About Christ the King · Southaven, Mississippi
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Roman Latin rite parish of the Diocese of Jackson in Southaven, Mississippi, served by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) as part of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions cluster of northwestern Mississippi. The parish was established as a mission on March 13, 1966, made a full parish in 1974, and today includes nearly 2,000 families worshipping in both English and Spanish. Its members come from many backgrounds, cultures, and countries, and the parish describes itself as a 'Eucharistic centered community' that welcomes new members and those journeying toward the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Reverend Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ (Pastoral Team Moderator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Jackson (Mississippi)
Why belong here
Christ the King is a large, Eucharistic-centered parish where Catholics from many cultures and countries worship side by side in both English and Spanish, with a full Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, daily confessions by appointment, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Vespers, and active ministries for every age and stage of life. Its PREP faith formation program serves children and teens from grade school through high school, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes those entering the Church, and groups such as the Knights of Columbus, Cursillo, Shining Stars seniors, and bilingual choirs offer a place for every parishioner to belong and serve.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration followed by Vespers; subject to change on Holy Days)
- First Friday 7:00 PM (Spanish Mass followed by Adoration)
Our History
Christ the King's story reaches back to 1942, when the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJs) first came to northwestern Mississippi to minister to a scattered handful of Catholics. Christ the King itself was founded as a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Walls on March 13, 1966, and made a full parish on February 1, 1974. After three decades on Stateline Road, the parish built its present church on Church Road West, dedicated by Bishop Joseph N. Latino on February 22, 2004.
- 1942 — SCJs arrive in northwestern Mississippi; only 34 known Catholics in all of DeSoto County.
- March 13, 1966 — Christ the King established as a mission of Sacred Heart, Walls; first Masses in a car auction barn on Highway 51.
- April 1969 — Construction begins on the first church, 12 acres on Stateline Road.
- July 17, 1969 — First Mass in the new Stateline Road church.
- October 1969 — Church dedicated by Bishop Joseph B. Brunini.
- February 1, 1974 — Made a parish by Bishop Brunini; Fr. Michael McMillen, SCJ, named first pastor.
- 2002 — Ground broken for the current church on Church Road West.
- February 22, 2004 — Current church dedicated by Bishop Joseph N. Latino under Fr. Patrick Lloyd, SCJ.
- 2006–2009 — Fr. Gregory Speck, SCJ, extends care to four additional parishes, giving rise to the Team Ministry model.
- September 2009 – July 2016 — Fr. Robert Tucker, SCJ, serves as moderator.
- November 26, 2016 — 50th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz and Fr. Ed Kilianski, CSJ.
- February 23, 2024 — 20th anniversary of the present church celebrated with Bishop Kopacz.
The Priests of the Sacred Heart at Christ the King
Christ the King has been served since its founding by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians / SCJ), part of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions cluster covering DeSoto, Tunica, Tate, Marshall, and Benton Counties. Pastoral care is provided by a small team of SCJ priests under a moderator, alongside a permanent deacon — a 'Team Ministry' model born out of necessity when one parish's responsibilities expanded to cover several smaller missions.
- Fr. Michael McMillen, SCJ — founding pastor (1966 onward).
- Fr. Patrick Lloyd, SCJ ('Fr. Pat') — led construction of the present church.
- Fr. Ed Zemlik, SCJ
- Fr. Gregory Speck, SCJ — 2006–2009.
- Fr. Robert Tucker, SCJ — moderator 2009–2016.
- Fr. Tim Gray, SCJ
- Fr. Duy Nguyen, SCJ
- Fr. Thi Pham, SCJ
- Fr. Gregory Schill, SCJ
- Fr. Zbigniew Morawiec, SCJ ('Fr. Ziggy')
- Fr. Francois Tsanga, SCJ
- Fr. David Szatkowski, SCJ
- Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ ('Fr. Ardi') — current Pastoral Team Moderator.
- Fr. Louis Fernandes, SCJ
- Fr. Guy Blair, SCJ
- Fr. Paul (Phong) Hoang, SCJ
- Deacon Ted Schreck.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) provides ongoing Catholic faith formation for all parish children and teens from grade school through high school. Sacramental preparation requires at least one year of prior PREP attendance plus attendance throughout the year the sacrament is received. Coordinator Mrs. Donna Williamson ([email protected]) leads the program; registration for the 2024–2025 PREP year opened with classes beginning in September 2024.
- PREP — Parish Religious Education Program (K–12).
- Baptism certificates required on file for enrollment.
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation.
- Registration forms accepted in the gathering area basket, collection basket/parish office, or by email.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Mrs. Donna Williamson — [email protected].
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their initiation. Sessions meet on Sundays at 9:30 AM, ahead of the 11:00 AM Mass, allowing catechumens and candidates to fully participate in the Sunday liturgy.
- OCIA sessions — Sundays, 9:30 AM.
- Welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics completing sacraments.
Parish Ministries & Groups
Christ the King has a wide range of parish groups for men, women, seniors, youth, and Spanish-speaking parishioners. ESL classes, a men's prayer breakfast, and outreach through Sacred Heart Southern Missions make the parish an active center of community life in DeSoto County.
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meeting (first Monday at 6:30 PM) and Family Rosary (Thursdays 7:00 PM).
- Cursillo — Spanish-speaking group, contact Sergio Macedo.
- Shining Stars — seniors group, second Tuesday at 1:00 PM.
- Pastoral Council — meets second Tuesday at 7:00 PM.
- Free ESL Classes — Thursdays at 7:00 PM in Rooms 5a–5b.
- Dehonian Spirituality / SCJ Associates.
- Sacred Heart Southern Missions Mobile Food Distribution volunteer partnership.
- English Choir (Wednesdays 6:00 PM) and Spanish Choir / Práctica de Coro (Esp).
Sacred Heart Southern Missions & Team Ministry
Christ the King is one of six parishes in the Sacred Heart Southern Missions cluster of northwestern Mississippi, where the SCJs pioneered the Team Ministry approach so that a few priests can pastorally care for several rural parishes at once. Together with Queen of Peace (Olive Branch), Holy Spirit (Hernando), St. Gregory (Senatobia), St. Joseph (Holly Springs), and Good Shepherd (Robinsonville), Christ the King is part of a regional Catholic ministry covering five counties.
- Cluster parishes: St. Joseph (Holly Springs), Queen of Peace (Olive Branch), Christ the King (Southaven), Holy Spirit (Hernando), St. Gregory (Senatobia), Good Shepherd (Robinsonville).
- Counties served: DeSoto, Tunica, Tate, Marshall, Benton.
- Team Ministry: shared SCJ priests under a moderator cover multiple parishes.
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Christ the King by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on Church Road West in Southaven. The parish is conveniently located just off I-55 at Exit 287.
- Address: 785 Church Road West, Southaven, MS 38671-9604.
- Phone: (662) 342-1073.
- Fax: (662) 342-7733.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: https://ctkshaven.com/.
- Directions: I-55, Exit 287 (Church Road), 1/2 mile west.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–? (per website header).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael McMillen, SCJ1966 – founding/first pastor when mission became parish in 1974
First pastor; oversaw construction of the first church on Stateline Road in 1969 and was named first pastor when the mission was made a parish on Feb. 1, 1974.
- Fr. Patrick Lloyd, SCJ ('Fr. Pat')through 2006
Carried the construction of the present church on Church Road through to completion; present church dedicated by Bishop Latino on Feb. 22, 2004.
- Fr. Gregory M. Speck, SCJ2006 – 2009
Took on additional parishes (St. Anthony of Tunica, Sacred Heart Walls, St. Gregory Senatobia, Holy Spirit Hernando), giving rise to the Team Ministry approach.
- Fr. Robert Tucker, SCJSeptember 2009 – July 2016
Served as moderator of the team ministry cluster.
- Fr. Thi Pham, SCJas of 2016
Listed as moderator of the Sacred Heart Southern Missions community in 2016; prepared 21 turkeys for the 50th anniversary meal.
- Fr. Hendrik Ardianto, SCJ ('Fr. Ardi')current (per Diocese of Jackson parish finder)
Current Pastoral Team Moderator; one of many SCJs to serve the parish since moving to Church Road.