King is a Romanesque Gothic Revival church executed in smoothly dressed random-sized white marble, with crisp edges and angled profiles of nave, porch, tower, and broad buttresses. It was designed by the Boston firm Maginnis and Walsh — one of four Vermont Catholic churches they designed in the late 1920s, alongside St Dominic's in Proctor, St Stephen's in Winooski, and St Mary's in Springfield — and completed in 1929. Inside, the church features a black-and-white marble floor, decorated oak roof trusses, stained glass, and finely carved reredos, tabernacle, and organ loft.
- Architect: Maginnis and Walsh of Boston
- Style: Romanesque Gothic Revival
- Material: White marble exterior, slate roof
- Sculpture of Christ above the portal by local carver Aristide Piccini
- Stained glass, decorated oak trusses, black-and-white marble floor inside
Moroney Hall & Christ the King School
The remnants of the original 1908 basement church are still visible today in Moroney Hall, the lower level of Christ the King School. An additional school building was added in 1966 during Msgr. Kennedy's pastorate to accommodate a middle school.
- Moroney Hall — lower level of Christ the King School, originally the 1908 basement church
- 1966 — middle-school addition built during Msgr. Kennedy's tenure
Engle Hall & Parish Facilities
Engle Hall was built on the lower level of the church during Father Reid Mayo's pastorate as a parish hall and meeting space, continuing the expansion plans begun by Father James Engle. The parish also acquired homes and lots east of the church along Killington Avenue as Route 7 expanded, providing parking for parishioners.
- Engle Hall — parish hall and meeting space beneath the church
- Killington Avenue parking — purchased lots east of the church for parish parking
The Rutland-Wallingford Catholic Community
Christ the King Parish in Rutland is joined with St Patrick Parish at 218 North Main Street, Wallingford, to form the Rutland-Wallingford Catholic Community. The two parishes share pastoral leadership under Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois and present a unified Catholic presence in the Rutland region. The community Sunday schedule also includes an 11:00 AM Mass at St Patrick, and Tuesday Mass is celebrated at 5:30 PM in Wallingford.
- Christ the King Parish — 66 South Main Street, Rutland, VT
- St Patrick Parish — 218 North Main Street, Wallingford, VT
- Joint pastoral leadership under Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois
- Additional Sunday Mass: 11:00 AM at St Patrick, Wallingford
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by its pastor, Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, and parochial vicar Rev. Sahaya Arockiaraj. The parish has historically maintained lay ministers in pastoral roles, an initiative expanded by former pastor Rev. Reid C. Mayo.
- Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois — Pastor
- Rev. Sahaya Arockiaraj — Parochial Vicar
- Lay ministers in pastoral roles (historical)
Feast of Christ the King
The parish takes its name from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Originally established in 1926 on the Sunday before All Saints' Day, the feast was moved to its present date and given its current title by Pope Paul VI in 1969. The first Mass in the present church was celebrated on this feast in 1929, and in past years the parish has marked the solemnity with sung vespers.
- Feast: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe
- Date: Last Sunday of the liturgical year
- Parish renamed for the feast on 27 October 1929
- Past observance: solemn sung vespers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Lonergan1906–
First pastor of the new parish, then called Holy Innocents; first Mass celebrated 20 January 1907 in Eagles Hall.
- Rev. Bernard J. Kellyto 1932
Second pastor; died in 1932.
- Rev. John M. Barnes1932 (interim)
Assistant pastor who acted as pastor after Father Kelly's death while awaiting a successor.
- Rev. Msgr. John M. Kennedy1932–1971
Named monsignor by Pope Pius XII in 1947; famously paid off the debt of the original church construction; a Marian shrine was dedicated in 1955 and a middle-school addition added in 1966.
- Rev. James T. Engle1971–1985
Had previously served the parish as curate; renovated the church in accordance with the Second Vatican Council.
- Rev. Reid C. Mayo1985–2008
Built Engle Hall on the lower level of the church; purchased homes and lots east of the church for parking as Route 7 expanded; expanded the parish staff with lay ministers.
- Rev. Justin J. Baker2008–2016
Succeeded Father Mayo upon his retirement.
- Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois2016–present
Current pastor.