Christ the King University Parish and Campus Ministry at Ohio University: A History

Christ the King University Parish was established as a student center in Athens by Bishop John King Mussio in 1965. One of the first parish-based campus ministry efforts at the time, its establishment marked a turning point in meeting the needs of the Roman Catholic student population on a state university campus. While there were many Newman Centers and Catholic student centers on state and private campuses that were responsible to local parishes, Christ the King University Parish was specifically founded to incorporate as its primary ministry the nourishing of the faith needs of the Catholic population at Ohio University.


Prior to the parish's establishment, the needs of the university population were addressed through the St. Genesius Chapel, housed in the Schine's Athena Cinema on Court Street, since 1955. Prior to 1955, St. Paul Church tended to the needs of the Catholic students.  In 1958, Fr. Joseph Gardner purchased the property on the corner of Mill and Stewart Streets where the present church stands. In August 1959, ground was broken for the combined student center and chapel. By April 1960, the first Masses were celebrated in the new building. Bishop Mussio formally dedicated the facilities in October 1960. 

The Catholic Student Center built in 1960 was to have a multi-purpose use until a new church could be built, but funds were not immediately available for these improvements to be made. In 1982, long-term plans were made to renovate the multi-purpose building to become the permanent church and a building fund was established to supply other, much needed meeting space. In April 1986, the first phase of renovations to the multi-purpose building began, and on October 11, 1986, the newly renovated church was dedicated. 


                                      

On July 8, 1991, construction began on the University Parish Center which would contain office space, a Daily Mass chapel, a library, food pantry, student lounge, several meeting rooms, and a small kitchen. Bishop Albert Ottenweller dedicated the University Parish Center on May 17, 1992. The final phase of the renovation to the church space began in 2001 with the addition of a gathering space, blessed sacrament chapel, and new stained glass windows. Bishop R. Daniel Conlon dedicated the new altar at Christ the King in October 2003. 
 
                                              

                         

Below is a list of chaplains/directors of campus ministry at Christ the King from its establishment until 2011. The role of Director of Campus Ministry and Pastor of Christ the King were joined until 1985.

• Fr. Walter Plimmer, T.O.R. (1955-1957)
• Fr. Joseph Gardner (1957-1964)
• Fr. Frank Cronin (1964-1966)
  • Fr. Richard Conrath (Assistant, 1965-1966)
  • Fr. Leonard Cencula (Weekends, 1965-1966)
  • Fr. Richard Maciejewski (Assistant, January 1966)
  • Fr. Edward Struzinski (Assistant, June 1966)
  • Fr. Paul Herbick (Assistant, October 1966)
• Fr. Robert Marrer (1966-70)
  • Fr. John Galea (Assistant, 1968-1971)
  • Fr. Michael J. Zahorchak (Assistant, October 1970)
• Fr. Frank Cronin (1970-1972)
• Fr. Robert Krauter (1972)
  • Fr. Joseph Martinkosky (Assistant, 1972)
• Fr. Thomas Graven (1972-1978)
  • Fr. Charles Moran (Assistant, 1974)
  • Fr. Charles Calabrese (Assistant, 1976)
• Msgr. Donald Horak (1978-1985, 1985-1999 as pastor of Christ the King)
  • Fr. Jerome Gabis (Parochial Vicar, 1984; in residence, 1985)
  • Fr. Paul Walker (Parochial Vicar, 1985)
• Fr. Martin Holler (1985-1999 as Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry)
• Fr. Martin Holler (1999-2011 as pastor of Christ the King and Campus Minister)

In 2011, Bishop Conlon clustered St. Paul Church and Christ the King University Parish to form the Athens Catholic Community, naming Msgr. Patrick Gaughan the pastor of both Christ the King and St. Paul Church, with Fr. Mark Moore as his parochial vicar. Offices for both parishes were housed in the Parish Center at Christ the King. Fr. Pat retired in December 2012 and Fr. Mark was named administrator to the community. On July 1, 2013, he was named pastor by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton. 



Because of the clustering of the parishes, renovations to the University Parish Center became necessary to provide a larger social hall and more office space and meeting rooms. That fall, the parish offices moved to St. Paul to prepare for the beginning of construction on the building in October 2014. (Photos of the construction progress can be viewed here.)

On the Feast of Christ the King in November 2014, the students of the religious education program held a "conclave" to vote on a new name for the center. After two rounds of votes, it was decided that the building would be called the Holy Family Center. This Center serves the needs of both parishes and the campus ministry. On March 20, 2015, the offices and multi-purpose space re-opened at 75 Stewart Street.

As of 2018, Fr. Mark remains pastor of Christ the King and St. Paul in Athens which includes the pastoral care of students, faculty, and staff of Ohio University. In July 2016, he also became the pastor of Sacred Heart, Pomeroy, and in July 2019, the community also added Holy Cross, Glouster, and St. Mary of the Hills, Buchtel. 

• Fr. Jonas Shell (Parochial Vicar, July 2015-July 2017)
• Fr. Thomas Nelson (Parochial Vicar, June 2018-June 2021)
• Fr. Matthew Gossett (Parochial Vicar, July 2019-present)
• Fr. Edward Maxfield (Parochial Vicar, July 2021-present)