Christ the King

Welcome & Parish Overview

Christ the King – St. Francis de Sales is a clustered Catholic parish of the Diocese of Grand Rapids serving Howard City, Lakeview, and the surrounding Montcalm County area. Its pastor is Rev. James VanderLaan, assisted by Deacon Richard Dubridge. The parish office is located at 9596 N. Reed Rd., Howard City, MI 49329, and can be reached at (231) 937-5757 or [email protected].

History of Christ the King, Howard City

Catholic life in Howard City began in 1970 under Fr. Raymond Bruck. The parish's first Mass was celebrated in the local Masonic Lodge that July; shortly after, a former Free Methodist Church was purchased for $5,000 and dedicated on September 26, 1970. In 1972, seventeen acres at the corner of US 131 and M-46 were bought for $5,000. Parishioners cleared the land and built the present church, which was dedicated in 1976. A rectory was added in 1978, Fellowship Hall in 1982, and a roof restoration with new offices and foyer canopy in 1983. In 2011 the parish was reorganized and clustered with St. Francis de Sales in Lakeview.

• 1970 – Fr. Raymond Bruck founds the parish; first Mass held in Masonic Lodge
• 1970 – Free Methodist Church purchased for $5,000; first Mass held September 26
• 1972 – 17 acres at US 131 & M-46 purchased for $5,000
• 1976 – Present Christ the King Church dedicated
• 1978 – Rectory built
• 1982 – Fellowship Hall erected
• 1983 – Roof restoration; offices and foyer canopy added
• 2011 – Reestablished as Christ the King – St. Francis de Sales Parish

History of St. Francis de Sales, Lakeview

St. Francis de Sales is first mentioned in the National Catholic Directory in 1892 as a station of St. Clara at Maple Valley (present-day Coral). It reappears in 1945 as a Mission of St. Mary in Sand Lake. The present church basement was dug and enclosed in 1949, and Mass was offered there for fifteen years. On February 23, 1964, Fr. Jerome Winikaitis celebrated the first Mass in the new and present church building. In 1970 St. Francis was joined with the parishes of Christ the King in Howard City and St. Apollonia in Morley; later, under Fr. Edwin Thome, it became a mission of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Edmore. In 2011 St. Francis was merged into the Christ the King parish family.

• 1892 – First appearance in National Catholic Directory (as a station of St. Clara at Maple Valley)
• 1945 – Reappears as Mission of St. Mary, Sand Lake
• 1949 – Church basement dug and enclosed
• 1964 – First Mass offered in present church by Fr. Jerome Winikaitis (Feb. 23)
• 1970 – Joined with Christ the King (Howard City) and St. Apollonia (Morley)
• Under Fr. Edwin Thome – becomes mission of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Edmore
• 2011 – Merged with Christ the King Parish

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at Christ the King – St. Francis de Sales is rooted in the belief that 'Faith Formation is lifelong and ongoing' and that 'parents are children's first and best teachers.' The parish uses the A Family of Faith curriculum (now in Year 4, focused on Christian Prayer), which equips parents to share the Catholic faith with their children through common prayer, service, social activities, and liturgical celebrations. Programming meets every Sunday from 9:00 to 10:45 am in Fellowship Hall in Howard City, right before the 11:00 am Mass. The program is organized into four age-based groups: Little Sprouts (infant–3 years), Seedlings (4 yrs–2nd grade), Saplings (3rd–6th grade), The Branches (adults), and a Thicket group for grades 7–12.

• Curriculum: A Family of Faith (Year 4: Christian Prayer)
• Sunday mornings 9:00–10:45 am at Fellowship Hall, Howard City
• Little Sprouts (infant–3 years)
• Seedlings (4 years–2nd grade)
• Saplings (3rd–6th grade)
• The Branches (adults)
• Thicket (7th–12th grade) — seeking volunteer helpers
• Director: Julie Gould — [email protected], 231-937-5757

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the Sacraments of Reconciliation weekly at all three worship sites of the cluster, and prepares children for First Communion through the Faith Formation program. Detailed preparation for marriage, baptism, and other sacraments is coordinated through the parish office.

• Reconciliation — Wed 6:00 pm (Christ the King); Sun 8:00 am (St. Francis de Sales); Sat 4:00 pm (St. Bernadette of Lourdes)
• First Communion preparation through the Faith Formation program
• Contact the parish office at [email protected] or (231) 937-5757 for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacramental needs

Staff & Parish Office

A small, dedicated team staffs the parish under Pastor Fr. James VanderLaan. The parish office is open Monday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

• Pastor: Rev. James VanderLaan — [email protected]
• Deacon: Rev. Mr. Richard Dubridge
• Office Manager & Director of Faith Formation: Julie Gould — [email protected] / [email protected]
• Business Manager: Gina Feley-O'Brien
• Music Director: Gordon Proulx
• Bulletin: [email protected] (deadline Monday at 12:00 pm)

Worship Sites & Cluster

Christ the King – St. Francis de Sales is part of the Northeast Deanery of the Diocese of Grand Rapids and is clustered with St. Bernadette of Lourdes – St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Stanton. Each worship site is handicapped accessible.

• Christ the King — 9596 N. Reed Rd., Howard City, MI 49329 (church & hall handicapped accessible)
• St. Francis de Sales — 829 East Richardson, Lakeview, MI 48850 (church handicapped accessible)
• Cluster partner: St. Bernadette of Lourdes – St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, 991 E. Main St., Stanton, MI 48888
• Diocese: Grand Rapids — Montcalm County, Northeast Deanery

Bulletins & News

Weekly parish bulletins are available for download on the parish website (Adobe Reader may be required). The bulletin deadline is Monday at 12:00 pm; submissions can be sent to [email protected]. The parish also posts current job openings (secretary and director of maintenance) on the Diocese of Grand Rapids jobs page.