Our History

In 1942, the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJs) arrived to establish a Catholic presence in Northwestern Mississippi. The Bishop of the Diocese turned to the Priests of the Sacred Heart to minister to the counties of Marshall, Tippah, Benton, Tate, Tunica and Desoto. Some of the first SCJs arrived from the Indian Reservations leaving behind fewer members to care for the Sioux in South Dakota.

The SCJs learned of 34 known Catholics in all of Desoto County and began celebrating Mass in various homes throughout the area. They began ministering in Holly Springs under the direction of Fr. John Flanagan, SCJ.

Christ the King Catholic Church was established as a mission of Sacred Heart Church in Walls, MS, on March 13, 1966. In those first years, having no church, Mass was celebrated in the car auction barn on Highway 51 between Church Road and Goodman Road. 
Mass in car auction barn on Highway 51 (taken during Christmas season in 1966)
Three years later, in 1969, the first church was built on twelve (12) acres of land on Stateline Road with Fr. Michael McMillen, SCJ, assigned the pastoral ministry for the mission church. The first Mass was celebrated in the new church on July 17, 1969. Bishop Brunini dedicated the new church in October, 1969. Christ the King remained a mission of Sacred Heart in Walls until February 1, 1974, when it was made a parish by Bishop Joseph B. Brunini. Fr. McMillen, SCJ, was named the first pastor.

In 2002, after more than thirty (30) years on Stateline Road, the parish broke ground for the current church to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Catholic Community. The new church was dedicated by Bishop Joseph N. Latino on February 22, 2004. Fr. Patrick, Lloyd, SCJ, was the pastor who carried the building process through to completion. Fr. Gregory M. Speck, SCJ, followed Fr. Pat as pastor at the new church from 2006-2009. Shortly into his pastorate, St. Anthony of Tunica, Sacred Heart in Walls, St. Gregory in Senatobia and Holy Spirit in Hernando were added to his care. The expansion of his responsibilities gave rise to the "Team Ministry" approach of pastoral care. This method allowed a number of parishes to be ministered to by the few priests available. Fr. Robert Tucker, SCJ, followed as moderator from September 2009 - July 2016. Fr. Leonard Elder also retired from St. Joseph Parish in Holly Springs. Fr. David Szatkowski was named pastor for both Queen of Peace in Olive Branch and St Joseph in Holly Springs.

Our priests worked closely together to keep the team approach alive and working in Northern Mississippi. The cluster of parishes of Northern Mississippi now include: St. Joseph (Holly Springs), Queen of Peace (Olive Branch), Christ the King (Southaven), Holy Spirit (Hernando), St. Gregory (Senatobia) and Good Shepherd (Robinsonville).

Although the team of priests may change, we have been greatly blessed by the Priests of the Sacred who have made a great impact on our parish. Since moving to our present location, we have welcomed & have been served by the following Priests of the Sacred Heart: Fr. Patrick Lloyd, Fr. Ed Zemlik, Fr. Gregory Speck, Fr. Robert Tucker, Fr. Tim Gray, Fr. Duy Nguyen, Fr. Thi Pham, Fr. Gregory Schill, Fr. Zbigniew Morawiec (Fr. Ziggy), Fr. Francois Tsanga, Fr. David Szatkowski, Fr. Hendrik Ardianto (Fr. Ardi), Fr. Louis Fernandes, Fr. Guy Blair, and Fr. Paul Hoang.