About Christ the King · Silver Spring, Maryland
Christ the King Catholic Church (Iglesia Católica Cristo Rey) is a trilingual Catholic parish serving Silver Spring, Maryland from its campus at 2301 Colston Drive, just off East–West Highway. Canonically established in 1961, it belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington and today celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Tagalog, reflecting the diverse immigrant communities of the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Under the pastoral leadership of Father Stephen J. Carter ('Fr. Steve'), the parish combines daily and weekend Masses with an unusually rich slate of lay ministries — including three music groups, a Legion of Mary praesidium, a Charismatic prayer group, Family Catechesis, and the Alpha program — making it a busy hub of devotion, formation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Father Stephen J. Carter
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Christ the King is a warm, trilingual Catholic home in the heart of Silver Spring where English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Filipino families worship side by side. The parish offers daily Mass four mornings a week, two Saturday vigil Masses (one in Spanish), and two Sunday Masses plus a monthly Tagalog Mass, along with daily rosary and Saturday confessions. With a Legion of Mary praesidium, a Charismatic prayer group, three music ministries (Cristo Rey, Nueva Vida, Luz de Cristo), Family Catechesis, RCIA/RCIA-C, CCD for children, the Alpha course, Ladies of Faith, Men of Faith, a Young Adults group, and active outreach — including a long-running ecumenical partnership with St. Paul United Methodist Church — there are many ways to belong, serve, and grow.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (or by appointment, call 301-495-2306)
About Christ the King Catholic Church
Christ the King Catholic Church is a trilingual Catholic parish at 2301 Colston Drive in Silver Spring, Maryland, canonically established in 1961 and part of the Archdiocese of Washington. The parish presents itself in both English and Spanish ('Iglesia Católica Cristo Rey') and welcomes a diverse congregation of English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Filipino Catholic families. A bilingual Mass aid is available for download to help congregants follow the liturgy together. The parish tagline — 'a place to believe, belong, and become' — captures its mission as a community of prayer, formation, and service.
- Founded 1961; member parish of the Archdiocese of Washington
- Bilingual identity: Christ the King / Cristo Rey
- Wheelchair accessible campus on Colston Drive
Parish History & Heritage
Christ the King was canonically established in 1961 as part of Archbishop Patrick A. O'Boyle's sweeping effort to build new parishes across rapidly growing Montgomery County. In the early 2010s, under then-pastor Fr. José Cortes, the parish inaugurated an outdoor statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 12, 2013, an event that established an annual bilingual rosary and May crowning that continues today. The parish also cultivated an ecumenical friendship with neighboring St. Paul United Methodist Church (Rev. John McCauley) and Pilgrim Baptist Church, jointly observing Palm Sunday at the Gwendolyn Coffield Recreation Center.
- Inauguration of the Our Lady statue — May 12, 2013
- Annual May Crowning of Mary with rosary in English, Spanish, and Tagalog
- Joint Palm Sunday ecumenical service with St. Paul UMC and Pilgrim Baptist Church
- Festival of Lessons and Carols concert each December
- Past Holy Week performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater
Parish Staff & Clergy
Christ the King is led by Father Stephen J. Carter ('Fr. Steve'), who serves as Pastor and is the principal celebrant of daily and weekend Masses. He is assisted by Deacon Nehmias (Nehemias) José Molina. The lay staff includes Jean Barrionuevo (Secretary), Isidra Molina (Coordinator of Religious Education), Ludys Mendoza (Office Manager), Diane Alexander (Accountant), and Walter Chicas (Maintenance). Music ministry is led by Music Director Froilan Manansala, with Kleily Valencia directing Spanish religious education.
- Pastor: Father Stephen J. Carter
- Deacon: Nehmias (Nehemias) José Molina
- Secretary: Jean Barrionuevo
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Isidra Molina
- Office Manager: Ludys Mendoza
- Accountant: Diane Alexander
- Maintenance: Walter Chicas
- Music Director: Froilan Manansala
- Spanish Religious Education Director: Kleily Valencia
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Christ the King is structured around four tracks that meet people at every stage of life. The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults 18 and older, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIA-C) for children ages 7–17 who have not been catechized, and the traditional CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program for children in kindergarten through 8th grade. Family Catechesis is offered as a parish-wide model in which parents, children, and catechists work together. Isidra Molina is the contact for all religious-education inquiries.
- RCIA — for unbaptized adults, Christians entering full communion, or uncatechized Catholics (18+)
- RCIA-C — two-year preparation for ages 7–17; culminates in Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion
- CCD — weekly religious education for children K–8
- Family Catechesis — parent/child catechesis model
Sacraments of Initiation & Marriage
Baptism in English is celebrated on the first weekend of the month during weekend Masses. Parents must call the parish office to set up an appointment with Fr. Steve to complete the paperwork and a brief meeting; godparents are expected to be practicing Catholics, and a non-Catholic Christian may serve as a witness if at least one godparent is Catholic. First Communion and Confirmation are received through the parish's catechetical programs. For Marriage, at least one party must be a registered parishioner, and Fr. Steve should be contacted at least six months before the requested date.
- Baptism: first weekend of the month during Mass; appointment with Fr. Steve required
- First Communion & Confirmation: through CCD and sacramental preparation
- Marriage: contact Fr. Steve at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: call parish office for homebound visits
Parish Ministries & Lay Groups
Christ the King has one of the most extensive ministry rosters in the Archdiocese of Washington, reflecting its bilingual, multi-generational character. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Mass Scripture Readers (Lectors), and the Hospitality Committee (Ujieres). Prayer and formation groups include the Legion of Mary praesidium, a Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group, the Young Adults Group, Ladies of Faith, and Men of Faith. The parish also runs the Alpha evangelization course, a Matrimony Preparation Ministry, a Cooking Ministry, an Events Ministry, and a Theater Group called 'Laudato Si.'
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ujieres (Ushers/Hospitality)
- Prayer & Formation: Legion of Mary, Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group, Young Adults, Ladies of Faith, Men of Faith, Alpha
- Service & Community: Matrimony Preparation, Cooking Ministry, Events Ministry, Laudato Si Theater Group
Music & Liturgical Arts
Music is a central expression of Christ the King's multicultural worship. Three distinct parish music ministries lead different parts of the liturgical life: Cristo Rey Music Ministry, Nueva Vida Music Ministry, and Luz de Cristo Music Ministry. Music Director Froilan Manansala coordinates the parish's musical offerings. In addition to weekly liturgical music, the parish has hosted an annual Festival of Lessons and Carols in late December — a service of nine Scripture readings and carols tracing the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission — and a Holy Week performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.
- Music Director: Froilan Manansala
- Cristo Rey Music Ministry
- Nueva Vida Music Ministry
- Luz de Cristo Music Ministry
- Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols (December)
- Past performances include Pergolesi's Stabat Mater
Devotions & Annual Traditions
Beyond the Sunday liturgy, Christ the King keeps a rich calendar of devotional traditions. The rosary is prayed daily, fifteen minutes before each weekday Mass, and the parish publishes a bilingual Mass aid to help congregants follow together. In May, parishioners gather at the outdoor statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary — inaugurated May 12, 2013 — for the annual Rosary and Crowning of Mary, with decades led in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. During Holy Week, the Stations of the Cross have traditionally been walked outdoors on the parish grounds with all fourteen stations set up around the church.
- Daily rosary, 15 minutes before each weekday Mass
- Annual May Crowning of Mary at the outdoor Our Lady statue
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross on Good Friday
- Ecumenical Palm Sunday service with St. Paul UMC and Pilgrim Baptist Church
Contact, Visiting & Practical Information
Christ the King is located at 2301 Colston Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, just south of East–West Highway (MD-410). The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The main parish phone number is (301) 495-2306, with fax (301) 576-5264. The building is wheelchair accessible, and the parish welcomes new families to register online or in person.
- Address: 2301 Colston Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Phone: (301) 495-2306
- Fax: (301) 576-5264
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wheelchair accessible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father José Cortes
Pastor in the early-to-mid 2010s; presided over inauguration of the Our Lady statue (May 12, 2013) and led bilingual liturgy.
- Father Roberto Amoruso
Served at the parish in 2013–2014; washed feet on Holy Thursday and led Stations of the Cross.
- Father Ettore Ferrario
Assisted with religious-education celebrations and Confirmation retreat at the Franciscan Monastery (Nov 15, 2014).
- Father Stephen J. Carter
Current pastor; lead presider at weekday and weekend Masses.