About Christ the King · Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Parish of Christ the King is a vibrant, historic Roman Catholic parish in midtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, belonging to the Diocese of Tulsa. Located at 1520 S. Rockford Avenue, the parish community is more than 100 years old, having been established in 1917 as Sacred Heart Parish and renamed Christ the King in 1927 — believed to be the first church in the world dedicated to that title, just months after Pope Pius XI created the feast of Christ the King. Today it serves Tulsa Catholics through four Sunday Masses, daily Mass, an attached parish school (Marquette Catholic School), an Early Childhood Development Center, robust youth and young adult ministry, mission trips, OCIA (RCIA), and devotional life centered on the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. Elkin González
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa
Why belong here
Christ the King offers the full rhythm of a historic Tulsa Catholic parish: four Sunday Masses (including a Saturday Vigil), daily Mass, a chapel dedicated to Mary, regular Eucharistic Adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation multiple times a week. Families with school-age children can walk to Marquette Catholic School, a Christ-centered PreK–8th grade school that has been on the campus for nearly a century, and use the on-site Early Childhood Development Center, which also houses the Sunday nursery. Active discipleship is built in — high schoolers meet weekly for Quest, middle schoolers for Voyage, the OCIA process forms new Catholics each year, the Guatemala Mission Trip takes parishioners to serve near the site of Oklahoma martyr Fr. Stanley Rother, and adult formation includes Prayer Breakfasts, a Summer Spirituality Series, a Speaker Series, and a FOCUS Missionary partnership. A century-old parish rooted in the community, with renowned Iannelli stained glass and a crown-shaped Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel, makes it both a place to belong and a place to encounter Christ.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Fletcher Hall Confessionals)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Fletcher Hall Confessionals, or inside Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Parish History
The parish was established in 1917 as Sacred Heart by Bishop Theophile Meerschaert, with Belgian-born Fr. Charles Prosper Standaert as founding pastor. It was renamed Christ the King in 1927 — believed to be the first church in the world to bear that name, just seventeen months after Pope Pius XI created the feast. The current church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's former partner Francis Barry Byrne and dedicated on May 13, 1928. Major expansions include the 1991 Vision '89 parish center under Fr. Gregory Gier, the 2007 Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel and Early Childhood Development Center under Fr. Nguyen Tam, and the 2014 Centennial Campaign renovation of Fletcher Hall. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017.
- 1899: Holy Family Parish founded as first Catholic church in Tulsa
- 1917 (Feb 17): Land on Sixteenth & Rockford purchased for $17,000
- 1917 (Jul 2): Sacred Heart Parish formally established; Fr. Standaert founding pastor
- 1918 (Mar 17): First Mass at Sacred Heart
- 1924: Both Bishop Meerschaert and Fr. Standaert die; Fr. Davlin administers
- 1927: Parish renamed 'Church of The Christ King' — believed first in the world
- 1928 (May 13): Christ the King church dedicated; ~2,000 in attendance
- 1930s: School renamed Marquette Catholic School
- 1934–1962: Msgr. Daniel C. Fletcher's pastorate; Bishop Kelley High School founded 1960
- 1990–1991: Vision '89 expansion (gym, library, cafeteria, new Fletcher Hall)
- 2007 (Nov 27): Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel dedicated
- 2014: Centennial Campaign (porte-cochère, Fletcher Hall adult faith enrichment center)
- 2017: Centennial celebration held in Tulsa
Architecture & Sacred Art
The 1928 church is a celebrated example of Catholic modernism in Oklahoma — a deliberate fusion of Gothic, Byzantine and Art Deco styles designed by Francis Barry Byrne, a former partner of Frank Lloyd Wright. The 550-seat sanctuary is wider than long, with a triangular sanctuary thrust deep into the congregational seating, a carved limestone altar, an Emil Frei mosaic of Christ behind the altar, and side-altar mosaics by Tulsa architect Bruce Goff. The stained glass, by Alfonso Iannelli (who had worked with Wright on Midway Gardens) and produced by the Temple Art Glass Company of Chicago, was ranked by Liturgical Arts Magazine among the best in the United States.
- Architect: Francis Barry Byrne (Chicago modernist)
- Mosaics: Emil Frei, Inc. (Christ); Bruce Goff (side altars)
- Stained glass: Alfonso Iannelli / Temple Art Glass Co. of Chicago
- Depictions: canonized saint-kings (north), Old Testament kings & Magi (south), each offering his crown
- Exterior: buff brick, brick piers, terra cotta pinnacles, hex/pentagon windows
- 2007 Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel: crown-shaped foundation, designed by Greg Ward and Cyntergy AEC
Clergy & Parish Staff
Christ the King is led by Pastor Rev. Elkin González and Associate Pastor Rev. Steven Ditzel, supported by five deacons and a lay staff responsible for sacramental preparation, music, communications, family ministry, faith formation, and youth ministry. The parish manager is Deacon John Sommer; Deacon Dean Wersal coordinates OCIA. Tom Starnes is Music Director and Jay Luetkemeyer is principal of the affiliated Marquette Catholic School.
- Pastor: Rev. Elkin González ([email protected])
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Steven Ditzel, ext. 209
- Deacons: Bo Harrison, Michael Loeffler, John Sommer (Parish Manager, ext. 206), Dean Wersal (OCIA, ext. 204), Joe Yosten
- Sacramentals & Logistics Coordinator: Sara Say, ext. 200
- Music Director: Tom Starnes, ext. 203
- Communications Director: Lacy Wulfers, ext. 208
- Family Ministry Coordinator: Sarah Seck, ext. 210
- Mission & Faith Formation: Caitlyn Gonya, ext. 220
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: John Labosky
- Principal of Marquette Catholic School: Jay Luetkemeyer
Marquette Catholic School & Early Childhood Development Center
Marquette Catholic School and the adjoining Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) share the parish campus on Quincy Avenue, providing a Christ-centered, holistic Catholic education for students age three through 8th grade. Marquette has upheld a tradition of academic excellence for more than 100 years, and the ECDC is also used for the parish nursery during the 9:15 AM and 11:15 AM Sunday Masses and the Saturday Vigil.
- Marquette Catholic School (PreK–8)
- Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) — ages 3 and up
- Sunday nursery during 9:15 AM, 11:15 AM, and Saturday 5:00 PM Masses
- ECDC address: 1528 S. Quincy Ave. (across the street from the church)
Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
Adults wishing to become Catholic or to refresh their faith are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), the parish's process of formation, discernment, and liturgical rites for entering the Church. Classes meet Tuesday evenings 6:30–8:00 PM and walk through Catholic symbols, Scripture, salvation history, the sacraments, moral teaching, and the dignity of the human person, with the Rites of Acceptance and Election celebrated at the 5:30 PM parish Masses.
- OCIA meets Tuesday nights 6:30–8:00 PM
- Coordinator: Deacon Dean Wersal, ext. 204
- Spring/Summer and Fall sessions offered; registration open for the upcoming session
- Rite of Acceptance at the 5:30 PM Mass; Rite of Election at the 5:30 PM Mass; Mass of Initiation at 11:15 AM
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Christ the King's youth ministry is organized by age into Quest (high school, Grades 9–12) and Voyage (middle school, Grades 6–8), with a summer Totus Tuus Marian program, an annual Steubenville Youth Conference trip, and an out-of-state summer Mission Trip for high schoolers. The parish also runs a Young Adults ministry, a Pray & Play summer fellowship for parents and young children, and CTK Date Day for marriage enrichment.
- Quest (HS) — Wednesdays in the Boiler Room: 7:00–9:15 PM
- Voyage (MS) — Sunday evenings in the Boiler Room, 6:00–8:00 PM
- Totus Tuus — one week each summer, Marian focus, with Vacation Bible School
- Steubenville Youth Conference (annual trip)
- Summer Mission Trip (HS, out of state, construction + service)
- Young Adults community
- Pray & Play (summer, families with young children)
- CTK Date Day (marriage enrichment)
Missions, Pilgrimages & Outreach
Adult parishioners can join a biennial Guatemala Mission Trip to the village of San Lucas on Lake Atitlán, with service projects (stove-building, home construction, coffee harvest) and a pilgrimage to Mission Santiago Atitlán — the site of Oklahoma priest Fr. Stanley Rother's 1981 martyrdom. Fr. Elkin González also leads pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, to the Holy Land, and to Catholic sites in Italy including Vatican City and the Papal Audience.
- Guatemala Mission (every other summer, adults 18+)
- Camino de Santiago pilgrimage (Spain)
- Holy Land pilgrimage
- Italy / Vatican City / Papal Audience
- Connection to the cause of canonization of Fr. Stanley Rother
Sacramental Preparation (Restored Order)
In line with the Diocese of Tulsa's restored order, children receive First Communion before Confirmation, and sacramental formation is built around family catechesis. The parish's 'Pathways' program accompanies families — and the other families and mentors they work with — through the teachings of the Church in a spirit of accompaniment.
- Restored order: First Communion before Confirmation
- Family catechesis model: 'Pathways'
- Mentor and family-to-family accompaniment
Stewardship & Parish Life
The parish encourages parishioners to grow as stewards of time, talent and treasure, with a Ministry Guide to help newcomers find a way to serve. The communications team, music ministry, family ministry, and faith-formation staff all support an active parish life that includes the Boiler Room youth space, Fletcher Hall parish center, and the Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel for devotional life.
- Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
- Parish Ministry Guide (online)
- FOCUS Missionary pilot parish
- Music Ministry (Tom Starnes, Director)
- Parish office at 1520 S. Rockford Ave.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles Prosper Standaert (Sacred Heart)1917–1924
Belgian-born founding pastor appointed by Bishop Meerschaert; built the first red-brick Romanesque church and school.
- Fr. John Davlin1924 (interim)
Recently named pastor of Immaculate Conception; administered Sacred Heart after the deaths of Bishop Meerschaert and Fr. Standaert. Ended pew rent, began the envelope system, added a Sunday evening service.
- Msgr. James F. McGuiremid-1920s
First evidence of the 'Church of The Christ King' name appears on his 1927 letterhead to Bishop Kelley.
- Monsignor Daniel C. Fletcher1934–1962
Longest-tenured pastor; oversaw completion of a new convent, presided over parish divisions creating Church of the Madalene and Church of St. Mary, and helped establish Bishop Kelley High School. 717 baptisms and 434 marriages by retirement.
- Fr. Gregory Gier1983–1996
Led the Vision '89 capital campaign, adding the gymnasium, school library, cafeteria and new Fletcher Hall (dedicated 1991).
- Fr. Rex Arnold2003 (75th anniversary)
Listed as pastor at the time of the 75th anniversary gala at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
- Fr. Nguyen Tam2000–2011
Pastor during the Legacy 2005 expansion — Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel (2007), Marquette ECDC, Boiler Room upgrades.
- Rev. Elkin Gonzálezpresent
Current pastor; leads mission trips to Guatemala and Camino de Santiago pilgrimages.