About Christ the King · Wichita, Kansas
Christ the King Catholic Parish is a Catholic community on the west side of Wichita, Kansas, founded in 1950 and serving as a family-sized parish in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish operates both a worship community and Christ the King Catholic School (PreK-8), and describes itself as a place where the relative size of the parish allows for personal interaction and fruitful participation in the life and ministries of the parish. Located at 4411 W Maple St., it is currently led by Fr. Devin Burns and offers weekend and weekday Masses, a strong Eucharistic Adoration tradition, RCIA, and a wide range of service and liturgical ministries.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- Christ the King
- Rector
- Rev. Devin Burns
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Wichita
Why belong here
Christ the King is a family-sized Catholic parish where members describe themselves as a community that knows one another by name. The parish combines traditional liturgy — weekend and weekday Masses, daily rosary, frequent Confession, and a strong weekly Eucharistic Adoration extending from Wednesday morning through Thursday evening — with active service to the poor through the Lord's Diner, Respect Life, Meals on Wheels, Christ the King Cares, prayer lines, and a vibrant Christ the King Catholic School (PreK-8). Visitors are welcomed by a dedicated Welcome Committee, and there are ministries for every age and stage, from RCIA and youth group to Altar Society, Holy Name Society, Marian Mantle Prayer Group, and a Vietnamese Choir that sings once a month at the 10:30 Mass.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass (mornings)
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM through Thursday 8:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the Adoration / Cry Room)
Parish History
Christ the King was established July 1, 1950, during the Holy Year of Pope Pius XII, by Bishop Mark K. Carroll of the Diocese of Wichita. The founding pastor, Monsignor Joseph J. Gerstenkorn, started Sunday Masses on July 30, 1950 in a commercial building donated by the Goebel family at West and Maple. A 10-acre site in the 4500 block of Maple was acquired in August 1950, and the rectory, school and chapel were constructed within months — the first Mass on parish property was celebrated on Christmas Day 1950. Bishop Carroll dedicated the church, school and rectory on September 23, 1951, declaring it the first church in the diocese to be dedicated in honor of Christ the King. The parish grew steadily and in 1959 helped seed the founding of St. Francis of Assisi parish, with Monsignor Gerstenkorn appointed its founding pastor.
- 1950 – Parish of Christ the King established July 1; first Masses July 30
- 1950 – First Baptism: Constance Leigh Welsby (July 27); First wedding: Hada–Horsch (Oct 31)
- 1950 – Christmas Day: first Mass on parish property in two schoolrooms
- 1951 – Passion Sunday (March 12): first Mass in the completed chapel
- 1951 – Sept 4: Christ the King School opens with 175 students and five Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
- 1951 – Sept 23: Bishop Carroll dedicates church, school and rectory; remaining debt $100,000
- 1959 – Monsignor Gerstenkorn honored on his silver sacerdotal jubilee; appointed founding pastor of St. Francis of Assisi
- 1959–1961 – Fr. Quintin J. Malone second pastor; forms Home and School Federation
- 1961 – Fr. Vincent J. Eck becomes third pastor (serves until 1985)
Our Pastor — Fr. Devin Burns
Fr. Devin Burns became pastor of Christ the King on November 10, 2020. He grew up on the west side of Wichita, attending St. Francis of Assisi and Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. He studied at the University of Kansas before entering seminary for the Diocese of Wichita and was ordained a diocesan priest in 2015.
- Began as pastor of Christ the King on November 10, 2020
- Ordained 2015 for the Diocese of Wichita
- Contact: 316-943-4353
Our Priests Who Have Served Us (Past Pastor Succession)
Christ the King has been blessed with a continuous succession of 13 pastors since its founding in 1950. The parish's official history page lists every pastor from Monsignor Gerstenkorn through the present.
- Msgr. Joseph J. Gerstenkorn — 1950–1959
- Rev. Quintin J. Malone — 1959–1961
- Rev. Vincent J. Eck — 1961–1985
- Rev. Phillip J. Allen — 1985–1991
- Msgr. Charles W. Regan — 1991–1997
- Rev. Robert B. Wachter — 1997–2001
- Rev. Michael J. Schemm — 2001–2007
- Rev. David Linnebur — 2007
- Rev. John Brungardt — 2007–2010
- Rev. Matthew Marney — 2010–2017
- Rev. Benjamin Sawyer — 2017–2020
- Rev. Kenneth VanHaverbeke — 2020
- Rev. Devin Burns — 2020–Present
Liturgical Ministries
Christ the King depends on a large lay volunteer corps to celebrate the liturgy reverently and beautifully. Children, youth and adults all participate.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls in 4th–8th grade and high school
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (and Homebound Ministers)
- Sacristans
- Music Ministry — including a Vietnamese Choir that sings monthly at the 10:30 Mass
Service & Outreach Ministries
Parishioners reach out to neighbors in need through a wide range of service ministries, both inside the parish and through the wider Wichita community.
- Christ the King Cares — assists parishioners in times of need
- Respect Life — Rosary for Life Monday nights 8:15 PM
- Meals on Wheels — CTK delivers meals four weekends a year
- Lord's Diner — parish serves one hot meal per month to the needy
- Visit the Sick — ministers to parishioners in hospitals, nursing homes and homes
- Transportation to Church — rides provided for those in need
- Prayerline — Dianne Loux (316-640-1512) and Debbie Muth (316-942-5484)
- Funeral Dinners — part of the Altar Society
- School Volunteer — assisting Christ the King School
- Special Collections — Christmas Call to Sharing and Easter Missions
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish welcomes anyone who would like to learn about the Catholic faith through its Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. Sessions cover Salvation History, the Mystery of Jesus' Death and Resurrection, prayer, morality, and the sacraments, culminating in the Easter Vigil for those received into the Church.
- RCIA sessions: Thursday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM
- Season runs September through four weeks after Easter
- Contact the parish office (316-943-4353) to inquire or sign up
- Also serves those seeking the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist)
Christ the King Catholic School
Christ the King Catholic School has been a cornerstone of Catholic education on the west side of Wichita since 1951. The school partners closely with the parish in forming disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Founded September 4, 1951, with 175 students and the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
- PreK-8th grade
- Address: 4501 W Maple St, Wichita, KS 67209
- Phone: 316-943-0111 / Fax: 316-943-0147
- Principal: Mrs. Michelle Wiesner
- Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Holly Arnold
- Pastor: Fr. Devin Burns (chaplain)
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond weekend Masses, Christ the King offers a rich devotional and social life throughout the week, with groups for men, women, seniors, youth and prayer communities.
- Altar Society — women of the parish (and Funeral Dinners)
- Holy Name Society — men's group
- Marian Mantle Prayer Group — Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Chatty Catholics — Thursday mornings after Mass
- Flame of Love Rosary — Thursday 7:30 AM
- Over 55 Card Club — Mondays and Thursdays 1:00 PM
- Youth Group — Saturdays 4:30 PM
- Knights of Columbus — Blood Drives, Easter Egg Hunt, other events
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach Christ the King by phone, in person, or via the website. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Parish Office: 4411 W Maple St, Wichita, KS 67209
- Phone: 316-943-4353 / Fax: 316-943-8196
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Pastor: Fr. Devin Burns
- Office Manager: Mrs. Cindy Dutton
- Website: ctkwichita.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Joseph J. Gerstenkorn1950–1959
Founding pastor; built much of the parish himself; later named Papal Chamberlain and appointed founding pastor of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Rev. Quintin J. Malone1959–1961
Organized the Home and School Federation, replacing the former PTA.
- Rev. Vincent J. Eck1961–1985
Third pastor; brother of Father Ivan Eck, who had been an assistant at Christ the King; oversaw later growth and building.
- Rev. Phillip J. Allen1985–1991
- Msgr. Charles W. Regan1991–1997
- Rev. Robert B. Wachter1997–2001
- Rev. Michael J. Schemm2001–2007
- Rev. David Linnebur2007
- Rev. John Brungardt2007–2010
- Rev. Matthew Marney2010–2017
- Rev. Benjamin Sawyer2017–2020
- Rev. Kenneth VanHaverbeke2020
- Rev. Devin Burns2020–Present
Began as pastor on November 10, 2020; grew up on west Wichita, attended St. Francis of Assisi and Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, University of Kansas, ordained 2015 for the Diocese of Wichita.