About Christ the King · Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Christ the King is the principal Catholic chapel of King's College, a private Catholic university in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania run by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Housed in the 1872 former Memorial Presbyterian Church on West North Street, renovated and consecrated as a Catholic chapel in 2019, it serves the entire King's community and the wider Wyoming Valley with Sunday and daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full calendar of student-driven retreats and faith formation. The chapel is most distinctive for its 4,200-pound anthracite coal altar, sculpted in 1954 by renowned African-American sculptor and Wilkes-Barre resident C. Edgar Patience — a tribute to the region's mining heritage. Campus Ministry, staffed by Holy Cross religious and lay ministers, anchors the College's Catholic identity through liturgy, retreats, outreach, and the SERVE alternative-break program run out of the adjacent Shoval Center.
- Established
- 2019 (Chapel consecrated in former Memorial Presbyterian Church, built 1872; King's College founded 1946)
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Scranton
Why belong here
Christ the King Chapel offers a vibrant, authentically Catholic liturgical life in the heart of downtown Wilkes-Barre — daily noon Mass, two Sunday Masses with homilies tailored to the undergraduate community, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Monday evenings, and regular confession. All Masses and services are open to the public and streamed online, making it easy to participate whether you are a student, faculty member, neighbor, or visitor. Behind it stands the pastoral and community engagement network of King's College: retreat teams, the Anchor Faith Challenge, Champions for Christ, Sisters-in-Faith, KingsMen, the Knights support ministry, and the SERVE alternative-break program — a true reflection of the Holy Cross motto that 'we shall always place education side by side with instruction.'
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (when classes are in session)
- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- By appointment — call (570) 208-5890, email [email protected], or visit the Office of Campus Ministry
- Any Holy Cross priest on campus is available to hear confession
Adoration times
- Monday evenings, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Christ the King (open-come-and-go)
About the Chapel of Christ the King
Christ the King is the principal Catholic chapel of King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Built in 1872 as the Memorial Presbyterian Church, the building was renovated and consecrated as the Chapel of Christ the King in 2019. Daily and Sunday Masses are open to the public and streamed online through the Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. livestream page. The chapel is named for Christ the King, the patron under whom the College itself embraces its Holy Cross identity.
- Location: 29 West North Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
- Consecrated as Chapel of Christ the King in 2019
- Featuring the 4,200-pound anthracite altar by C. Edgar Patience (1954)
Memorial and Healing Masses
Each month the King's community offers two special Mass intentions. On the third Thursday of every month a Mass is celebrated in memory of deceased King's College alumni and friends; on the third Friday of every month a Mass is offered for members of the King's community who are sick, ill, or injured. Names can be submitted to Campus Ministry for inclusion in these intentions.
- Memorial Mass for deceased alumni and friends — third Thursday
- Mass of Healing — third Friday
- Submit names to Campus Ministry to be remembered
Confirmation and Initiation into the Catholic Church
Students who desire to become Catholic, or Catholic students preparing to receive Confirmation, are invited into the Confirmation Process. The program combines weekly meetings with ongoing participation in Sunday Mass as a small, supportive community for discernment. Father Brogan Ryan, C.S.C., Director of Campus Ministry, oversees inquiries and welcomes students at any stage of their faith journey.
- Weekly meetings plus regular Sunday Mass participation
- Open to inquirers, catechumens, and Catholic students seeking Confirmation
- Contact: Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C., [email protected] or (570) 208-5900 ext. 5694
Sacrament of Marriage
Engaged couples are invited to contact Father Brogan Ryan, C.S.C., to begin preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage through the Office of Campus Ministry. The College works with couples individually on the steps toward a wedding that can be celebrated in or coordinated through the Chapel of Christ the King.
- Contact Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C.
- Coordinated through the Office of Campus Ministry
Student Faith Groups and Pastoral Support
Campus Ministry supports a network of student-led faith communities. The Anchor Faith Challenge is a four-week program that anchors small groups in daily prayer and mutual accountability. Champions for Christ gathers student-athletes weekly for prayer and virtue formation. Sisters-in-Faith and KingsMen provide gender-specific faith-and-life discussion groups, while the Knights ministry reaches out in campus visitation and can serve as a Confidential Resource on Title IX matters. The Student Ministry Leadership Team connects leaders of each of these groups for prayer and coordination.
- Anchor Faith Challenge — Br. Jimmy Henke, C.S.C.
- Champions for Christ — student-athletes
- Sisters-in-Faith — women's community
- KingsMen — men's community
- Knights — visitation and Title IX confidential resource
- Student Ministry Leadership Team
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Students are invited to serve at Mass in any of a number of liturgical roles, with no prior experience required. Cantores Christi Regis is the College's principal choir, directed by Music Minister Robert Yenkowski.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar servers
- Cantors
- Hospitality/ushers
- Choir — Cantores Christi Regis (Robert Yenkowski, Director)
Service and Outreach — Shoval Center and SERVE
The Shoval Center for Community Engagement is the College's hub for volunteer work, coordinating the SERVE (Students Engaged in Reflective Volunteer Experiences) alternative-break program during fall, winter, and spring breaks. Past SERVE trips have partnered with a wide range of social-service, faith, and community organizations locally and regionally. The Shoval Center also coordinates ongoing community outreach for King's students, faculty, and staff.
- Shoval Center for Community Engagement — Bill Bolan, Director
- Community Outreach — Kelly Gibbons
- SERVE alternative-break trips — Leanne Mazurick
- Instagram: @kingsvolunteers
Campus Ministry Staff
Campus Ministry is led by Holy Cross priests and Brothers supported by lay ministers. Father Brogan Ryan, C.S.C., serves as both Director of Campus Ministry and College Chaplain. The staff includes priests dedicated to student outreach and to faculty/staff ministry, an Administrative Secretary/Sacristan, and a Music Minister.
- Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C. — Director / College Chaplain
- Fr. Ricky Bevington, C.S.C. — Assistant Director, Student Outreach
- Fr. Frank Murphy, C.S.C. — Campus Minister for Faculty and Staff
- Kim Berning — Campus Minister and Notre Dame Echo Apprentice
- Rebecca Matus — Administrative Secretary / Sacristan
- Robert Yenkowski — Music Minister, Director of Cantores Christi Regis
Locations, Contact, and Livestream
Three connected facilities anchor Campus Ministry on the King's College campus: the Campus Ministry Center at 182 N. Franklin St., the Chapel of Christ the King at 29 West North St., and the Shoval Center for Community Engagement at 181 N. Franklin St. All Masses and services can be livestreamed through the Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. camera page on the King's website.
- Campus Ministry Center — 182 N. Franklin St.
- Chapel of Christ the King — 29 West North St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
- Shoval Center for Community Engagement — 181 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
- Phone: (570) 208-5890
- Email: [email protected]
- Livestream: Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. camera page
Sacred Spaces across King's College
Beyond the Chapel of Christ the King, the King's College campus contains multiple sacred spaces meant for the spiritual life of the community. The 12th-floor Holy Cross Hall Chapel, originally the private chapel of the C.S.C. religious, now hosts the Wednesday 9:00 p.m. Mass and is open to the wider community. Interfaith prayer rooms on the 6th floor of the Alley Center and the 1st floor of Holy Cross Hall are intentionally furnished for prayer by people of any tradition. Inquiries about access or reservations can be directed to [email protected].
- Chapel of Christ the King — 29 West North St. (principal place of worship)
- Holy Cross Hall 12th-Floor Chapel — Wednesday 9:00 p.m. Mass
- Interfaith Prayer Room — Alley Center, 6th floor
- Interfaith Prayer Room — Holy Cross Hall, 1st floor
Holy Cross Heritage
Christ the King Chapel belongs to a much larger story. The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in 1837 at Le Mans, France, by Blessed Father Basil Anthony Moreau, and sent its first mission to America in 1841 to establish the University of Notre Dame. King's College itself was founded in 1946 by Holy Cross religious from Notre Dame to serve the sons of Wyoming Valley coal miners and mill workers. The College's Latin motto — 'Oportet Eum Regnare,' 'It is fitting that He should reign' — names Christ's kingship and points directly to the patron of this chapel.
- Congregation of Holy Cross founded 1837 in Le Mans, France
- Father Basil Anthony Moreau, Blessed, founder
- First U.S. mission sent to Notre Dame, 1841
- King's College founded 1946 by Holy Cross
- College motto: 'Oportet Eum Regnare'