About Saint Louis the King · Glendale, Arizona
Saint Louis the King Catholic Church is a culturally diverse Roman Catholic parish in Glendale, Arizona, founded in 1962 by Bishop Francis Green of Tucson to serve the fast-growing Northwest Valley. Today the parish lives out its motto, "Love God, do Justice, Serve the Poor," through a robust Catholic elementary school (PreK–8) founded in 1965, an extensive Religious Education program, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and a remarkable variety of weekend liturgies celebrated in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Eritrean. Its mission statement describes the community as "a Eucharistic community, committed to growth in holiness and furthering the mission of Jesus Christ through worship, evangelization, formation and works of charity and social justice."
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Louis, King of France (Louis IX)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Bui
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Louis the King welcomes Catholics from at least five language communities—English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Eritrean—into one parish family, with weekend Masses in every language and a Hispanic ministry staffed full-time. The parish runs a thriving co-educational Catholic elementary school (PreK–8) on the same campus, a Saturday Religious Education / Confirmation program, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry serving several hundred families each year, and Spanish-language prayer groups such as the Guadalupanos, Armata Blanca, and the Renovación Carismática. Add weekly Eucharistic Adoration, multiple regular Confession times, and the warm bilingual welcome longtime parishioners describe, and SLK is the kind of parish where a new family can find a pew, a school, a ministry, and a spiritual home all in one place.
Mass times at Saint Louis the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 p.m. (Spanish)
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. (English)
- Saturday 7:00 p.m. (Vietnamese)
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. (Spanish)
- First Saturday of the Month 4:00 p.m. (English)
History of St. Louis the King Parish
Bishop Francis Green of Tucson created St. Louis the King on June 2, 1962, redrawing the boundaries of SS. Simon and Jude, St. Gregory, and Most Holy Trinity parishes in Phoenix to serve the fast-growing Northwest Valley. Father James McFadden was the founding pastor and served for twenty years; the church and school were dedicated in 1964, the school opened in 1965 staffed by the Sisters of Humility of Mary, and the parish has continued to grow in size and cultural diversity ever since.
- 1962 – Parish established; Father James McFadden named founding pastor
- 1964 – Church and school buildings dedicated
- 1965 – Catholic elementary school opens with Sisters of Humility of Mary
- Early 1970s – Sisters leave; convent converted to offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, and St. Vincent de Paul pantry
- 1994 – Used portable converted to school library
- 2002 – First new school building in 40 years (multi-purpose room & computer lab)
- 2005 – Spanish Mass and Hispanic Ministry added
- 2006 – Parish pre-school opens
- 2004 – Bishop Olmsted ends resident-pastor model; Canonical Pastors appointed
- 2012 – Fr. Joseph Bui named Parochial Administrator; golden jubilee celebrated
- 2013 – Fr. Bui named Pastor
- 2012 – Parish announced debt-free at 50th anniversary
Sacraments
Sacramental registration can be submitted by email to [email protected] with a copy of the birth certificate. The parish schedules infant baptisms on Saturdays and runs ongoing First Communion and Confirmation preparation through both the school and the Saturday Religious Education program.
- Baptism – Saturday 10:00 a.m. (Spanish)
- Baptism – Saturday 12:00 p.m. (English)
- First Holy Communion – Saturday preparation 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Confirmation – Saturday catechesis
- Matrimony – by appointment with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick – by request
- Reconciliation – see Confession times above
Religious Education & Catechesis
St. Louis the King runs a Spanish-language Catechesis program in addition to the parish school. Registration for the 2026–2027 year is held in June on the plaza in front of the church; classes run August through May on Saturday mornings. The Religious Education program has been a mainstay of the parish since the Sisters of Humility of Mary's departure in the 1970s.
- Registration: Sundays in June, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., in front of the church
- Registration fee: $120 (with birth & baptismal certificates)
- Classes: Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., August 15, 2026 – May 2027
- First Communion: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
- Confirmation preparation for teens
St. Louis the King Catholic School
Opened in 1965 and currently led by Interim Principal Joe Zielinski, the parish school is a co-educational Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through eighth grade. The school community describes itself as "a faith-filled" environment committed to academic excellence and Christian formation, and many graduates go on to well-respected Catholic high schools. The school's mascot is the Royals and its symbol is the Lions.
- Established 1964 (opened September 1965)
- Co-educational, Catholic, Pre-K through 8th grade
- Principal: Joe Zielinski (Interim)
- Enrollment: ~250 students
- Phone: 623-939-4260; Fax: 623-533-5230
- Programs include Accelerated Reading, IXL Math, DIBELS, Robotics STEM (grades 6–8), Spanish (4–8), Art Masterpiece (K–3), Katzin Classical Music (K–5), Music (PreK-8), Band (4–8), Choir (3rd), PE, and Dancing Classrooms (5th)
- Athletics: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball
- Clubs: Drama, PALS, Junior Legion of Mary, Student Council, Student Ambassadors, Math Maniacs, Reading Buddies, Yearbook
- Catholic identity: Weekly Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, daily prayer, Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Garden, Feast Day Novena, Living Rosary, Keep Christ in Christmas, Blessing of the Animals
- Admissions: Pre-Registration begins March 1; tuition assistance workshops begin Feb. 1
Hispanic Ministry & Spanish-Language Apostolates
Since 2005, when changing demographics prompted the addition of a Spanish Mass and Hispanic Ministry, the Spanish-speaking community has grown into one of the largest ministries of the parish. Reyna Gallego coordinates Hispanic Ministry from the parish office, and several lay prayer movements meet weekly at the church.
- Hispanic Ministry (coordinator: Reyna Gallego)
- Guadalupanos – Our Lady of Guadalupe group (founded at SLK March 28, 2008)
- Armata Blanca – children's rosary movement (originally inspired by Padre Pio, sponsored in Phoenix by Fr. José Ballesteros)
- Grupo de Oración – Renovación Carismática (Thursdays 6:00 p.m.)
- Lectores de la Palabra – Lector and homily ministry
- Spanish-language Masses: Tue 6:00 p.m., Thu 6:45 p.m., Sat Baptisms 10:00 a.m., Sun 7:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
Outreach & Charity
The parish operates a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry that serves several hundred families each year with food boxes and financial assistance, supported by parishioner donations. The parish also encourages Arizona Charitable Tax Credit giving (QCO, QFCO, and STO) so families can redirect a portion of their state taxes to support the parish and school.
- St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and financial assistance
- Arizona QCO tax credit: up to $800 (married) / $400 (single)
- QFCO tax credit: up to $1,000 (married) / $500 (single)
- STO (school tuition) tax credit: up to $1,131/$566 (certified) or $1,138/$569 (private)
- Online giving via the parish website and Zelle (SLKchurch-Glendale)
Contact, Location & Practical Info
The parish office is open on the same campus as the school, on the southwest corner of 43rd Avenue and West Maryland Avenue. Free language assistance, auxiliary aids, and accommodations are available upon request.
- Address: 4331 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, AZ 85301
- Parish phone: 623-930-1127
- School phone: 623-939-4260
- Parish fax: 623-533-5374
- Office email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Fr. León email: [email protected]
- Secondary email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stlouisthekingchurch.ss7.sharpschool.com
- Facebook: "St Louis the King Glendale" (English) and "Parroquia San Luis Rey – Glendale" (Spanish)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James McFadden1962–1981
Founding pastor; served 20 years; later named Monsignor and retired from active parish ministry.
- Rev. Patrick Ratchford1981–1986
- Rev. Robert Kelly1986–1988
- Rev. Charles "Chuck" Kiefer1988 (Administrator)
Served as Administrator.
- Rev. Richard Felt1988–1994
- Rev. John Slobig1994–2004
Reassigned July 2004, after which Bishop Olmsted ended the resident-pastor model.
- Rev. Robert Skagen2004–
Canonical Pastor (non-resident model).
- Rev. Robert Clements
Canonical Pastor.
- Rev. Michael Diskin
Canonical Pastor; announced parish debt-free at the 50th anniversary in 2012.
- Rev. Joseph Bui2012–present
Appointed Parochial Administrator July 2012; named Pastor July 2013.