About Christ the King · Springfield Gardens, New York
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish in Springfield Gardens, Queens, in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Founded in 1933 to serve Catholic families in what was then a rural stretch of south-eastern Queens, the parish has worshipped continuously in the same building — a simple basement church on Farmers Boulevard — for nearly a century. Today it is the Christ the King worship site of the merged Parish of Christ the King – St. Mary Magdalene (since July 1, 2024) under Bishop Robert Brennan, with Father Gordon P. Kusi as pastor, Deacon Lamont A. Blake, and a faith-formation team that has energized parish life for school-age children and their families.
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Gordon P. Kusi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn (Deanery Q9)
Why belong here
Christ the King offers a tight-knit, multigenerational Catholic community in Springfield Gardens with a long history — celebrating Mass in the same basement church building since Christmas 1934 — and a freshly rededicated sanctuary. Parishioners actively live the faith through a school-age Faith Formation program, a music ministry and parish choir, youth fellowship, Men's and Women's Fellowships, an emergency food pantry, social-justice and outreach ministries, plus ongoing Bible sharing, retreats, and days of prayer. As part of the merged Christ the King – St. Mary Magdalene Parish (since July 1, 2024), it remains a welcoming place to worship, raise a family, and serve the Queens community.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Fridays: Holy Hour, Friday 8:30 am – 9:30 am
About Christ the King Parish
Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Brooklyn serving Springfield Gardens in southeastern Queens. The parish community gathers for Mass in the long-standing church building on Farmers Boulevard, supports a Sunday School of Religion, and reaches into the wider neighborhood through food, fellowship, and outreach ministries.
- Founded 1933; first pastor Father Patrick J. Cunnane
- Parish named Christ the King, April 14, 1934
- Belongs to Diocese of Brooklyn, Deanery Q9
- Merged with St. Mary Magdalene on July 1, 2024
History
The parish was explored at Bishop Thomas E. Molloy's request beginning February 10, 1933. Father Cunnane was assigned as the first pastor on March 23, 1934, and the first Mass was celebrated at midnight on Christmas Day 1934. The 1950s brought a school and convent staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Amityville; the school closed in 1975. The building has hosted, in turn, the JSPOA Friendship Center, Birch Family Services, and the Mugavero Center (St. Christopher's Home). Father Gordon P. Kusi's $1.6 million renovation of the basement church was rededicated by Bishop Robert Brennan on November 22, 2024.
- February 10, 1933 – parish exploration begins
- December 25, 1934 – first midnight Mass (portable stoves for heat)
- June 2, 1935 – formal dedication with 300+ in attendance
- 1951 – school and convent built; Dominican Sisters of Amityville teach
- 1975 – school closes after 17 years
- 2024 – $1.6M renovation; rededication by Bishop Brennan, Nov. 22
- July 1, 2024 – merged with St. Mary Magdalene Parish
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Gordon P. Kusi, pastor, supported by Father Mark Cregan (In Residence), Deacon Lamont A. Blake, and Director of Faith Formation Robbin Johnson. The parish office can be reached at (718) 528-6010.
- Rev. Gordon P. Kusi — Pastor
- Rev. Mark Cregan — In Residence
- Deacon Lamont A. Blake
- Robbin Johnson — Director of Faith Formation
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The Sunday School of Religion meets in the former parish school building and prepares children for the sacraments. The parish website outlines a multi-year sacramental track: Baptism is arranged with parents through the office, First Holy Communion is prepared over 1–2 years beginning around ages 8–9, and Confirmation follows for students who have received First Communion, with older candidates encouraged to contact the Director of Faith Formation directly.
- Sunday School of Religion — held Sundays in the former school building
- Baptism — parental preparation through the parish office
- First Communion — 1 to 2 years of preparation, typically ages 8–9
- Confirmation — multi-year preparation after First Communion; older candidates welcomed
- Director of Faith Formation: Robbin Johnson
Music and Liturgy
The parish choir and music ministry serve the Masses all year, with special joy at Christmas and at the parish's Solemnity of Christ the King feast-day Mass, where children of the parish perform songs, skits, dances, and poetry.
- Parish Choir and Music Ministry
- Children's choir and liturgical dance at the annual feast-day Mass
- Sunday Masses livestreamed on the parish website
Parish Ministries and Groups
Christ the King has a wide network of lay-led ministries serving children, youth, adults, and the wider community. Opportunities include an Emergency Food Pantry and Social Justice / Outreach ministries, youth fellowship and athletics, Men's and Women's Fellowships, ongoing Scripture sharing and prayer groups, and retreats and days of prayer across all ages.
- Youth Fellowship
- Athletics / Recreation Program
- Men's Fellowship
- Women's Fellowship
- Emergency Food Pantry
- Social Justice Ministry
- Outreach Ministry
- Scripture sharing and prayer groups
- Retreats and days of prayer (all ages)
Facility and the Former School Building
After the parish school closed in 1975, the school and convent buildings were repurposed for service to the wider Springfield Gardens community. The school building has been home to the JSPOA Friendship Center (frail elderly, relocated March 2008) and Birch Family Services, which serves about 270 pre-school and special-needs children. The convent, now the Mugavero Center, is a community residence for fourteen severely handicapped youngsters managed by St. Christopher's Home. The parish continues to use the school on Sundays for its School of Religion and the auditorium for parish events.
- Birch Family Services — ~270 pre-school and special-needs children (school building)
- Mugavero Center — 14 severely handicapped residents (former convent)
- JSPOA Friendship Center — previously in the school building
- Parish uses school for Sunday School of Religion and auditorium for events
Christ the King – St. Mary Magdalene Parish
On July 1, 2024, Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn canonically merged the parishes of Christ the King and St. Mary Magdalene, both in Springfield Gardens, into one parish: Christ the King – St. Mary Magdalene Parish. Father Gordon P. Kusi is the pastor; the main parish office is located at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, NY 11434, while each former church has retained its own parish office. The new parish retains the worship sites of both Christ the King and St. Mary Magdalene.
- Effective July 1, 2024
- Pastor: Rev. Gordon P. Kusi
- Main parish office: 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, NY 11434
- Two worship sites: Christ the King and St. Mary Magdalene
Visit, Contact, and Connect
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 145-39 Farmers Boulevard on the corner of 45th Road and Farmers Boulevard in Springfield Gardens. The parish office can be reached at (718) 528-6010, by email at [email protected], or through the parish website, where Sunday Masses are also livestreamed.
- Address: 145-39 Farmers Boulevard, Springfield Gardens, NY 11434
- Phone: (718) 528-6010
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.christthekingsg.org
- Sunday Masses livestreamed on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick J. Cunnane1934–
First pastor; assigned March 23, 1934 by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy; celebrated the parish's first Mass at midnight on December 25, 1934.