Parish History

Beginnings . . . .

Christ the King parish was established in June, 1953. Peony Park ballroom served as the first place of worship for the new parish. Servite Sisters came to conduct religion classes for children at Peony Park. And twenty-seven youngsters received First Communion in Christ the King Parish in Ma, 1954, at Peony Park's improvised altar.

The Church 

When plans were announced for the erection of a new parish to serve the growing needs of West Omaha in June of 1953, the congregation of this newly-formed Christ the King parish were without a home.  They soon found one at Peony Park, where on an improvised altar in front of a bandstand, the first High Mass in the parish was celebrated in July of 1953.  For members of the first new parish started in the Omaha archdiocese in 34 years, it didn't matter that the acoustics left something desired.  Nothing could take away from the beauty of the celebration of their own Mass.

But as West Omaha grew, so did the spiritual needs of the new congregation.   To meet those needs, a grade school and gymnasium/auditorium - the latter to serve as a temporary church - were constructed and dedicated in 1955.  But like St. Peony these temporary church facilities eventually proved inadequate for the accelerated growth of the area.

In January, 1960 ground was broken for Christ the King's permanent church and rectory, and in the summer of the following year the 1,100 seat church was officially dedicated Christ the King and to the men and women, through whose counsel and sacrifice the parish has grown, both spiritually and materially.  All major furnishings, including the pews, murals and altar, were moved from the gymnasium church to their permanent home.  And almost at once the temporary church began its new life as a gym, the only one in town - and perhaps in the world - with stained glass windows.

The Exterior

The exterior of Christ the King Church, once described as a Sculptural object in a field of green, present simple, strong lines. Designed in contemporary style by Leo A. Daly Company, the Church has drawn visitors from around the world who have come to examine and admire its unusual geometric design.

The roof, which looks flat from the outside, is actually a series of eight concrete hyperbolic-paraboloids.  Walls do not support the building.  Support is provided by eight tapered interior columns of reinforced concrete which rise gracefully to the roof.

To the lay person these might appear as inverted umbrellas. These pillars support the hyperbolic-paraboloids which are totally independent of the Colorado redstone walls.  This unique design was the first of its kind in Omaha.

To the east of the main entrance to the Church is the most prominent exterior feature, the 56-foot bell tower.  Built of white Georgia marble, the town, with the vested crucifix of Christ the King, sounds a note 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."

Stained Glass

Perhaps the most striking feature of the interior of this open and spacious building is the seven tons of stained glass which form the top of the interior walls to give the roof a hovering effect. 

The story told in the windows is that of the life of Christ, from the Epiphany to the Ascension.   The stained glass is as contemporary as the building itself.

The 8,000 square feet of glass produces a mosaic quality that is in keeping with the generally straight lines of the overall architecture of the church.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is the heart of the church.   In keeping with the general theme of the church the Life of Christ, the sanctuary points up specifically the time in His life when He instituted the Mass.   The Last Supper is represented in life-size ceramic sculpture.   This figure projects from a screen which surrounds the sanctuary on three sides and separates it from the sacristy, the Holy Family Chapel and the Altar of Repose.

The main altar, which was moved from the temporary church, is the center of the sanctuary.   Its function, as the Eucharistic Table, where a wonderful exchange takes place between God and man, requires that the interior of the church center around it.

The design of the communion rail reflects the structure of the Church roof and columns.  It is constructed of polished white Cherokee marble and black granite.

Holy Family Chapel

To the left of the sanctuary, facing the altar, is the Holy Family Chapel.   Private Masses, rosaries and penance services are held in this section of the church which is dominated by exquisite imported wood-carved figures of the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and the Christ Child.   Behind an altar of Indian limestone is a screen which depicts the major ideas contained in the Hail Mary.   A plaque listing parishioners who are being remembered in the Masses of Perpetual Memory adorns one wall.

Altar of Repose

To the right of the sanctuary is the Altar of Repose where the Holy Eucharist is stored and venerated.   Since 1980, parishioners have made it a weekly holy tradition to pray privately before the tabernacle.   The names of the member of the Perpetual Adoration Society are listed on the wall to the left of the Altar of Repose.

Triumphant Cross

Hanging from the ceiling of the Church is the Triumphant Cross.   Carved by Italian Sculptor Riccardo Moroder and weighing in excess of six hundred pounds, the cross presents a joyous symbol of Christ which enables us to center on the eternal happiness that Christ has prepared for each of us.

The side facing the congregation shows Christ as both King and Priest.   He wears a golden crown and elaborate vestment and stole, the latter being the vestment the priest uses in celebrating the sacrifice of the Mass.

At either end of the cross are decorative symbols containing symbols of four of the evangelists-an eagle, for St. John; loin for St. Mark; ox, for St. Luke; and the human head, for St. Matthew.   At the highest point above the cross is a metal indication of a cloud which symbolizes heaven.   Out of the cloud appears a hand of God the Father.   At the very top of the cross is a dove, symbolic of the Holy Spirit.   The cross, is set in a round nimbus which is a circle of radiant light.

The drawing and coloring of the cross was formed in the color sketches by Leandro Velasco, an Italian artist who was involved in the design of all the decorative arts and stained glass windows in Christ the King Church.

Stations of the Cross

These unusual ceramic stations of the cross, made in Italy, were originally installed in the temporary church.  The scriptural meditations inscribed in gold below each station are a convenience for all who make this devotional Way of the Cross privately.

Organ

It is said that They who sing, pray twice, and the members of Christ the King's community have been blessed with a wonderful musical instrument to lead their voices in prayer.   Rising from the choir loft at the rear of the church is a 36-rank organ.   Built by the Reuter Organ Corporation in 1979 and constructed in the American Classic style, the organ features Plexiglas swell chambers which enables one to see through the channel walls of the organ.   As you view this unique instrument, you can see colored glass shining through the swell chambers.   The organ is used for liturgical and concert use.

The smaller organ in front, installed in 1993, was also built by the Reuter Company.   It contains six stops which are voiced beautifully.   The organ was installed so the back organ can be played from the front, and the front organ from the back.   It is very useful in organ duets, and serves as a fine instrument for accompanying the Ladies Choir during funerals.