O God, who in your providential design
  willed that your Church be built
  upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other apostles,
  look with favor, we pray, on Francis, our Pope,
  and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s  successor,
  may be for your people a visible source and  foundation
  of unity in faith and of communion.

  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy  Spirit,
  one God, forever and ever. Amen.

  or

O God, Shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
Look favorably on your servant Francis,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
grant, we pray, that, by word and example,
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

We became a parish family on August 15, 1985, when our founding pastor, Father Edwin Thome, arrived in the Traverse City area.  Since we had no property, no building, or no name, our parish life centered around any place we could gather.  Our first location was "the little yellow office" which once stood where the present Acme Mall on U.S. 31 is now located.  For approximately two years this building served as office and chapel for weekday Masses, and on Sundays our growing congregation would meet at Bertha Vos Elementary School --first the cafeteria, then the gym.

After six months we began renting an empty storefront at Tom's Market and began planning for permanent quarters.  The building would seat a little over 700 for worship, provide offices for a pastor, an associate, and a secretary, and cost a little over a million dollars.  The lower level would be used mostly for religious education programs, and social functions.  It would also provide space for a nursery.  Our dreams were finally realized December 11, 1988, at the dedication of our church, Christ The King.  On the feast of Christ The King in November of 1996, we celebrated with the burning of the mortgage.

Fr. Thome remained with the parish until his first (of many) retirement August 15, 2000.  He was replaced by Fr. Duane Wachowiak who served as Pastoral Administrator for two years saying Mass, administering the sacraments and conducting the affairs of the parish.

Mr. Steve Harvey was appointed in September 2000, as Pastoral Minister directing the education of the liturgical ministers and altar servers, handling Baptismal and Marriage preparations, acting as sacristan, conducting Bible Studies, and assisting with the R.C.I.A. program.  Steve left us in May 2003.

In February 2001, Sister Joyce Kolassa, O.P. joined the pastoral team working with our hospital, nursing home and homebound parishioners.  It was Sr. Joyce who began the Hospital Eucharistic Ministry Program.  Sister left us when her contract expired in 2002.

In September 2002, Bishop Partick Cooney installed Fr. Garth Hilmer as pastor, and at his direction, the parish purchased the former Bertha Vos homestead adjacent to the parish grounds at a cost of $350,000 on April 10, 2003.  The property includes a three car garage with an apartment which is being used for visiting priests, seminarians, etc.

July 2004, brought us Fr. Gerald Micketti.  He celebrated the 25th Anniversary of our parish with us as well as the 25th anniversary of his ordination.  The rosary at the Pavillions and Hope Village, "Take Out Sunday" coupons for the Food Pantry at Immaculate Conception Parish and the Prison Ministry, were some of his accomplishments.

Father Ray Cotter was assigned to our parish on July 8, 2011, by Bishop Bernard A. Hebda.  A successful CSA, the Men's St. Joseph prayer group and the refurbishing of the old Youth Center are his most recent contributions.