About Christ the King · South Bend, Indiana
Christ the King Catholic Church is a vibrant parish of the Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend located in South Bend, Indiana, just north of the city along State Road 933. Founded in 1933 and entrusted from the beginning to the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.), it has been served continuously by Holy Cross priests, sisters, and brothers for nearly a century. Today it counts more than 1,400 registered families and runs a parish school serving roughly 500 students from Pre-K3 through eighth grade. Its mission — 'Making God Known, Loved, and Served' — flows directly from the spirituality of Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. David Smith, C.S.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Wayne–South Bend
Why belong here
Christ the King is a vibrant, growing community of more than 1,400 registered families served by the Congregation of Holy Cross in the spirit of Blessed Basil Moreau. A parish school of nearly 500 students (Pre-K3 through 8th grade), a broad range of faith-formation opportunities for children and adults, daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays and Saturdays, and ministries from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to a new St. Vincent de Paul Society give parishioners many ways to live, learn, and serve. The parish lives out its simple mission to make God known, loved, and served.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM
- Additional times during Advent and Lent (see bulletin)
- By individual appointment with a priest (Fr. Steve)
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon (Benediction at Noon) in the Church
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon in the Church
- ADOR168 parish goal: 168 hours of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament each week (sign up online)
Parish History
Christ the King was founded in 1933 when Bishop John F. Noll authorized a new parish to serve the growing population north of South Bend. Fr. Edward Finnegan, C.S.C., pastor of Sacred Heart at Notre Dame, had begun raising money for the land in December 1927. The parish was entrusted to the Congregation of Holy Cross, and Fr. Peter Miner, C.S.C., became its first pastor. A 'little white church' on Dixie Highway — built in 1934–1935 — served the community for 25 years until the present church was dedicated in 1961. Subsequent decades brought a parish school (first class in 1953, permanent building in 1955), liturgical renovations in the 1980s and 1990s, stained glass windows in 2011, and school additions in 2001 and 2020. Today more than 1,400 families and nearly 500 students call Christ the King home.
- 1927 — Fr. Edward Finnegan, C.S.C. begins raising funds for land
- 1933 — Parish authorized by Bishop John F. Noll; Fr. Peter Miner, C.S.C. named first pastor
- 1935 — First Mass celebrated in the new 'little white church' on Dixie Highway
- 1950 — Joins with St. Joseph Farm, Little Flower and Sisters of Holy Cross to found Campus School at St. Mary's College
- 1953 — First class of 27 first-graders meets in repurposed wartime housing units
- 1955 — Permanent school building opened under Fr. Clement Funke, C.S.C.
- 1961 — Present church structure dedicated
- 1980s — High altar and side altars removed; marble reused for current altar, ambo, and tabernacle stand
- 1990s — New baptismal font and reredos backdrop added
- 2001 and 2020 — School additions opened
- 2011 — Stained glass windows installed in the church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Christ the King is described as a lifelong process of initial conversion, formation, education, and ongoing conversion that integrates the sacred Word, prayer and worship, service, and community. Children not attending the parish school are welcomed into the Faith Family Religious Formation and Education Program, which meets Sunday mornings from 8:45 until 10:00 AM. Sacramental preparation is built into both the school curriculum and the Religious Education Program.
- Religious Education Program — Sundays 8:45–10:00 AM, begins after Labor Day
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation of Children (ages 7+)
- Sacramental Prep — First Reconciliation and First Communion in 2nd grade
- Confirmation — preparation in 7th grade; sacrament received in fall of 8th grade
- RCIA and RCIC for adults and children seeking full communion with the Catholic Church
Adult Faith Formation
Christ the King describes adult faith formation as an integrated understanding of who we are as beloved children of God. Offerings include ongoing Bible study, Lectio Divina, the Liturgy of the Hours prayed communally in Advent and Lent, and alternating-year Parish Mission nights and Parish Retreat Days. The parish's annual Lenten Bible Study features Ascension Press's 'No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ's Passion'.
- Liturgy of the Hours — Tuesday morning (8:00 AM) and evening (6:00 PM) during Advent/Lent
- Lectio Divina — Thursdays 9:00 AM in the Fr. Jones Room (Advent/Lent)
- Weekly Bible Study — Wednesdays after the 8:30 AM Mass in the Fr. Jones Room
- Lenten Bible Study — Tuesdays 6:30 PM in the Fr. Tripi Room (Ascension Press 'No Greater Love')
- Parish Mission — every other year, three nights during Lent
- Parish Retreat Day — alternating years, Saturday mornings
Sacraments
The parish shepherds parishioners through every sacramental milestone. Infant baptisms are celebrated for children ages 6 and younger, with first-time parents required to attend a baptismal preparation session. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is done in 2nd grade, and Confirmation preparation begins in 7th grade with the sacrament conferred in the fall of 8th grade. The parish also runs a robust RCIA program for adults and an RCIC track for older children entering the Church.
- Baptism — children age 6 and younger; preparation session required for first-time parents
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade preparation
- Confirmation — begins 7th grade; received fall of 8th grade
- Eucharist — Sunday and weekday Mass schedule
- Reconciliation — Saturday mornings, Wednesday evenings, Advent/Lent additions, and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — by request for advanced age, illness, pre-surgery or end of life
- Marriage — months of formation with priest or deacon
- RCIA / RCIC — full initiation for adults and children into the Catholic Church
Christ the King Catholic School
Christ the King Catholic School serves approximately 500 students from Pre-K3 through eighth grade on the parish campus. Its mission, 'Building Christ's Kingdom through Worship, Academics, and Service,' focuses on forming students who understand, live, and know their faith. The school welcomes new-student applications each year for the following academic year, with placement testing for grades 1–8 and a special kindergarten assessment process.
- Pre-K3 through 8th grade
- Approximately 500 students
- Two campus additions — 2001 and 2020
- Sacramental Prep integrated into 2nd-grade (First Communion / Reconciliation) and 7th/8th-grade (Confirmation) curriculum
- Contact: (574) 272-3922 (school phone as listed on school site)
- Website: https://school.sbctk.com
Our Priests & Deacons
Christ the King continues the long tradition of being served by priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The current pastoral team includes the pastor, a parochial vicar, an assisting priest, and two deacons who assist with liturgy, preaching, baptisms, weddings, and parish outreach.
- Rev. David Smith, C.S.C. — Pastor
- Rev. Cameron Cortens, C.S.C. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Robert Epping, C.S.C. — Assisting Priest
- Rev. Mr. Joseph Dietz, Sr. — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Andy Oross — Deacon
About Fr. Steve Lacroix, C.S.C.
Fr. Steve Lacroix was pastor of Christ the King from 2015 until recently. Originally from Sugar Land, Texas, he was ordained in 2008. He first served Christ the King as a deacon and associate pastor from 2007 to 2010, then directed the undergraduate seminary program for the Congregation of Holy Cross for five years before returning to CTK as pastor. He is listed on the parish as a contact for individual confession appointments and for pastoral conversations about the school, parish, or faith.
- Ordained 2008
- Served CTK 2007–2010 as deacon and associate pastor
- Directed Holy Cross undergraduate seminary program for 5 years
- Returned to Christ the King as pastor in 2015
About Fr. Cameron Cortens, C.S.C.
Fr. Cameron Cortens, C.S.C., serves as Parochial Vicar. Ordained as a Holy Cross priest in 2022, he grew up in Boise, Idaho, as the eldest of four children. He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he studied philosophy and theology, graduating in 2023 (note: timeline based on parish biography). He then spent a year in evangelization through catechesis and music ministry as a member of the House of Brigid Community in Wexford, Ireland, before entering Moreau Seminary in 2014. He previously served a year in diaconal ministry and a year as associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon.
- Ordained a Holy Cross priest in 2022
- University of Notre Dame, philosophy and theology
- House of Brigid Community, Wexford, Ireland
- Prior service at Holy Redeemer Parish, Portland, Oregon
Parish Staff & Contact
Behind the priests and deacons, a lay staff keeps the parish running day to day — from faith formation and sacramental preparation to liturgy, music, business, communications, and facilities.
- Lindsey Barrett — Director of Evangelization & Youth Ministry
- Teresa Oross — Director of Sacramental Preparation
- Jennifer Snyder — Business Manager
- Amy Tatay — Administrative Secretary
- Maura Barth — Marketing Coordinator
- Leslie Burns — Maintenance Coordinator
- Jennifer Busk — Safe Environment Coordinator / Choice Representative
- Rianna Edwards — (parish staff)
- Director of Liturgy and Music
Visit, Contact & Connect
Christ the King is located at 52473 Indiana State Road 933 on the north side of South Bend, at the corner of State Road 933 and Darden Road. Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to attend Mass, come for Adoration, schedule a confession, or arrange a tour of the school.
- Address: 52473 Indiana State Road 933, South Bend, IN 46637
- Phone: (574) 272-3113
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sbctk.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/sbctk
- Corner of State Road 933 and Darden Road
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Miner, C.S.C.1933–
First pastor; appointed when the parish was founded with nearly 150 charter families.
- Fr. Wendell Corcoran, C.S.C.1934–
Oversaw groundbreaking for the church building in October 1934; celebrated the first Mass in the new 'little white church' on Dixie Highway in 1935.
- Fr. Clement Funke, C.S.C.
Opened a new school building in 1955; by 1958 the school served grades 1–8.
- Fr. Stanley Rdzok, C.S.C.
Pastor during the period leading to dedication of the present church in 1961.
- Fr. Ken Maley, C.S.C.
Pastor during post-1961 growth.
- Fr. Joseph Fey, C.S.C.
Pastor during continued parish growth.
- Fr. Bob Epping, C.S.C.
Creative vision for parish building projects; later returned as Assisting Priest.
- Fr. Tom Jones, C.S.C.
Stewarded building and liturgical projects.
- Fr. Neil Wack, C.S.C.
Continued vision for the parish campus and facilities.
- Fr. Steve Lacroix, C.S.C.2015–c.2024
Originally from Sugar Land, TX; ordained in 2008; had earlier served CTK as deacon and associate pastor 2007–2010; directed the undergraduate seminary program for the Congregation of Holy Cross for 5 years before returning as pastor.
- Rev. David Smith, C.S.C.current
Current pastor per parish staff page.