About St. Francis de Sales · Lakeview, Michigan
St. Francis de Sales is a Roman Catholic parish in Lakeview, Michigan, now clustered as a two-site worship community with Christ the King in Howard City under Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales Parish in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Mass is celebrated in the Lakeview church at 829 East Richardson on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. (with Reconciliation at 8 a.m.) and on Fridays at 9:00 a.m., and the parish is pastored by Rev. James VanderLaan with assistance from Deacon Richard Dubridge. The parish traces its Catholic roots in Lakeview back to 1892, the present church building was first used in 1964, and a rectory was added in 1978.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Francis de Sales
- Rector
- Rev. James R. VanderLaan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
St. Francis de Sales offers a small, accessible Catholic community in Lakeview with welcoming Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m. and weekly Friday Mass, paired with the larger 11:00 a.m. Sunday and weekday Masses at Christ the King in Howard City. The parish supports lifelong family faith formation through A Family of Faith, has an active phone and email prayer chain, and shares a music director and Office Manager/Director of Faith Formation across both worship sites — making it easy for families to plug in and be known.
Mass times at St. Francis de Sales
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday at 8:00 am (St. Francis de Sales, Lakeview, before the 9:00 am Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00–11:00 a.m. Holy Hour at St. Francis de Sales, Lakeview
About Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales Parish
Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales is a two-site Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Grand Rapids serving the communities of Howard City and Lakeview, Michigan. In Lakeview, St. Francis de Sales Church at 829 East Richardson hosts Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m. and Friday Mass at 9:00 a.m., with Reconciliation on Sundays at 8:00 a.m. Christ the King in Howard City (9596 N. Reed Rd.) hosts the Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass and weekday Masses on Monday at noon and Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., making it easy for families to attend Mass on either side of the week. The parish is also clustered with St. Bernadette of Lourdes–St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Stanton for shared ministry.
- Worship site in Lakeview: 829 E Richardson, Lakeview, MI 48850
- Worship site in Howard City: 9596 N. Reed Rd., Howard City, MI 49329
- Pastor: Rev. James R. VanderLaan
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Richard Dubridge
- Diocese of Grand Rapids — Northeast Deanery, Montcalm County
History of St. Francis de Sales, Lakeview
Catholic life in Lakeview traces to 1892, when St. Francis de Sales first appeared in the National Catholic Directory as a station of St. Clara at Maple Valley (presently Coral). In 1945, Lakeview reappears as a mission of St. Mary in Sand Lake. Parishioners dug and enclosed the present church basement in 1949, and for fifteen years Mass was prayed there. On February 23, 1964, Fr. Jerome Winikaitis offered the first Mass in the new and present upper church building. Over the years, priests from St. Mary in Sand Lake, St. Clara in Coral, and St. Joseph Seminary — including Bishop Robert J. Rose — served the mission, and under Fr. Edwin Thome it became a mission of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Edmore.
- 1892 – first appearance as a station of St. Clara at Maple Valley
- 1945 – listed as a mission of St. Mary, Sand Lake
- 1949 – church basement dug and enclosed
- 1964 – upper church building dedicated with Mass by Fr. Jerome Winikaitis
- 1970 – joined with Christ the King (Howard City) and St. Apollonia (Morley)
- 1978 – rectory built
- 1982 – Fellowship Hall erected
- 1975 / 2011 – established and reestablished as Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales Parish
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith Formation at Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales follows a family catechesis model in which 'parents are children's first and best teachers.' The parish uses the A Family of Faith curriculum and is in its eighth year with these materials, currently in Year 4 on the theme of Christian Prayer. Programming meets every Sunday in Howard City at Fellowship Hall from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m., right before the 11 a.m. Mass, with age-appropriate groupings for infants through adults.
- Little Sprouts — infant to 3 years
- Seedlings — 4 years to 2nd grade
- Saplings — 3rd to 6th grade
- Branches — adults
- Thicket — 7th to 12th grade
- Director of Faith Formation: Julie Gould ([email protected], 231-937-5757)
Parish Staff and Contacts
The parish office serves both worship sites and is reachable by phone at (231) 937-5757 or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Bulletin submissions go to [email protected] by Monday at noon. The Faith Formation contact is [email protected].
- Pastor: Rev. James VanderLaan
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Richard Dubridge
- Office Manager & Director of Faith Formation: Julie Gould
- Business Manager: Gina Feley-O'Brien
- Music Director: Gordon Proulx
- Parish Office: 9596 N. Reed Rd., Howard City, MI 49329
- Phone: (231) 937-5757
Getting Involved at the Parish
The parish website lists current openings for a Secretary and a Director of Maintenance, with applications directed to [email protected]. Volunteers are also being sought to help with the Thicket (7th–12th grade) faith formation group at CTK–SF, and parishioners support a phone prayer chain, email prayer chain, music ministry, bulletin publication, and grounds and hall upkeep.
- Open positions: Secretary and Director of Maintenance
- Volunteer need: Thicket (7th–12th grade) Faith Formation leaders
- Music Director and ministry support available through the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Raymond Bruck1970-
Founded the first Catholic Church in Howard City; celebrated the first Mass in the Masonic Lodge the last week in July, 1970.
- Fr. Jerome Winikaitis
Offered the first Mass in the new and present Lakeview church building on February 23, 1964.
- Fr. Edwin Thome
Under his pastorate, St. Francis de Sales became a mission of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Edmore.
- Fr. Troy Nevins2004-2007
- Fr. James B. Wyse2007-2016
- Fr. James VanderLaan2016-
Current pastor of Christ the King–St. Francis de Sales Parish.