About Our Lord Jesus, Christ the King [Orange County Catholics] · Paoli, Indiana
Our Lord Jesus Christ the King is a small Catholic parish in Paoli, Indiana, part of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and one half of the 'Orange County Catholics' grouping it shares with sister parish Our Lady of the Springs in French Lick. The community began in 1948 as a mission of the Archdiocese and was formally named Christ the King at its 1952 consecration. Today the parish shares a pastor with Our Lady of the Springs, is served by a permanent deacon, and has roughly 96 registered families (about 41 households per the 2025 archdiocesan directory) gathered in a brick chapel on the south side of Paoli.
- Established
- 1948 (as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission); renamed Our Lord Jesus Christ the King at its consecration in 1952
- Patron
- Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Christ the King)
- Rector
- Rev. Randall R. Summers
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Why belong here
Christ the King is a small, welcoming rural parish in Orange County, Indiana, where faith formation and sacramental life are central. As a 'Sister Parish' to Our Lady of the Springs in French Lick, it shares a pastor and many liturgical and social events, giving parishioners a richer worship schedule and a wider community than its size alone would suggest. The parish is committed to stewardship, lifelong faith formation for all ages, full participation in the Eucharist, and compassionate outreach — making it a comfortable home for Catholic families in and around Paoli.
Mass times at Our Lord Jesus, Christ the King [Orange County Catholics]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM (before the 5:00 PM Mass)
History of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
The community's roots go back to the autumn of 1948, when Fr. Robert Koch organized a small group of Catholics into the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Paoli. Early Masses were said in an apartment on East Water Street; the next year the mission moved into a one-room chapel. In August 1952 the Home Mission Board of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis purchased a concrete-block garage a mile east of Paoli and converted it into a chapel with a social room in the rear. At its consecration the parish was re-named Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. The building was remodeled to its present bricked-exterior, gabled-roof form in 1982–83, and a parish hall was added in 1988–89.
- 1948 — Mission organized by Fr. Robert Koch as Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- First Mass celebrated in an apartment on East Water Street, Paoli
- 1949 — Moved to a one-room chapel
- August 1952 — Archdiocesan Home Mission Board purchased garage-converted chapel; parish renamed Our Lord Jesus Christ the King at consecration
- 1982–83 — Chapel remodeled: exterior bricked, gabled roof added over old quonset-hut roof
- 1988–89 — Parish hall added
Jesuit Heritage and the Move to the Archdiocese
Both Christ the King in Paoli and Our Lady of the Springs in French Lick were originally staffed by Jesuit priests from West Baden College, located about ten miles to the west. When the Jesuit college closed in 1964, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis assumed responsibility for both parishes. Christ the King is no longer classified as a mission church; today it functions as a 'Sister Parish' to Our Lady of the Springs, sharing a pastor and many liturgical and social events.
- West Baden Jesuits served Christ the King from early years through 1964
- Archdiocese of Indianapolis took over in 1964
- Christ the King and Our Lady of the Springs now share a pastor
Pastor and Parish Staff
Christ the King is pastored by Rev. Randall R. Summers, who in 2021 was appointed pastor of both Our Lady of the Springs, French Lick, and Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, Paoli. Fr. Summers was ordained June 2, 2007, and previously served St. Barnabas in Indianapolis, St. Louis in Batesville, and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross in Bright. He is assisted by a permanent deacon and lay staff who keep the parish running day to day.
- Pastor: Rev. Randall R. Summers (appointed 2021; ordained 2007)
- Deacon and Administrator of Religious Education: Jim O'Connell (ordained June 25, 2022)
- Music Director: Mary Meadows
- Parish Council Chair: Susie Byerley
- Finance Council Chair: Brenda Pardy
- Secretary: Jennifer Coleman
Orange County Catholics — Our Sister Parish
Christ the King is half of the 'Orange County Catholics' partnership (occ-indy.org), which also includes Our Lady of the Springs in French Lick, about 10 miles east. The two parishes share a pastor and many liturgical and social events. Together they publish bulletins, a joint mission statement, and a joint staff page on the Orange County Catholics website.
- Shared pastor with Our Lady of the Springs, French Lick
- Joint website: occ-indy.org
- Joint mission statement and bulletin
- Sister-parish relationship (Christ the King is no longer a mission church)
Mission Statement and Parish Life
The Orange County Catholics mission statement describes Christ the King and Our Lady of the Springs as welcoming, faith-filled communities sustained by the Eucharist, the power of prayer, and various forms of devotion. The parishes emphasize stewardship as a way of life, lifelong faith formation for all ages, full and active participation in the liturgy, compassionate outreach, fiscal responsibility, and respect for all people and all of creation. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in faith formation programs, both as learners and teachers.
- Faith formation for all ages
- Stewardship of time, talent, and treasure
- Full, active, conscious participation in the liturgy
- Compassionate outreach
- Exemplary Catholic education for children
- Respect for all people and all of creation
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish emphasizes lifelong faith formation. Deacon Jim O'Connell serves as Administrator of Religious Education, coordinating formation for children and adults. As a small rural parish, Christ the King partners with its sister parish and the wider Archdiocese of Indianapolis for faith formation programs.
- Deacon Jim O'Connell — Administrator of Religious Education
- Lifelong faith formation for all ages (parish mission priority)
Parish Governance
Lay leadership is provided through the Parish Council and Finance Council, with a parish secretary handling administrative work. The councils help guide the spiritual and temporal life of the parish in cooperation with the pastor.
- Parish Council Chair: Susie Byerley
- Finance Council Chair: Brenda Pardy
- Secretary: Jennifer Coleman
Building and Facilities
The parish's worship space is a modest converted chapel on the south side of Paoli, bricked on the exterior with a gabled roof added in 1982–83. A parish hall was added in 1988–89 and is used for social and formation events. The sanctuary accommodates roughly 100–120 people.
- Chapel bricked and re-roofed in 1982–83
- Parish hall added in 1988–89
- Seating capacity approximately 100–120
Contact and Location
Christ the King is located on the south side of Paoli, the county seat of Orange County, Indiana. The parish office phone and email connect visitors with the parish secretary and pastor.
- Address: 833 S. Triangle Road, Paoli, IN 47454
- Phone: 812-723-3900
- Parish email: [email protected] (Archdiocese directory); parish contact page also lists [email protected]
- Website: https://www.occ-indy.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Koch1948
Organized the original Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Paoli.
- Jesuit priests from West Baden Collegeuntil 1964
Staffed Christ the King (with Our Lady of the Springs) from the parish's early years until the Jesuit college closed.
- Rev. Randall R. Summers2021–present
Appointed pastor of both Our Lady of the Springs, French Lick, and Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, Paoli; ordained June 2, 2007; previously pastor of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Bright (2015–2021).