The first communion class in June of 1951 was made up of 47 boys and girls – by 1958 classes had grown to 152. Fr. Murray, first pastor, began the planning for a full size Church, almost from the day he arrived. Actually it was designed to be a gymnasium and to serve temporarily as a Church – temporary!

It actually served as a parish Church for 27 years from 1952 to 1979. Now our gymnasium, at that time it had a steeple, a baptismal font, a choir loft and a patio with fountains. The first mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve, 1952.

Since we were then in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Archbishop John Mitty of San Francisco arrived to dedicate the building on May 31, 1953 and the fund raising went on – parish income the first year was $23,000, a year later (the parish’s first full year of existence) it climbed to $36,000 and only ten years later it had reach $389,6000. Events like our early Festival – Fiesta Christo Rey and mother daughter fashion shows, sponsored by a strong women’s club, added to Christ the Kings income and its future.

The Holy Family Sisters taught catechism twice a week with early leaders like Sr. Theophane and Sr. Xavier; statistics for sacraments were fascinating. In 1955 – first communions continued to grow, while there were only 7 funerals, and 13 marriages there were 160 baptisms and Fr. Murray reported 10,520 confessions were heard! He also reported that there were 6,000 people and 1,000 telephones in the parish – (no computers and no cell phones were reported).

In 1959 Fr. Thomas Murphy arrived as pastor. During his short term, the school and convent were built with ground broken in January 1961 and doors opened in September. The Carondelet sisters arrived: Sr. Geraldine Mary was first principal along with Sr. Noreen O’Connor, Sr. Susanne Marie and Sr. Claire Marie. Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic were taught in earnest; and, oh yes, religion too. Generous parishioners continued the tradition of festivals to help fund school and parish activities. A tradition that continued in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and into the new century as well.

While festivals, learning and worship continued much the same some things began to change. A superficial but significant example would have to be the dress of our women religious. Not only did their habits change significantly but the primary staffing of our school and parish ministry became the mission of laity as well as priests and religious.

A recent photo smiles at the change with Sr. Carmel Garcia, Sr. Anne Marie, Sr. Noreen O’Connor and Sr. Mary Ellen, but the only one in a real traditional habit is our school secretary – Mrs. Haleen Armijo!

The role of laity has become central and indispensable, for example in guiding our school, in planning our facilities expansion such as the retrofit of the gym, expansion of parish hall, building new school wing and deciding on a ministry center.