About St. Gabriel · Poway, California
St. Gabriel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 13734 Twin Peaks Road in Poway, California, part of the Diocese of San Diego. Founded on the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 15, 1973, by Monsignor Charles J. Dollen, the parish grew out of St. Michael's Parish and originally worshipped at Twin Peaks Middle School before building its own campus. After decades of growth — including the construction of a dedicated worship space that was dedicated in 2011 — the parish now serves more than 2,500 registered families and offers Mass in English and Spanish, a robust faith formation program for children and teens, sacramental preparation, and a wide range of ministries and devotions. The current pastor is Fr. Christopher Tozzi, supported by Senior Associate Fr. Patrick Murphy and Deacon Ricardo Elizondo.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher (Chris) Tozzi
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers a genuinely active parish home in north inland San Diego County, with Mass seven days a week in English and Spanish, a richly built-out faith formation program for K–5, a high-school youth ministry and Edge middle school ministry, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults, Confirmation preparation beginning in 9th grade, a new Garden of Gethsemane for prayer, and lively devotional life including Divine Mercy, a First Saturday devotion to Our Lady, and a Rosary Makers group. With more than 2,500 registered families and a beautiful 2011-dedicated worship space designed by Hyndman & Hyndman, there is room to belong — whether one comes as a lifelong Catholic, a new arrival to Poway, or a family with children needing sacramental preparation.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:45pm–4:45pm
- Wednesdays 5:00pm–5:30pm
- First Saturday of the month 7:30am (with Rosary)
Parish History
St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church was established on June 15, 1973, the Feast of Corpus Christi. It was carved out of St. Michael's Parish after an early census identified nearly two hundred families in the southern part of the community. Monsignor Charles J. Dollen was founding pastor. From 1973 to 1978, Masses were celebrated at Twin Peaks Middle School and in parishioners' homes; the first Benediction on the church property was held in 1976, the parish hall groundbreaking on September 18, 1977, and Bishop Leo T. Maher formally dedicated the parish on September 16, 1978. Through the 1980s the campus grew to include maintenance, education and office buildings (completed 1988), and a five-building master plan was adopted in 1983. The permanent church — designed by Hyndman & Hyndman and built by T. B. Penick & Sons — had its Cornerstone laid in 2010 and was dedicated by Bishop Robert Brom on July 8, 2011. Since then the parish has grown to more than 2,500 families.
- Founded June 15, 1973 (Feast of Corpus Christi)
- Founding pastor: Monsignor Charles J. Dollen
- Parish formally dedicated by Bishop Leo T. Maher, September 16, 1978
- New church dedicated by Bishop Robert Brom, July 8, 2011
- More than 2,500 registered families
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Christopher Tozzi, with Senior Associate Pastor Rev. Patrick Murphy. Deacon Ricardo Elizondo continues to serve in diaconal ministry. The parish staff includes a Business Manager, Office Manager, Faith Formation Coordinator, Youth Minister, Reception Hall Manager, and Director of Weddings.
- Rev. Christopher Tozzi — Pastor
- Rev. Patrick Murphy — Senior Associate Pastor
- Rev. Bradley Easterbrooks — Spiritual Associate
- Deacon Ricardo Elizondo
- Cindy Keane — Business Manager
- Erin Brunansky — Office Staff / Director of Weddings
- Ashely Ibarra — Faith Formation K–5 Coordinator
- Kierstin Rowell — High School / Young Adults / OCIA
- Marie Pospichal — Middle School / Altar Servers
- Nelly Vivas-Cruz — Reception Hall Manager / K-5 Faith Formation Assistant
- James Runnells — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education (K–5)
The elementary faith formation program supplements the domestic church, helping parents as the primary catechists of their children. Classes meet once a week from October to May, with no more than 12 students per grade-level class, using the 'Alive in Christ' workbooks from Our Sunday Visitor and supplemental FORMED video resources. All adult volunteers complete a background check and diocesan safe environment training. Enrollment is required each year and closes when capacity is reached.
- Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Weekly October–May classes, 12-student maximum
- 'Alive in Christ' curriculum (Our Sunday Visitor)
- Family access to FORMED free of charge
High School Youth Ministry
The high school ministry provides a place for teens to seek Jesus alongside their peers and mentors. Programming includes weekly Bible study, Sacrament preparation (Confirmation as early as 9th grade), retreats, conferences, a Student Leadership Team, a Youth Discipleship Team for 9th–12th graders, Adoration nights, and 'Works of Mercy' service hours. The hybrid program combines at-home and in-person formation, with retreats scheduled for early December and mid-January.
- Youth Minister: Kierstin Rowell
- Wednesday Bible Study 8:00–9:00am
- Sunday Youth Group (see session calendar)
- Confirmation preparation as early as 9th grade
- General Retreat December 5–7, 2025
- Winter Retreat January 16–18, 2026
- Youth Discipleship Team — apply to serve
- Instagram: @stgabeslifeteen
Middle School & Altar Servers
Edge Middle School Ministry, coordinated by Marie Pospichal, supports 6th–8th graders in growing their relationship with Christ. Middle school youth also serve as Altar Servers for parish liturgies.
- Edge Middle School Ministry
- Altar Server program
- Coordinator: Marie Pospichal (mobile/text 858-335-7262)
OCIA, Confirmation & Sacraments
Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church participate in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), coordinated through the parish's High School / Young Adults / OCIA staff. Teens seeking Confirmation enroll in the High School Youth Ministry program, typically receiving the sacrament in their second year. Children needing Baptism, First Communion, or First Reconciliation should contact the Faith Formation K–5 office.
- OCIA for adults 18+
- Confirmation for teens via High School Youth Ministry
- Children's sacraments via Faith Formation K–5
- Weddings: Director Erin Brunansky, 858-748-5348 x213
- Anointing of the Sick: emergency line 858-748-5348 x200 (after hours press 9)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Gabriel's ministries span spiritual, pastoral and social outreach. The Sunday Cafe provides hospitality after Mass. Bereavement and Cancer ministries walk with families through loss and illness. The Divine Mercy ministry promotes devotion to the merciful Christ, the Rosary Makers craft prayer aids, and the Pro-Life ministry defends the dignity of the unborn. New initiatives under Fr. Brad Easterbrooks include 'Theology and Grub' for young adults and a St. Gabriel icon procession for the Feast of the Archangels.
- Sunday Cafe
- Bereavement Ministry
- Cancer Ministry
- Divine Mercy Ministry
- Rosary Makers
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Theology and Grub (young adults, Old Poway)
Campus, Architecture & Memorials
The parish sits on approximately 7½ acres at the corner of Twin Peaks Road and Budwin Lane. The current worship space, dedicated in 2011, was designed by Hyndman & Hyndman and built by T. B. Penick & Sons, Inc.; its cornerstone was blessed by Fr. Michael Froidurot and Fr. Hal Tindall in 2005 and laid during a Cornerstone ceremony with Bishop Robert Brom in 2010. A West Bell Tower anchors the site, with carillon bells originally installed in 1980. Building A (the reception hall) was renovated in 2015 and rededicated as Monsignor Dollen Hall. The 'Garden of Gethsemane' olive grove, blessed June 24, 2026, is available for prayer on the hillside overlooking the parish.
- 7½-acre campus
- Cornerstone ceremony March 13, 2010; dedication July 8, 2011
- Monsignor Dollen Hall (renovated 2015)
- Garden of Gethsemane olive grove (blessed June 24, 2026)
- Carillon bells (1980), pipe organ blessed 1981
- Rectory on Budwin Lane, adjacent to the church
Visit, Contact & Visiting Hours
Parish Office Hours are Monday–Thursday 9:30am–5:00pm and Friday 9:30am–2:30pm, closed for lunch 12:00–1:00pm. The Faith Formation Office is open Monday–Thursday 10:30am–4:30pm. The main office can be reached at (858) 748-5348 or [email protected]; youth ministry can be reached at [email protected]. In an emergency involving danger of death, call 858-748-5348 x200 during business hours; after hours, call 858-748-5348 and press 9.
- Address: 13734 Twin Peaks Road, Poway, CA 92064
- Phone: 858-748-5348
- Email: [email protected]
- Youth ministry: [email protected]
- Website: saintgabrielschurch.com
- Parish Office: Mon–Thu 9:30am–5pm; Fri 9:30am–2:30pm (closed for lunch 12–1pm)
- Faith Formation Office: Mon–Thu 10:30am–4:30pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Charles J. Dollen1973–1996
Founding pastor; oversaw building of the parish hall (1978), formal dedication by Bishop Leo T. Maher, and original campus master plan. Retired 1996, died 1998.
- Fr. Joseph ('Fr. Jay') Brady1996–1999
Second pastor; began preliminary planning for a new worship space and retired the parish debt in June 1998.
- Fr. Michael Froidurot1999–2025
Third pastor; led the capital campaign, the 2011 construction and dedication of the new church with Bishop Robert Brom, and oversaw the parish's growth past 2,500 families. Retired June 2025.
- Fr. Bradley Easterbrooks2025–2026
Parish administrator from June 24, 2025; launched youth/young adult ministries, First Saturday devotions, new Confession times, the St. Gabriel icon procession, and the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Fr. Christopher Tozzi2026–present
Appointed pastor beginning July 1, 2026.