Christ the King Church is an outstanding example of the International Pavillion Style of Architecture. The exterior was once described as a Sculptural object in a field of green. Designed in a contemporary style by Leo A. Daly Company, the Church draws visitors from around the world who come to examine and admire its unusual geometric design.
The roof, which appears flat from the outside, is actually a series of eight concrete hyperbolic-paraboloids. The Colorado redstone walls do not support the roof; instead, eight tapered interior columns of reinforced concrete that rise gracefully to the ceiling provide support. This unique design was the first of its kind in Omaha.
The 56-foot bell tower is built of white Georgia marble and adorned with the vested crucifix of Christ the King. The tower bell's sound notes of ever-rising hope in Christ our Savior. An inscription written in gold letters running the length of the tower reads "Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and Universal King, offering Himself on the Altar of the Cross as an Immaculate Oblation."
Perhaps the most striking feature of the interior of this open and spacious building is the seven tons of stained glass that forms the top of the interior walls and gives the roof a hovering effect. The windows tell the story of the life of Christ from the Epephany to the Ascension. As contemporary as the building itself, the 8,000 square feet of glass produces a mosaic quality that keeps with the generally straight lines of the overall architecture of the church.
The Sanctuary is the heart of the church. In keeping with the "life of Christ" theme of the church, the sanctuary highlights the time in His life when He instituted the Mass. The "Last Supper" is represented in a life-size, ceramic sculpture projecting from a renovated stone wall surrounding the Sanctuary on three sides. These walls also separate the Sanctuary from the sacristy and the Candle Grotto.
There are five crosses cut into the red and black granite of the main altar's stone top, crosses that represent the five wounds of Christ.
It is said "They who sing, pray twice". The Christ the King community has been blessed with a wonderful musical instrument to lead its voices in prayer: Rising from the choir loft at the rear of the church is a 36-rank organ for liturgical and concert use. Built by the Reuter Organ Corporation in 1979 and constructed in the American Clasic style, the organ features Plexiglas swell chambers that enable one to see through the channel walls of the organ. As you view this unique instrument, you can see the stained glass windows shining through the swell chambers.
