Rev. Richard L. Allen, Pastor

St. Gabriel Parish became a reality when Bishop Stanislaus V. Bona appointed Fr. Lawrence Stingle as founding Pastor.  The letter, dated June 18, 1959, transferred him from Holy Family, Elcho. 

The first masses were prayed in the basement of St. Margaret Mary Church.  At the first parish meeting on July 6, 1959, Don Hassler and Paul Peeters were elected trustees and the building committee was formed. 

On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1960, less than a year after the Bishop's letter, Fr. Stingle broke ground for the Church‑School combination.  A report, dated 12 October, 1960, listed the entire cost at $839,580.53.  Of that amount the neighboring parishes contributed $94,000 according to the custom of the time.  Gifts and pledges amounted to another $260,580.53.  The first mortgage was for $485,000 - at a time when the yearly collection was far less than $100,000.  They could also say:  Together We Build - Faith In Our Future.

Original Committee:  Charles O’Meara, Bill Gehr, Dick Abb, Don Hassler, Paul Peeters, Lyle Jacob and George Sturm. The altar was consecrated on March 9, 1961, by Bishop John Grellinger, Auxiliary Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese.  On the feast of St. Gabriel, March 24, Monsignor Joseph Glueckstein, pastor of the St. Margaret Mary Parish, prayed the first Mass.  Later in the day, Fr. Stingle prayed a solemn high Mass in the new church.  Dedication of the new church and school complex was held on September 17, 1961, with Bishop Bona presiding.

By that time the new school was already in operation.  Sr. Donna Marie, with eight other Franciscan Sisters, provided the staff.  Fr. Michael Clifford was the first Associate Pastor.  Later associates included:  Ronald Hopfensperger, Charles Brooks, Cyril Van Heeswyck, Michael O'Rourke, Michael Betley, T. Charles LaCombe, Ronald Lhotte, Timothy Tessier, and Robert Lexa.

Fr. Stingle retired in 1985.  Bishop Adam Maida named Fr. Richard L. Allen as Pastor. 

TCCES Development in 1989

In June, 1988, about the time when the original debt was retired, the parish voted to become part of the newly formed TCCES organization:  Twin City Catholic Education System.  The decision commits us as a parish to work actively with the neighboring parishes in matters of education. In 2002, when St. John closed its school and transferred its students to other parishes, they also joined TCCES.

In the Fall of 2002,  the five area parishes took a further step in the direction and scope of TCCES.  All five parishes chose to enter into a working agreement with each other and hired  Dr. Margie Weiss as the interim director.   The administration of all school, including three elementary, one middle and one high school are now under one administrative unit.  The salary schedule, benefit package, and subsidy formulas apply to all aspects of our program. 

Around the same time, the two priests at St. Mary Parish were transferred and not replaced.  The five parishes, now with four priests, have voluntarily formed a planning committee to search out methods of sharing our common resources and working more closely with one another.  

Building Additions

As parish activity increased, the St. Gabriel Community had outgrown its available space.  The parish made a bid in 1991 to enter a building mode but it did not prove workable.

At the meeting of the Parish Council on 24 September, 1996,  the motion was made to form a Building Committee.  Gary Elmer was appointed to chair the committee.  Others named were: Robert Pollen, Dick Simonis, Mary Stano, Gerry Van Handel, Larry Waitrovich, Mary Jo Widener, Bob Lehrer and Ray Dubois.  Again we said:  Together We Build - Faith In Our Future.

Mike Zweiger of the DLR firm (Dana Larson Roubal and Associates) was selected as the architect.  After meeting with over 100 parishioners, he developed the basic plan for the additions.   The major areas were (1) a new gym - the Allen Center; (2) a parish office complex; (3) the Keller Center for Early Childhood Development.

The Miron Construction company was hired to direct the building.  The firm of Kirby Smith Associates assisted with the fund raising.   Throughout the planning we were able to stay in the cost range of $1.700,000.  We received pledges of $1,275,000.  After consulting with our parishioners we contracted with the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin for the long term mortgage.

We entered Phase II of our building program as of November, 2001.  Part of the income will go towards the parish capital debt.  We hired Keller Construction Co to install a new roof over the Church and Stingle Hall area for approximately $200,000.   A car port was added, through the generosity of John and Ethel Keller.

This brief history is written when the parish is 43 years old.  The 550 families have mushroomed to more than 1600.  Consider these statistics over a three year period:

                                                               2001          2002          2003

          Baptism                                           56              50              46

          First Communion                             80             104             73

          Marriages                                        13               10             13

          Deaths                                            29               38             26

          Envelope Income                       715,000       712,000     706,000

          Units giving over $100                   973             986           928

          Mass attendance                          1,737          1,405        1,390

  Priests in Neenah/Menasha               6                 6               4

          Total areas masses on weekend      17               17             13

We have grown with the Church of the Second Vatican Council.  We reflect some of the major trends in the larger Church. 

Fr. Stingle is retired now, but is still fondly remembered and respected.  His leadership allowed the St. Gabriel community, like himself, to grow in wisdom, age, and grace.

Current Pastoral Staff

Rev. Richard L. Allen was appointed pastor by Bishop Maida on July 1, 1985.  He was born in New London, WI, and was ordained by Bishop Bona on May 27, 1961.  His assignments included Catholic Central High School in Marinette and pastorates at St.Philip in Green Bay, Holy Cross in Mishicot before coming to St. Gabriel on July 1,1985.

Sr. JoAnn Serwas accepted the position of Pastoral Associate on July 1, 2001.  She is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in LaCrosse, WI  Previously she was a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc.  With different degrees in music education and administration, she has forty years of experience relating to Catholic Education.  

Mrs. Mary Jo Brown was appointed principal of the newly formed TCCES St. Gabriel Grade School on July 1, 2003. Previously she had served at Seton Catholic Middle School, Menasha, St. John's Seymour and St. Joseph Middle School Appleton.  She also served as DRE of St.Joe's and St. Mary's in Appleton.  Mrs. Brown is a native of Shawano WI and is blessed with three children.

Send mail to llynch@tcces.k12.wi.us with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 06/13/08