About St. Gabriel the Archangel · Cave Creek, Arizona
St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Cave Creek, Arizona, part of the Diocese of Phoenix. Founded in 2002 and once known as the 'Trailer Park Parish' for its humble beginnings — early Masses were celebrated in a small shack with parishioners sitting on hay bales outside — the parish grew through four temporary worship spaces before Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted dedicated a permanent 23,000-square-foot church on November 3, 2021. Today St. Gabriel is a vibrant community known for its nearly perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (Sunday after Mass through Friday midnight), a strong Catholic school partnership with Annunciation Catholic School, and a rich calendar of adult faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach programs. The parish mission is 'to bring every person into intimacy with Christ and go make disciples.'
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Chad King
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers an unusually rich devotional life for a parish its size: nearly perpetual Eucharistic Adoration running Sunday after the 10:30am Mass through Friday midnight, multiple weekly Mass times including a Sunday 5:00pm Traditional Sacred Liturgy & Chant, and a robust Tuesday-night Foundations of Faith adult formation series. Families with children find a fully formed faith-formation program built on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–12) plus a middle- and high-school youth ministry, while outreach arms such as HELP4HER (for women facing unplanned pregnancy), the Widow Warriors Ministry, and food drives connect parishioners to neighbors in need across Cave Creek.
Mass times at St. Gabriel the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30–7:30pm
- Saturday 9:00–10:00am
- Saturday 3:00–4:00pm
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday 12:00pm (after the 10:30am Mass) through Friday at Midnight — continuous Adoration
- Tuesday 9:00am–8:00pm (in Chapel)
- Wednesday 9:00am–8:00pm (in Chapel)
- Chapel open daily 7:00am–8:00pm
Parish History & Identity
St. Gabriel the Archangel was founded in 2002 in the fast-growing area north of Phoenix and is part of the Diocese of Phoenix. Its first chapel was a small shack; when that filled, the faithful sat on hay bales outside — a heritage that gave rise to the affectionate nickname 'Trailer Park Parish.' The community cycled through four temporary worship spaces over nearly two decades, including a middle school, a classroom building that became part of Annunciation Catholic School, and a multi-purpose hall completed in 2008.
- Founded 2002
- Part of the Diocese of Phoenix
- Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted dedicated the permanent church on November 3, 2021
- Nicknamed the 'Trailer Park Parish' in its earliest years
- Pastoral motto: 'to bring every person into intimacy with Christ and go make disciples'
Permanent Church & Campus
The November 2019 groundbreaking launched a $20 million expansion that produced a 23,000-square-foot church seating more than 900, with a separate 90-seat chapel and a new Annunciation Catholic School wing. During the November 3, 2021 Solemn Pontifical Mass, Bishop Olmsted consecrated the altar with chrism and Fr. King and Fr. David Kulandaisamy anointed the walls in keeping with ancient tradition. A relic of St. Francis, donated by a priest-friend of Fr. King, was sealed within the altar.
- 23,000 sq. ft. main church, 12,900 sq. ft. sanctuary
- 900+ seats in the main church; 90-seat chapel
- Shared campus with Annunciation Catholic School
Child Faith Formation & Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
St. Gabriel's child faith formation is built entirely on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), the Montessori-based atrium program developed in Rome in 1954 by Sofia Cavaletti and Gianna Gobbi. Children ages 3 through fifth grade gather in specially prepared 'atria' to ponder Scripture and Liturgy through hands-on materials. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation begins in CGS Level Two, and Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist are received together in third grade under the Diocese of Phoenix's Restored Order.
- CGS Level One: 3 yrs – Kindergarten
- CGS Level Two: 1st – 3rd grade (sacrament formation begins)
- CGS Level Three: 4th – 5th grade
- Children over 7 not yet baptized receive formation prior to Baptism
- Coordinator: Kira Mello ([email protected])
Youth & Teen Ministry
The parish runs a Middle School (grades 6–8) and High School (grades 9–12) youth ministry led by Coordinator of Youth Ministry Steven Piorkowski. Teens not only continue faith formation but serve in parish ministries; a summer Bible study series titled 'Strength of God' is offered annually. The youth ministry is supported by a Core Team of adult leaders and a Parent Upper Room Council.
- Middle School and High School tracks
- Annual Summer Bible Study: 'Strength of God'
- Core Team and Parent Upper Room Council
- Contact: [email protected]
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
Adults grow through the parish's Tuesday-night Foundations of Faith series, which runs from early September through Lent and draws on Catholic educators such as Dr. Edward Sri, Jeff Cavins, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. Mike Schmitz to unpack the Catechism. Adults preparing for full initiation join OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), the parish's process for becoming Catholic. Deacon Matthew Irish serves as Director of Discipleship and Adult Faith Formation.
- Foundations of Faith — Tuesdays 6:00–7:30pm, Sept 9 through Lent
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults)
- Director: Dcn. Matthew Irish
Outreach & Pastoral Ministries
St. Gabriel runs a robust outreach network. HELP4HER walks with women facing unplanned pregnancy; the Widow Warriors Ministry offers fellowship and sisterhood to women who are recently or long-time widowed; and recurring food drives nourish neighbors in need. The parish also participates in the Legion of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and offers an annual King's Choristers Chant Camp for youth.
- HELP4HER (pregnancy support)
- Widow Warriors Ministry
- Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul
- King's Choristers Chant Camp
- Spring Food Drives and seasonal parish giving campaigns
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Chad King, who returned to St. Gabriel in 2020 after earlier service there as a parochial vicar and was formally installed September 12, 2021. He is assisted by Associate Pastor Fr. Tim Dogo and three deacons: Dcn. Matthew Irish (Director of Discipleship and Adult Faith Formation), Dcn. Bill Clower, and Dcn. Bob Torigian. The staff also includes a parish manager, music director, faith-formation coordinator, youth minister, communications/marriage-prep coordinator, finance coordinator, safe-environment coordinator, and receptionist.
- Fr. Chad King — Pastor
- Fr. Tim Dogo — Associate Pastor
- Dcn. Matthew Irish — Director of Discipleship and Adult Faith Formation
- Dcn. Bill Clower — Deacon (since 2014)
- Dcn. Bob Torigian — Deacon
- Bill Marcotte — Parish Manager
- Kimberly Scoggin — Music Director in Residence
- Iggi Rodriguez — Assistant Director of Worship
- Kira Mello — Children's Faith Formation Coordinator
- Steven Piorkowski — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Rebekah Polkoski — Marriage Prep Coordinator & Communications
- Ewa Rossbach — Finance Coordinator
- Ciel Santos — Receptionist / Office Manager
- Deb Vinci — Safe Environment Training Coordinator
Sacraments at St. Gabriel
Sacramental life is central to the parish. Children are typically prepared for First Reconciliation in second grade through CGS Level Two, and receive Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist together in third grade, following the Diocese of Phoenix's Restored Order of the Sacraments of Initiation. Married and engaged couples are served through a dedicated Marriage Prep Coordinator and enrichment events such as Date Nights. Baptism preparation is offered for infants and for children of catechetical age; anointing and other rites are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism (infant and child)
- First Reconciliation (CGS Level 2)
- Confirmation & First Eucharist together (Restored Order)
- Marriage Prep and Date Nights
- Anointing of the Sick and funeral rites by appointment
Music & Liturgy
St. Gabriel offers four distinct sung experiences each weekend: a quiet No-Music 7:00am Sunday Mass, a Cantor-led 8:30am, a Sacred Music Choir at 10:30am, and a 5:00pm Traditional Sacred Liturgy & Chant added in May 2024. The Saturday Vigil features the Contemporary Choir. Music Director in Residence Kimberly Scoggin and Assistant Director of Worship Iggi Rodriguez lead this broad palette of liturgical music.
- Saturday Vigil 4:30pm — Contemporary Choir
- Sunday 7:00am — No Music
- Sunday 8:30am — Cantor
- Sunday 10:30am — Sacred Music Choir
- Sunday 5:00pm — Traditional Sacred Liturgy & Chant
Visit, Register & Contact
New parishioners can register online through the parish website. The office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00am–12:00pm and 1:00–4:00pm, and Friday 9:00am–12:00pm. Visitors can also request a tour through the parish office and submit prayer requests online. Mass and Adoration are streamed live via the parish website.
- New Parishioner Registration form on stgacc.org
- Request a Tour form
- Prayer Request form
- Live-stream of Mass and Adoration
- Office: (480) 595-0883 — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dennis O'Rourke
Pastor under whom the multi-purpose parish hall was completed; later retired.
- Fr. John Slobig
Retired priest who oversaw the permanent-church construction project as interim parochial administrator; presided at the November 2019 groundbreaking with Bishop Olmsted.
- Fr. Chad King2020–present
Returned to St. Gabriel in 2020 after earlier service there as a newly-ordained parochial vicar; formally installed as pastor on September 12, 2021.