About St. Gabriel · Fulda, Minnesota
St. Gabriel is a Roman Catholic parish in Fulda, a small community on the western shore of Seven Mile Lake in Murray County, southwestern Minnesota. The parish is part of a Tri-Parish grouping that also includes St. Anthony in Currie and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westbrook, all served together under the Diocese of Winona–Rochester. The church has served the Fulda community for more than a century and is a visible landmark on the town's skyline, where parishioners gather for Sunday Mass, weekday liturgies, faith formation for children, and a strong tradition of Catholic social and devotional life.
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Schuster
- Diocese
- Diocese of Winona–Rochester
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers a faithful, close-knit Catholic community in rural southwestern Minnesota, with Sunday and weekday Mass, regular confession times, monthly adoration, faith formation for children in grade school and high school, and a strong devotional rhythm including youth rosary, Stations of the Cross in Lent, communal penance services, and Holy Week liturgies. As part of the Tri-Parish of Currie/Fulda/Westbrook, the parish shares priests and ministry with neighboring communities but retains its own identity, staff, bulletin, Facebook presence, and Sacramental life at the heart of Fulda.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday before 8:00 AM Mass — 7:30–7:45 AM
- 2nd Tuesday of every month — Adoration and Confession after the 8:30 AM Mass
- Communal Penance at St. Gabriel (cluster event) — e.g., Sunday March 15 at 2:00 PM during Lent
Adoration times
- 2nd Tuesday of every month — Adoration after the 8:30 AM Mass (at St. Gabriel)
- Thursday evenings at St. Ann, Slayton — Adoration and Confessions 5:00–6:00 PM (cluster-wide, with Fr. Schuster)
Parish Overview
St. Gabriel is a Roman Catholic parish in Fulda, Minnesota, on the western shore of Seven Mile Lake in Murray County. It belongs to the Diocese of Winona–Rochester and is one of three parishes in the Tri-Parish of Currie/Fulda/Westbrook. Visitors and parishioners are directed to the parish Facebook page for the latest news and to the shared website for bulletins and contact information.
- Part of the Tri-Parish of MN with St. Anthony (Currie) and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Westbrook)
- Diocese of Winona–Rochester
- Website: triparishcfw.org
- Bulletin published weekly with parish and cluster news
History and Heritage
The parish dates back more than a century, built by German, Irish, and Scandinavian Catholic immigrants who settled Fulda after the railroad arrived in 1881. Its silhouette has defined the town's skyline for generations, and the building carries deep cultural weight for a small, mostly Catholic community.
- Church built on the western shore of Seven Mile Lake, more than 100 years ago
- First and biggest landmark visible from across the lake
- Long-standing Catholic identity in a small, predominantly Catholic town
The Fire and the Discovered Mural
A fire contained to a small plant room caused roughly $800,000 in damage to the church's ceiling, pews and carpet. By burning through a coat of white paint, the flames revealed a large altar mural of St. Gabriel appearing to Mary at the Annunciation — artwork that had been covered up in the 1960s during the Vatican-wide simplification of church interiors.
- Fire damage estimated at $800,000
- Exposed original ornate sanctuary artwork hidden since the 1960s
- Restorers called the revealed artwork 'some of the most exquisite art they had ever seen'
- Parishioners drove ~12 miles to a neighboring parish for Sunday Mass during repairs
Restoration and Rebuilding
In the wake of the fire the parish committed to repairing the building and restoring the sanctuary to its earlier, more ornate appearance. The campaign reflected the community's deep attachment to the building and its heritage.
- $500,000 fundraising goal launched to restore the sanctuary
- Work coordinated with art restorers to preserve the rediscovered mural
- Parishioner Katie Clarke quoted on the enduring commitment: 'our commitment to Christ, to the Catholic Church and to our parish community is very, very strong'
Clergy and Staff
St. Gabriel is served by priests shared across the Tri-Parish cluster, with administrative and faith-formation staff based at the parish office in Fulda. The Diocese of Winona–Rochester directory lists the parish's current clergy assignments.
- Rev. Peter Schuster — Pastor (c. 507-304-2541, [email protected])
- Rev. Antony Arokiyam — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Linda Clauson — Administrative Assistant ([email protected], c. 507-360-4164)
- Chelsea Hein — Faith Formation ([email protected], ph. 507-425-2369, c. 507-360-4553)
- Dana Clarke — Bookkeeper ([email protected], c. 507-360-3536)
- Pat Merrick — OCIA (c. 507-407-1063)
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
St. Gabriel runs a robust faith formation program for grade-school and high-school students, supplemented by a Friday Morning Youth Rosary that welcomes adult parishioners. Preparation for Confirmation is part of the program, with the bishop celebrating the sacrament.
- Elementary Release Time classes (during school hours)
- High school Faith Formation (e.g., Thursday evening classes)
- Chelsea Hein — Director of Faith Formation
- Friday Morning Youth Rosary — every Friday at 7:15 AM, followed by donuts and juice
- Confirmation preparation for students
- OCIA (adult initiation) coordinated by Pat Merrick
- Faith Formation Food Shelf Challenge — student-led charity project
Devotions and Holy Week
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish maintains a rhythm of devotion that runs through the year, including weekly youth rosary, monthly adoration, Lenten Stations of the Cross, communal penance, and a full cluster Holy Week schedule with multiple liturgies at St. Gabriel.
- Friday Morning Youth Rosary at 7:15 AM
- Adoration and Confession monthly (2nd Tuesday after Mass)
- Lenten Stations of the Cross — rotating 5:30 PM among cluster parishes
- Communal Penance in Lent at St. Gabriel
- Holy Week at St. Gabriel — Good Friday 5:30 PM; Easter Sunday 8:00 AM
- Tabernacle Candle intentions published weekly in the bulletin
Parish Life and Fundraisers
Parish life is anchored by women's groups, fundraisers, food-shelf outreach, and youth service projects that bring generations together. Events are advertised in the bulletin and on the parish Facebook page.
- Altar Society (women's group, with monthly meeting schedule)
- Spring Dinner — annual parish fundraiser with raffle
- Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser for parish youth
- Meals delivered to parishioners in need
- Faith Formation Food Shelf Challenge donation drive
Visiting and Contact
St. Gabriel welcomes visitors and new parishioners. The parish office, located in Fulda, handles inquiries, faith formation registration, OCIA, and Sacramental preparation. The most up-to-date news and notices are posted to the parish's Facebook page.
- Parish office: 305 S. Lafayette Ave, Fulda, MN 56131 — (507) 425-2369
- Diocese-listed address: 309 W Lake Ave, Fulda, MN 56131-9402
- Email: [email protected] (office); [email protected] (Faith Formation)
- Website: triparishcfw.org (St. Gabriel tab)
- Facebook: St. Gabriel Catholic Church
- Diocese: Winona–Rochester