A Cultural Crossroads in Logan Heights
Christ the King Catholic Church stands in San Diego's Logan Heights neighborhood on 32nd Street, a parish where African American gospel expression and Hispanic Catholic devotion share the same sanctuary on a single Sunday morning. The parish describes itself as the result of a "rich cultural fusion of African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Anglo communities" coming together as one body of Christ, with strong emphasis on African American gospel roots and a charismatic Hispanic presence. The parish calls itself "the jewel among churches in the Logan Heights area," grounded in the Vatican II vision of a Catholic Church enriched by many cultures, spiritualities, and ways of worship, with lay members carrying out the work of Christ. As one parish writer, Rhonda Hatcher-Malone, simply puts it, "See what the Lord has done."
The Mission: Black Catholic Identity and a Parish of Cultures
The parish's mission is articulated in its own words. "We, the Christian Community of Christ the King Parish, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, declare our mission to be that of Jesus - to preach the Word, to evangelize and to witness to the presence and the coming of God's Kingdom of justice, love, and peace in today's world." The statement names a special emphasis on Black culture while also striving to meet the needs of all of the worshiping communities at Christ the King. The mission is pursued through what the parish calls a "grassroots interpretation of Christ's ministry - to serve, heal, and nourish each other as we grow toward unity of hearts and minds in Lord Jesus." Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the parish reaches out to the wider world in need, drawing on the talents and gifts of every member. The parish sits within the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.
Three Sunday Masses: Gospel, Spanish, Spanish
Sunday Mass is celebrated three times at Christ the King. The 8:30 AM Mass is the Gospel Mass, the parish's signature traditional setting shaped by its African American gospel heritage. The 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM Masses are offered in Spanish, anchoring the parish's strong Hispanic community. A Sunday here moves from the call-and-response rhythms of gospel music in the morning to the warmth of bilingual Spanish liturgy in the afternoon, a single parish carrying multiple Catholic musical and prayer traditions under one roof.
A Week of Daily Mass in English and Spanish
Weekday Masses run Monday through Saturday at 9:00 AM, rotating between English and Spanish across the week. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are celebrated in Spanish (Español); Tuesdays and Fridays in English. The pattern gives the parish a continuous rhythm of daily Eucharist, with at least one Mass each weekday in the language of the surrounding neighborhood. First-time visitors who work during the week can keep a daily Mass in their routine; parishioners preparing for a wedding or a Quinceañera can plan around the bilingual schedule.
The Christ the King Sanctuary Gospel Choir
The Sanctuary Gospel Choir leads music across the parish's liturgies, with Ms. DeShon Hall serving as Director and Ms. Jacqueline Thousand as President. Rehearsals are held on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 PM in the church. The choir carries forward the congregation's gospel-rooted identity, threading call-and-response singing, instrumentation, and a devotional spirit into Sunday Mass. The choir stands as both a worship ministry and a way of preserving the parish's Black Catholic heritage for new generations, including the many young adults and families who join the parish each year.
Parish Ministries and Organizations
A circle of organizations shapes life beyond Sunday. The Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary serve the men and women of the parish in faith, fellowship, and service, an organization rooted in work among African American Catholics nationwide. The parish supports the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, serving neighbors in need through the parish's outreach to the poor, and joins the annual Diocesan Walk for the Poor, a community-oriented fundraiser and sign of solidarity with those living in poverty across the region. Contemplative Outreach San Diego, drawing from the centering prayer tradition, meets on Tuesdays at 5:30 PM in the RCIA room and is open to anyone interested in contemplative prayer and the spiritual works of mercy.
Sacraments and Faith Formation
Christ the King prepares couples for weddings, celebrates Quinceañeras, welcomes children and adults through baptism, and walks members through ongoing Faith Formation (also called Religious Education). Catechesis is offered in both English and Spanish, and parents and sponsors are invited to contact the parish office about preparation. Weddings and Quinceañeras use the parish's main church; faith formation gathers according to language and age group under the direction of parish catechists. The parish's bilingual sacramental life is one of the practical expressions of its cultural fusion.
Black Catholic Heritage in the Prayers of the Parish
The parish keeps the cause of Black Catholic sainthood alive in its prayer life. The full texts of intercessory prayers for Sr. Thea Bowman, Pierre Toussaint, Henriette Delille, Augustus Tolton, Julia Greeley, and Mother Mary Lange are posted for parishioners to use, making Christ the King a place where the journey toward canonization for Black American Catholics is part of regular prayer. The prayers lift up figures who served the poor, fought racial injustice, founded religious orders, and proclaimed the Gospel across centuries, and they invite the congregation to imitate their love of God and neighbor.
The San Diego Black Panther Party Breakfast Program
Christ the King's commitment to its neighborhood stretches back into the late 1960s. In 1968, the parish hosted the San Diego Black Panther Party Breakfast Program at its campus, one of the early examples of the free breakfast initiative that would later expand nationwide. The following year, 1969, Panther co-founder Eldridge Cleaver visited the San Diego chapter, meeting with deputy minister of information Elbert "Big Man" Howard and other members. The parish remembers this history on its Community News and Events page, presenting it as part of a continuing call to serve those on the margins.
The Maida Torres Stanovik Scholarship Fund
The parish sustains a scholarship fund in memory of Maida Torres Stanovik, supporting young people in the parish community as they pursue further education. Donations are accepted through the parish's online giving page, with materials available in both English ("Please Donate") and Spanish ("Por favor dona"). The scholarship reflects the parish's investment in the next generation of Logan Heights families and parishioners.
Bulletins, Pastor's Corner, and Parish Communications
Weekly bulletins are archived online going back to 2019, carrying announcements, the Mass schedule, reflections, and parish news. The Pastor's Corner hosts messages from the parish priest, currently Rev. Tony Stanonik (Fr. Tony), whose regular reflections anchor the parish's weekly rhythm. English and Spanish announcement sections appear side by side, reflecting the bilingual reality of the parish's communications. The parish also shares links to the San Diego Diocese News, The Southern Cross (the diocesan newspaper), the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, and news of the National Eucharistic Congress.
Visiting Christ the King
Christ the King Catholic Church is located at 29 N. 32nd Street, San Diego, CA 92102. The parish office can be reached at (619) 231-8906 (fax 619-238-7060) and at ctksandiego@gmail.com. Visitors attending Sunday Mass are welcome to come as they are; the traditional setting of the church, the gospel choir at the 8:30 AM Mass, and the Hispanic celebrations at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM each draw their own character, and newcomers are invited to experience whichever fits their worship tradition. Parking and on-site accessibility information can be obtained by calling the parish office, and the weekly bulletin is the best place to find announcements, the Mass intentions, and times for Reconciliation, Faith Formation, and ministry gatherings throughout the week.