About St. Gabriel · Charlotte, North Carolina
St. Gabriel Catholic Church is a large Roman Catholic parish located at 3016 Providence Road in southeast Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Diocese of Charlotte. Founded in 1957 on what had been a quail farm one mile beyond the city limits, it served 175 founding families and has grown into one of the largest parishes in the diocese with more than 3,300 families and roughly 11,000 members. The parish operates a parish school (MACS), a preschool (Cradle Preschool), a robust family-based faith formation program, youth ministry (EDGE and Life Teen), the Alpha evangelization program, and more than 80 ministries including a Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano) that celebrates a weekly Spanish Mass. Today it offers eight weekend Masses, daily Mass, extensive adoration, and regular confession.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Archangel Gabriel
- Rector
- Reverend Richard Frank Sutter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charlotte
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers the scale and resources of one of the Charlotte diocese's largest parishes while keeping a tight sense of community: eight weekend Masses (including a weekly Spanish Mass), a parish school (MACS) and preschool, a cradle-to-Confirmation family-based faith formation program, robust youth ministry (EDGE for middle school and Life Teen for high school), the Alpha evangelization series, OCIA for adults, more than 80 ministries, and a vibrant Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano). It is rooted in decades of pastoral continuity on the same Providence Road campus in southeast Charlotte, with daily Mass, expansive Eucharistic adoration (hundreds of hours per year), and frequent confession times — making it an easy fit for both young families and longtime Charlotte Catholics.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Main church)
- Friday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered regularly — the parish's 2025 Annual Report records 312 hours of Eucharistic adoration in the prior year. Specific chapel hours are published on the parish website (stgabrielchurch.org) under the Adoration page.
History of St. Gabriel Parish
St. Gabriel was founded in 1957 on a former quail farm along Providence Road in southeast Charlotte, then a mile outside the city limits. It began as a mission of the Diocese of Raleigh, moved to the new Diocese of Charlotte in 1972, and grew within twenty years into the largest Catholic parish in North Carolina. The current church was built under Monsignor Thomas R. Walsh in the late 1970s–early 1980s; the parish marked its 25th anniversary in 1982 with over 1,300 families and its 60th in 2017 with more than 3,300 families.
- 1955 – Diocese of Raleigh purchases Hatcher and Wall properties near Sharon Amity
- October 1956 – Bishop Vincent S. Waters announces new Catholic church
- August 1957 – Father J. Paul Byron appointed founding pastor
- September 15, 1957 – First Mass celebrated with 175 families
- 1972 – Parish transitions to the newly created Diocese of Charlotte
- 1982 – 25th anniversary, 1,300+ families; Bishop Michael J. Begley letter
- 1984 (approx.) – Construction of the present, much larger church under Msgr. Walsh
- 2017 – 60th anniversary, 3,335 families
- November 24, 2019 – Father Richard Sutter installed as pastor
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
St. Gabriel is currently led by Father Richard Frank Sutter as pastor and Father Kevin Michael Tran as parochial vicar, supported by two deacons, 21 full-time staff members, and 5 part-time staff (per the 2025 Parish Annual Report). The parish follows the Diocese of Charlotte's Safe Environment requirements for staff and volunteers.
- Pastor: Rev. Richard Frank Sutter (installed November 24, 2019)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Kevin Michael Tran
- Two deacons serving the parish
- 21 full-time staff and 5 part-time staff (2025 Annual Report)
Mass and Sacraments
The parish celebrates daily Mass Monday through Saturday and five Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), plus a Saturday Vigil. Confession is offered four days a week. Sacraments prepared on-site include Infant Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and OCIA for adults (English and Spanish).
- Sunday Masses: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM (livestreamed), 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Español), 5:00 PM
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM; Saturday morning Mass 9:00 AM
- Daily Mass Mon–Fri at 8:15 AM
- Confessions Wed 12–6 PM, Fri 4–6 PM, Sat 8–9 AM and 3–5 PM
Faith Formation for Children and Teens
Faith formation at St. Gabriel uses a family-based model that combines monthly parent-and-student gatherings with at-home family activities. Children in grades 1–5 participate in Family Faith; middle-school students join EDGE; high-school students belong to Life Teen; and Confirmation preparation is offered for 9th graders. The Diocese of Charlotte requires two consecutive years of catechesis prior to receiving Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
- Family Faith (Grades 1–5) — Sunday 1:00 PM or Tuesday 6:00 PM monthly sessions
- EDGE Middle School (Grades 6–8) — Wednesday evenings
- Life Teen High School (Grades 9–12) — Sundays after the 5 PM Mass
- Confirmation preparation (9th grade)
- 207 children + parents participated in Family Faith (2025 Annual Report)
Adult Faith and Evangelization
Adults encounter faith formation through OCIA (Becoming Catholic), the Alpha course, Bible studies, Walking with Purpose, the Marriage Course and Marriage Thrive retreat, and various discipleship small groups. The program is offered in both English and Spanish.
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic — meetings in English and Spanish
- Alpha — Thursdays (morning and evening), with a one-day retreat
- Walking with Purpose (women's Bible study)
- Marriage Course & Marriage Thrive retreat
- Alpha Pre-Marriage for engaged couples
- 1,169 adults in Alpha, Bible studies, and related programs (2025 Annual Report)
Parish School and Preschool
St. Gabriel operates a parish school (MACS) and an early-childhood program (Cradle Preschool) on campus. The parish also supports three seminarians from the diocese.
- MACS parish school — 1,167 students
- Cradle Preschool — 101 students
- 3 seminarians supported by the parish
Outreach and Charity
St. Gabriel Catholic Church is known for its charitable outreach to those in need in the Charlotte region, partnering with Habitat for Humanity and operating a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Meals Ministry, and funeral reception support. The parish emphasizes being 'generous and strategic in [its] charitable outreach, helping alleviate hunger, homelessness, and poverty.'
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Habitat for Humanity partnership — workdays every other month
- Meals Ministry (meals for families in crisis, plus funeral receptions)
- Outreach to homeless and homebound
- Habitat Lunch Crew
Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)
St. Gabriel maintains an active Hispanic Ministry that serves the Latino Catholic community in southeast Charlotte with weekly Spanish-language Mass, formation, and pastoral care. Spanish options are available across many parish programs.
- Spanish-language Sunday Mass at 1:00 PM
- OCIA / Becoming Catholic in Spanish
- Alpha en Español
- Family Faith, Marriage Course, and other programs offered bilingually
Parish Life and Discipleship
Beyond programs, St. Gabriel emphasizes relational discipleship through small groups for men, women, young adults, young families, and seniors. Annual men's and women's retreats are also offered.
- Discipleship groups for men, women, young adults, young families, and seniors
- Annual men's retreat and annual women's retreat (282 retreat participants in 2025)
- 333 teen retreat and summer camp participants (2025)
- Parish staff and volunteers must comply with the Diocese of Charlotte Safe Environment program
Getting Involved and Visiting
Newcomers and visitors are welcomed with hospitality during Sunday Masses and through online connection. Mass times, confession and adoration schedules, a livestream of the 9 AM Sunday Mass, registration for OCIA, and bulletin links are all available on the parish website, stgabrielchurch.org.
- Parish website: https://www.stgabrielchurch.org
- Phone: (704) 364-5431
- Email: [email protected]
- Livestream: Sunday 9:00 AM Mass
- Address: 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211
- Sunday nursery (ages 2–4) during 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. Paul Byron1957–c. 1967
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass on September 15, 1957, with 175 families. A native of Albany, NY, ordained 1946 for the Diocese of Raleigh; previously served parishes in Whiteville, Waynesville, Wake Forest, Raleigh, Lillington, and Durham. Served approximately 10 years at St. Gabriel.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas R. Walshc. 1973–c. 1982
Built the present church. Ordained May 1953 in Greensboro by Bishop Vincent S. Waters. Nine-year pastorate at St. Gabriel; had strong influence on the new church's design, the installation of its organ, and protection of the large oak trees (received City of Charlotte appreciation award). Served 13 parishes across North Carolina. Retired 1996 to Allegany, NY; died December 2, 2016.
- Rev. Myles E. Quail1982 (assistant pastor)
Listed as assistant pastor at the parish's 25th anniversary in 1982.
- Rev. Frank O'RourkeAssistant 1976–1977; Pastor July 2007–October 2019
Ordained November 23, 1975, by Bishop Michael J. Begley at St. Ann Church, one of the first ten priests ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte. Assigned to St. Gabriel as assistant starting Jan. 5, 1976. Returned as pastor in July 2007. Retired October 2019, final Mass celebrated October 13, 2019.
- Rev. Richard Frank SutterOctober 2019–present
Installed by Bishop Peter Jugis on November 24, 2019. Grew up in Atlanta; B.A. Belmont Abbey College 1991; former U.S. Army Infantry officer (Army Ranger and Airborne schools). Ordained December 12, 2009 at the Major Basilica of St. Paul in Rome. Previously served as Catholic school chaplain in Louisiana and Georgia, parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Charlotte, and parochial administrator of St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville, NC.