About St. Gabriel · Hubertus, Wisconsin
St. Gabriel Catholic Parish is a vibrant Roman Catholic community in the rural Village of Hubertus, Wisconsin, part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Established on July 1, 2002 from the merger of three long-standing parishes — St. Columba of Colgate, St. Hubert of Hubertus, and St. Mary of Richfield — it serves a countryside area northwest of Milwaukee. The parish runs a K-8 day school on the same campus as the church, an OCIA process for adults entering the Church, a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd children's program, and a youth ministry for grades 6-12, while continuing the worship, sacramental, and burial traditions of its three predecessor parishes.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Tim Bickel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Why belong here
St. Gabriel is a country parish where families genuinely know one another, celebrating Mass together Tuesday through Sunday in a worship space dedicated in 2005 that intentionally honors the heritage of its three founding communities. The parish supports the full sacramental and formation life of the Church — daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration twice a month, Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon, OCIA for adults, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children, a comprehensive middle- and high-school youth ministry, and a K-8 Catholic school now on the same campus. Active councils (Finance, Christian Formation, Cemetery) and parish activities like Fellowship Sundays show a community that takes stewardship and service seriously.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month: 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About St. Gabriel Parish
St. Gabriel is a country parish in the Village of Hubertus, Wisconsin, rooted in the faith of Irish and German Catholic settlers who began gathering for worship in this part of Washington County more than 160 years ago. Today the parish runs a Catholic day school, all-ages faith formation, daily and Sunday Mass, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and ongoing outreach — all on a single shared campus at 1200 Saint Gabriel Way. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
- Mission: to PROCLAIM Christ, FORM disciples through the sacramental LIFE of the Catholic Church, and create an environment where all can live out this mission
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; closed Friday
- Parish address: 1200 Saint Gabriel Way, Hubertus, WI 53033
- Main phone: (262) 628-1141
Parish History
St. Gabriel Parish was canonically established July 1, 2002, from the merger of three long-standing parishes — St. Columba of Colgate, St. Hubert of Hubertus, and St. Mary of Richfield. The merging parishes had roots going back to the 1850s, when Irish and German Catholic families first organized worship in homes before any church buildings existed. A new worship center along Highway 164 was dedicated on August 28, 2005, designed with liturgical consultant Ron Zawilla to honor the heritage of each founding parish. The parish continues to honor the legacy of its three predecessors by maintaining their historic cemeteries and the former St. Mary church, now St. Mary Chapel in Richfield.
- St. Columba of Colgate — one of the three founding parishes merged in 2002
- St. Hubert of Hubertus — original parish site on Hubertus Road
- St. Mary of Richfield — formally recognized as a mission May 1, 1856 by Bishop Henni; received first resident pastor Father James Ruetz on June 2, 1967
- 1997: Archbishop asks the three parishes to collaborate toward a shared worship space
- Fr. Charles Hanel assigned as collaborative pastor of the three parishes before the merger
- July 1, 2002: St. Gabriel Parish officially established
- August 28, 2005: New church dedicated
- St. Mary Chapel, Richfield — retained for weddings and funerals
Meet Our Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and a team of lay directors and staff covering liturgy, music, formation, administration, and school leadership.
- Fr. Tim Bickel — Pastor (ext. 222)
- Joan Weiss — Pastoral Secretary (ext. 227)
- Mike Reichert — Director of Administrative Services (ext. 225)
- Angela Hauert — Finance Manager (ext. 221)
- Maryrose Wolf — Director of Liturgy (ext. 226)
- Joseph Hauer — Director of Music (ext. 247)
- Dave Retseck — Director of Discipleship & Adult Formation (ext. 223)
- Diane Schimelfenyg — Director of Children's Ministry, 3K–5th Grade (ext. 246)
- Lea Rosenberg — Director of Youth Ministry, 6th–12th Grade (ext. 224)
- Mary Gilmeister — iVolunteer Coordinator (ext. 236)
- Kimberly Lestina — School Principal ((262) 628-1711, ext. 163)
Faith Formation
Christian Formation at St. Gabriel runs through a Christian Formation Commission that oversees Adult Formation, Youth Ministry, Children's Ministry, and the parish school.
- Director of Children's Ministry: Diane Schimelfenyg
- Director of Youth Ministry: Lea Rosenberg
- Director of Discipleship & Adult Formation: Dave Retseck
Children's Ministry (3K – 5th Grade)
The Children's Ministry uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious formation program for children beginning at age 3. Children work in 'atrium' spaces created to be sacred, hands-on environments for hearing, pondering, and celebrating the essential mysteries of the Catholic faith. Children preparing for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist participate in at least one year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in addition to their sacramental preparation year, which is traditionally done in 2nd grade. Class sizes are intentionally limited (10 for Level 1, 15 for Level 2).
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–6)
- Level 1 (Grades 1, 2, 3) — Sunday and Monday class times
- Level 2 (Grades 1–3) — Tuesday evening option 6:00–7:15 p.m.
- Level 3 (Grades 3, 4, 5) — continuing formation
- 1st Reconciliation: celebrated on two Saturdays in March
- 1st Communion: celebrated on selected weekends in April or May
- Parent & child meditation series and Saturday retreat before First Communion
Youth Ministry (6th – 12th Grade)
St. Gabriel offers an engaging program for middle school, high school, and Confirmation students built around small-group discussions, encounter experiences, community-building activities, service opportunities, and prayer. Registration runs from April to September, with small groups meeting September through June.
- Middle School program
- High School program
- Confirmation preparation
- Contact: Lea Rosenberg, [email protected]
Adult Formation & Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes unbaptized adults, adults baptized in another Christian tradition, and catechized but unconfirmed Catholics. The journey typically begins in the fall and continues through the Easter Vigil, when the Sacraments of Initiation are received. Adults also have ongoing formation opportunities through the parish's adult formation program.
- OCIA inquiries: Dave Retseck, [email protected] or (262) 628-1141 ext. 223
- Adult Formation / Discipleship opportunities year-round
St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School
St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School is a K-8 Catholic school that was originally St. Hubert School before the 2002 merger. The school shares a single campus with the parish church, having moved in January 2018 to the St. Gabriel Way site. By the parish's sesquicentennial year (1996), the predecessor parish had 520 families and 151 day school students. The school is supported in part by a Restricted School Fund (for RTI teachers, tuition grants, technology, and curriculum) and an Endowment Fund restricted to tuition assistance and Catholic school support.
- School Principal: Kimberly Lestina — (262) 628-1711, ext. 163
- Originally St. Hubert School; became St. Gabriel Catholic Parish School July 21, 2002
- Moved to single campus with the parish church in January 2018
- Supported by a Restricted School Fund and an Endowment Fund for tuition assistance
Liturgy & Music
Liturgical and musical life at St. Gabriel is coordinated by a Director of Liturgy and a Director of Music, supporting the parish's celebration of daily Mass, the Sunday Vigil, and Sunday liturgies, along with seasonal celebrations, sacramental rites, and Eucharistic Adoration.
- Director of Liturgy: Maryrose Wolf
- Director of Music: Joseph Hauer
- Live-streamed liturgies available on the parish YouTube channel
Cemeteries
St. Gabriel Parish maintains the three historic cemeteries of its founding communities, supported by a Cemetery perpetual care fund and managed by the parish grounds and maintenance staff. A Cemetery Committee works to ensure the reverence and holiness of each site. Both parishioners and non-parishioners may purchase plots in any of the three cemeteries at published rates.
- St. Columba Cemetery — 106 Hwy. 164, Colgate, WI 53017 — Sexton: Gil and Mary Frank, (262) 388-4922
- St. Hubert Cemetery — 3727 Hubertus Rd., Hubertus, WI 53033 — Sexton: Todd & Dawn Kons, (262) 229-3060
- St. Mary Cemetery — 2420 Hillside Rd., Richfield, WI 53076 (no plots currently available)
- Plot rates: Parishioners $600 / Non-parishioners $1,000; Rite of Second Burial $400 / $800
- Cemetery Committee contact: Dick Lemminger Sr. — (414) 588-7125 / (262) 628-1805
- Administrative contact: Mike Reichert, [email protected]
Parish Councils & Stewardship
Parish governance and stewardship are supported by a Finance Council and a Christian Formation Commission, in addition to the Cemetery Committee. Designated gift funds allow parishioners to direct contributions to specific ministries, including the Cemetery Fund, the Restricted School Fund, and the Endowment Fund.
- Finance Council Chair: John Borgen
- Pastor: Fr. Tim Bickel
- Director of Administrative Services: Mike Reichert
- Trustee Secretary: Bill Humpal
- Trustee Treasurer: George Wiciak
- Members: Kevin Brehm, Rob McDonald (Liaison), Laura Rogacki
- Cemetery Fund, Restricted School Fund, and Endowment Fund accept designated gifts
Getting Involved
Beyond parish staff roles, St. Gabriel encourages parishioner involvement through iVolunteer opportunities, Christian Formation Commission service, the Cemetery Committee, the Finance Council, music and liturgical ministries, hospitality at Fellowship Sundays, and ongoing school and youth-ministry volunteer roles.
- iVolunteer Coordinator: Mary Gilmeister (ext. 236)
- Volunteer teachers and catechists for Children's and Youth Ministry
- Fellowship Sunday hospitality team (Sept.–May, 3rd Sunday)
- Cemetery Committee and grounds support
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles HanelAssigned as pastor of St. Hubert, St. Columba, and St. Mary in the pre-merger collaboration
Led the three parishes as they worked toward becoming a single parish