Cristo Rey

Welcome / Bienvenidos

Cristo Rey Church extends a bilingual welcome (English and Spanish) to all who visit. The parish website presents the community as a 'caring and loving parish that promotes unity in Christ within its cultural and especially Hispanic diversity, and is dedicated to education, evangelization and justice, instilling our Catholic faith and values in all.' Visitors are invited to Mass, faith formation, and the parish's many community events. The parish is located at 201 West Miller Road, Lansing, MI 48911, with office hours posted on the home page and online giving available through the website.

Parish Staff / Personal

Fr. Vincent Richardson has served as pastor of Cristo Rey since June 26, 2019. Born and raised on Lansing's east side, he has spent time in Mexico and New Mexico working on his Spanish and continues to develop his fluency. He also serves as Director of Religious Education. The parish is supported by a small team of lay staff and one deacon.

• Fr. Vincent Richardson — Pastor and Director of Religious Education
• Sister Julieta Mondragon — Religious Education (contact: 517-575-6327; [email protected])
• Deacon Carl Boehlert — [email protected], 517-394-4639
• Lupe Castillo — Community Program Coordinator, 517-202-1311
• Elva Hernandez — Bookkeeper
• Magally Juarez — Secretary
• Cristina Alcantar — Administrative Assistant

Our History (Nuestra Historia)

Cristo Rey was founded October 29, 1961, by the Diocese of Lansing to serve the growing Spanish-speaking population of the region. The parish's first home was a converted Methodist church on East Main Street, which was demolished in 1966 for Interstate 496 construction. The community then shared a facility on Ballard Street with the Cristo Rey Community Center (1968–1977), before moving to South Washington Avenue (1978–1998). In November 1998, the parish completed its fourth and current move to 201 West Miller Road, into a former Protestant building purchased and renovated to serve as its permanent Catholic home. The 2011 publication 'A Brief History of Cristo Rey Parish,' prepared for the parish's 50th anniversary, is the principal historical source.

• 1954: Spanish-speaking Apostolate established under Fr. Julio Cesar Rivera at St. Mary Cathedral
• 1957: Fr. William J. McKeon assigned to work with Lansing's Spanish-speaking Catholics; forms a Bishop's Committee for the Spanish Speaking
• October 6, 1961: Bishop Joseph Albers purchases a Methodist church on East Main Street
• October 29, 1961 (feast of Christ the King): Msgr. Herman P. Fedewa consecrates the new parish as Cristo Rey; Fr. John Walsh celebrates the first Mass
• 1962–1968: Fr. Kenneth L. Faiver shepherds the parish's early growth, develops catechesis, brings Cursillo to Michigan
• 1966–1968: Demolition of the Main Street site for I-496; parish relocates
• 1968–1977: Shared facility with Cristo Rey Community Center on Ballard Street
• 1978–1998: Parish based on South Washington Avenue
• 1997: Decision to purchase the Miller Road Bible Church for $1.2 million
• November 15, 1998: Procession from South Washington to 201 West Miller Road
• November 22, 1998: Solemn dedication of the new church

Ministries of Formation and Community / Ministerios de Formación y Comunidad

Cristo Rey's formation ministries span the whole life of faith, from childhood religious education to adult renewal movements. The parish's Religious Education program serves children from Kindergarten through 8th grade with catechesis, Scripture, saints, and sacramental preparation. For adults, the parish offers OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), Spanish-language adult faith education, an online Step Program partnership with the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame, and signature gatherings like 'Tuesdays Tacos and Theology.' Long-standing renewal movements such as Cursillo and FAMA (Familias en Misión Apostólica) remain active, alongside a Bible study group and a seniors' program.

• Religious Education K-8 (Educación Religiosa) — contact Sister Julieta Mondragon, 517-575-6327
• Youth Ministry (Ministerio de los Jóvenes)
• OCIA / RICA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
• Adult Faith Formation in Spanish (Formación de Fe para los Adultos)
• Online faith formation through Notre Dame's McGrath Institute Step Program
• Tuesdays Tacos and Theology
• Grupo de Estudio Bíblico (Bible Study Group)
• Seniors Program (Programa de los Ciudadanos Mayores)
• FAMA — Familias en Misión Apostólica
• Cursillo de Cristianidad

Ministries of Worship / Ministerios de Liturgia

The parish's liturgical life is supported by a dedicated group of lay ministers who care for the altar, music, sanctuary, and homebound parishioners. A Worship Commission coordinates these ministries, and the parish maintains a strong Music Ministry for both Spanish and bilingual liturgies.

• Altar Society (Sociedad del Altar)
• Worship Commission (Comisión de Liturgia)
• Homebound Ministry (Ministerio de los Enfermos)
• Music Ministry (Ministerio de la Música)
• Altar Servers, Ushers, and Sanctuary Care (Monaguillos, Acomodadores y Cuidado del Santuario)

Ministries of Charity and Justice / Ministerios de Caridad y Justicia

Caridad y Justicia is one of the three pillars of Cristo Rey's mission (along with education and evangelization). The Charity and Justice Commission coordinates outreach through a St. Vincent de Paul conference, regular food distribution, the local Knights of Columbus council, and ongoing advocacy for the civil rights of immigrants — work that has been central to the parish's identity since its 1961 founding in response to the needs of Spanish-speaking migrants and families.

• Charity and Justice Commission (Comisión de Caridad y Justicia)
• St. Vincent de Paul Society (Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul)
• Food Distribution (Distribución de Alimentos)
• Knights of Columbus (Caballeros de Colón)
• Civil Rights for Immigrants (Derechos Civiles por los Inmigrantes)

Cristo Rey Fiesta and Cultural Life

The annual Cristo Rey Fiesta is the parish's signature cultural and fundraising event, held every Memorial Day weekend on the church grounds at 201 W. Miller Road. First held at the new Miller Road site in 1999, the fiesta features live music, traditional Mexican food, El Baile de los Viejitos and other folkloric dances, and a community raffle. The parish also marks the Catholic/Latino cultural calendar with celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December), Las Posadas, and Día de los Muertos.

• Cristo Rey Fiesta — Memorial Day weekend, with live music, food, folkloric dance, and raffle
• El Baile de los Viejitos (traditional Michoacán dance performed at the Fiesta)
• Our Lady of Guadalupe (Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe) — December
• Las Posadas
• Día de los Muertos observance
• Fiesta Director: Guillermo Z. López (517-974-5113)

Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation

Sacramental preparation at Cristo Rey is integrated into the Religious Education K-8 program and the adult OCIA process. The parish also celebrates the Anointing of the Sick through its Homebound Ministry, which visits parishioners who cannot attend Mass. Couples seeking marriage are asked to contact the parish office, and Reconciliation is offered weekly as well as by appointment.

• Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation for children (K-8 program)
• OCIA / RICA for unbaptized adults and those preparing for full reception into the Catholic Church
• Reconciliation: Thursdays 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 4:00–4:45 p.m., or by appointment
• Marriage preparation — contact the parish office
• Anointing of the Sick and Homebound Ministry visits

Locations and Campuses

Cristo Rey's main worship site is the church at 201 West Miller Road, Lansing, MI 48911. The parish also operates a second campus, the Cristo Rey Center (Cristo Rey Campus), at 1717 N. High Street, Lansing, MI 48906, where the 12:00 p.m. English Mass is celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month.

• Main Church: 201 West Miller Road, Lansing, MI 48911 — phone (517) 394-4639
• Cristo Rey Campus / CCIEC: 1717 N. High Street, Lansing, MI 48906 (2nd & 4th Friday weekday Mass)
• Parish office phone: (517) 394-4639
• Online giving: available via the parish website