Parish History
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Mass was offered for the first time in the parish on the Feast of Christ the King, October 28, 1962 by Father W. Michael Landry, who had been appointed founding pastor on September 12, 1962 by Archbishop John P. Cody.
Sunday Mass was celebrated at Archbishop Blenk High School from October 28, 1962, to March 8, 1964. Daily Mass was first offered in Terrytown proper on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, 1963.
On April 21, 1963, ground-breaking ceremonies for the church-school complex were held with Archbishop Cody officiating, assisted by Father Landry. Father Francis Rombouts, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, the mother-parish of Christ the King, was a special guest at the celebration.
Scheduled to open in September 1963, the school was not completed in time, and teachers and children were housed temporarily in three residences on Dunbar Street, loaned to the parish by Horizon Homes. The school was staffed by the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross, with Sister Judith Coreil as the first principal.
The church-school complex was dedicated on April 12, 1964, by Archbishop Cody at Mass celebrated in the cafeteria church by Father Landry.
In July of 1964, the parish welcomed Father John E. Pregenser as pastor, and under his leadership and that of his successor, Father Michael J. Killoughey, the church grew from a small number of families to one of the largest congregations in the Archdiocese.
Father Joseph Bourgeois, who had served as parochial vicar under Father Pregenser, returned to Christ the King in August of 1974 to succeed Father Killoughey as pastor. Father Joe celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on the Feast of Christ the King, on November 19, 1983, with a Mass of thanks and praise.
A building program for the long-held dream of a new church was launched in 1978 and completed in 1985. Ground-breaking ceremonies took place on November 13, 1980, and the church was dedicated on July 31, 1982, at a Mass of Consecration with Archbishop Philip M. Hannan serving as principal celebrant and homilist. The dedication of the statue of the parish’s patron, which stands in front of the church, took place on the Feast of Christ the King, November 23, 1986.
On November 21, 1987, the Feast of Christ the King, the parish marked the 25th anniversary of its founding with a Mass, followed by a reception for parishioners and guests. The anniversary program also included a parade, a potluck supper and dance, a tree-planting ceremony, a 10K race, a photographic exhibit, a souvenir yearbook, and videocassette. -
PASTORS
October 1962 to June 1964: Rev. Michael Landry June 1964 to April 1970 Rev. John Pregenser May 1970 to August 1974 Rev. Michael Killoughey August 1974 to June 1996 Rev. Joseph Bourgeois August 1996 to January 2000 Rev. Lawrence Hecker January 2000 to August 2000 Rev. Jose A. Ladra (Administrator) August 2000 to October 2002 Rev. Kenneth Bourgesen, O.SS.T. November 2002 to September 2006 Rev. Jose A. Ladra October 2007 to present Rev. Michael Nam Nguyen -
Parochial Vicars
November 1965 to June 1966 Rev. Jerome Drolet July 1966 to January 1970 Rev. Joseph Bourgeois February 1970 to June 1971 Rev. Charles Caluda July 1971 to June 1975 Rev. Arthur Ginart July 1975 to June 1977 Rev. Robert Cavalier July 1977 to June 1979 Rev. Pedro Nunez April 1978 to November 1981 Rev. Patrick Gannon July 1979 to January 1982 Rev. David Lomax November 1981 to July 1983 Rev. James Lohan July 1983 to June 1984 Rev. David Lomax June 1984 to June 1990 Rev. Jose Ladra July 1986 to December 1989
June 1990 to June 1994Rev. Lionel Schmidt
Rev. Jose LavastidaJuly 1994 to June 1995 Rev. Ramon Martinez July 1995 to January 2000 Rev. Jose Ladra September 2003 to May 2005 Msgr. Joseph Bourgeois June 2005 to March 2006 Rev. Peter Tomzack -
Deacons
Deacon Cornelius "Buddy" Armshaw assigned December 12, 1980 Deacon Edward Daly assigned December 12, 1981 Deacon James Swiler assigned January 5, 1984 Deacon Robert Beaumont assigned December 12, 1987 Deacon Jose Perez assigned December 18, 1999 Deacon Walfredo Corral assigned December 15, 2005 to present Deacon Dean Herrick assigned March 17, 2003 Deacon Lawrence Murphy assigned August 1, 2004 Deacon Mickey Weber assigned 2005 Deacon Kevin Steel
Deacon William Jarrell
Deacon John Walker, IVassigned 2008
assigned June 10, 2006 to present
assigned November 2017 to present