About St. Gabriel · Stowe, Pennsylvania
St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish is a small Catholic parish in Stowe, Pennsylvania, in the Montgomery County West deanery of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Founded in 1929 to serve the Italian-American Catholic community of Stowe and surrounding Pottstown-area neighborhoods, the parish is led by Parochial Administrator Rev. Eugene C. Wilson (resident pastor of neighboring St. Aloysius, Pottstown) and is supported by a parish secretary, a Director of Religious Education, a Director of Music Ministries, and a permanent deacon. The community gathers for a Vigil Mass on Saturday, one Sunday Mass, weekday Mass Monday through Thursday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and Saturday confessions.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
- Rector
- Rev. Eugene C. Wilson (Parochial Administrator, in residence at Saint Aloysius, Pottstown; also Chaplain at Pope John Paul II High School)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
Why belong here
St. Gabriel's is a close-knit parish where members genuinely know one another, rooted in the Italian-American Catholic heritage of the Stowe community and now serving a broader Pottstown-area population. Worship is offered in an intimate setting with weekday Mass Monday through Thursday, a Saturday Vigil Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and Saturday confessions — and every Mass and service can be viewed via the parish livestream. Children are formed through the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) for preschool through 8th grade, adults can journey toward full initiation through OCIA/RCIA, and parishioners of all ages find a place in the Women's Society, Knights of Columbus, Senior Citizens group, choir, altar servers, lectors, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
Mass times at St. Gabriel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in the church)
Parish Identity & Mission
The parish takes its name and spiritual identity from St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, and the community's formal mission statement is built around imitating his daily resolve to act in the most perfect way possible and to keep even the smallest part of sin out of his soul. Parishioners embrace the call to prayer, study, and celebration of the sacraments — especially the Eucharist — and to love neighbor through acts of charity, gracious stewardship, and welcoming the stranger.
- Mission Statement: rooted in Jesus Christ as Savior and head of the Church
- Patron: St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
- Call to be 'witnesses of gospel joy in a world of fragile peace and broken promises'
History of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
Catholic life in Stowe began around 1926 with Mass celebrated in private homes by a priest from St. Aloysius in Pottstown, and later in the West End Fire Company hall by a priest from Immaculate Conception, Birdsboro. Cardinal Dennis Dougherty formally established St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish on June 16, 1929. Nine lots at E. Howard and Jefferson Streets were donated by St. Gabriel Lodge, a private club of local Italian-heritage residents.
- 1926–1928: Sunday Masses in private homes and at West End Fire Company
- June 16, 1929: Parish established by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty
- 1930: Original prefabricated church built ($8,500; 225 seats)
- August 6, 1961: Ground broken for the new (current) church
- September 2, 1962: Bishop Francis Furey dedicates the 604-seat church
- Late 1990s: Elevator installed in church
- 2005: Baptismal font relocated to front of church
- 2006: Patron-saint shrine created in former confessional
- 2007: Bishop Daniel Thomas blesses the shrine
Buildings, School & Convent
Beyond the 1962 church, the parish campus includes a former convent (now used for PREP and parish meetings), a rectory on Jefferson Street, and the former parish school building. The school — which opened in 1951 in a Lodge-owned building and was replaced by a new building dedicated by Cardinal John Krol in November 1970 — closed in 1989 due to declining enrollment.
- 1949 convent built on E. Howard Street; opened 1950 (School Sisters of St. Francis)
- 1975: New convent built on Jefferson Street
- 1985: School Sisters withdraw from school and parish
- 1989: School closes; priest moves to Jefferson Street building
- 1997–2009: School Sisters of St. Francis return to serve the parish
- Today: former school houses parish offices, pastor's office, DRE office, PREP classrooms, parish meeting room, and Little Footprints Day Care
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is administered by Fr. Eugene C. Wilson as Parochial Administrator. He also serves as Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Pottstown and Chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School. A permanent deacon, parish secretary, Director of Religious Education, and Director of Music Ministries round out the staff.
- Rev. Eugene C. Wilson — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Jeffrey S. Hanna — Permanent Deacon
- Mrs. Kathy Bernhard — Parish Secretary (parish member since childhood, employed since 1985; manages records, bulletin, calendar, liturgical ministers, lottery fundraiser; Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion)
- Mrs. Maria Boyer — Director of Religious Education (22 years as Catechist before becoming DRE in December 2014; manages PREP, OCIA, baptism prep; Safe Environment Coordinator; Redner's Register Tape Program; Lector and EMHC)
- Mrs. Kathy Kulp — Director of Music Ministries (retired music teacher; directs choir, coordinates cantors and organists)
Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)
PREP welcomes parish preschoolers (ages 3–4) and children in Kindergarten through Grade 8, including children of all abilities. Classes meet most Sunday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, September through May, with families strongly encouraged to attend the 9:00 AM Mass together before class. The program prepares children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation, and draws its curriculum from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's approved texts in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Goals: develop understanding of the Catholic faith, prayer practice, sacrament preparation, and a sense of service
- Tuition: $100 for one child, $160 for two children
- New families must meet with the pastor before registering
- Children transferring from another program need a transfer letter or most recent report card
- Baptismal certificate (and dates of other sacraments) required for registration
- Catechists are volunteers in compliance with archdiocesan Safe Environment requirements (background checks and training)
OCIA / RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in full initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA, referred to on the site as OCIA). The program offers an in-depth look at the Catholic faith and concludes with the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation — at Easter.
- Runs from October through Easter
- Instruction is with the parish RCIA Team
- Contact: Maria Boyer, DRE, at 610-506-2455 or 610-327-5376, or [email protected]
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Parish life is shaped by a wide circle of lay-led organizations that support worship, fellowship, fundraising, and parish governance. The Pastoral Council and Finance Council work directly with the Parochial Administrator; liturgical roles include lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and the choir.
- Parish Pastoral Council — chaired by Rev. Eugene Wilson
- Finance Council — Members: Maria Boyer, Lewis Chillot, Kenneth George, John Nester, Chris Pasik, Jack Bucciaglia, JoAnn O'Connor
- Women's Society — meets 1st Thursday at 7:00 PM (Lori LaRosa, 610-326-6030; [email protected])
- Senior Citizens Group — meets 2nd Tuesday at 1:30 PM, Sept–June (Mary Lenhardt, 610-326-7622)
- Choir & Music Ministry — sings at the 4 PM Saturday Mass; practice Tuesdays at 7:00 PM (Kathy Kulp, 610-326-6547)
- Altar Servers — Maria Boyer, 610-506-2455
- Knights of Columbus — Father Bally Council (Gary Huster, 610-385-6704)
- Greeters — Kathy Bernhard, 610-326-5127
- Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — coordinated through the parish office
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments, including Baptism preparation for parents through the DRE. Children typically receive Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation through PREP; adults receive the Sacraments of Initiation through OCIA. The parish also reaches out to those unable to attend Sunday Mass through ministry to the sick and homebound.
- Baptism — preparation with DRE Maria Boyer
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM or by appointment
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass; Extraordinary Ministers bring Communion to the sick and homebound
- Confirmation — preparation through PREP
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- OCIA/RCIA — for adults seeking full initiation
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, fax, or in person during office hours. The parish livestream page allows anyone to watch Masses and services from the church live or on demand, and the bulletin keeps the community informed of parish events and activities.
- Parish Office: 127 E. Howard Street, Stowe, PA 19464-6707
- Phone: (610) 326-5127 | Fax: (610) 326-5749
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM
- Kathy Bernhard (Secretary): [email protected]
- Maria Boyer (DRE): [email protected]
- Livestream of Masses and services available via the parish website
- Accessibility: church and meeting room accessible, with accessible restroom