About St. Gabriel the Archangel · Neenah, Wisconsin
St. Gabriel the Archangel is a Catholic parish in Neenah, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming Catholic Community of disciples who encounter Jesus, joyfully, and compassionately serving God's people.' Founded in 1959 by Father Stingle on land carved out of the territory of neighboring St. Margaret Mary Parish, St. Gabriel built its combined church-school complex in 1960–1961 and today shares its Geiger Street campus with St. Gabriel Elementary School, part of the St. Mary Catholic Schools system serving Neenah and Menasha.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Gabriel the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Brian Wideman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Green Bay
Why belong here
St. Gabriel offers the rhythm of a classic mid-century Catholic parish — daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a rosary prayed every Tuesday, and a full sacramental life from Baptism through Matrimony — wrapped around a working parochial elementary school on the same campus. Members serve through more than a dozen active ministries, including St. Vincent de Paul food pantry collections, Rise Against Hunger meal packing, the Fox Valley Family Ministry pro-life committee, a music and worship team, hospitality, and a Christmas outreach to residents of Winnebago Mental Health. It is a parish built on long-term lay involvement and a clear sense of welcoming newcomers into the Body of Christ.
Mass times at St. Gabriel the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday 3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Holy Hour (weekly) — see parish bulletin for current day/time
History of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish
St. Gabriel the Archangel was founded in 1959 as a new parish carved out of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Neenah. The first Masses were celebrated in the basement of St. Margaret Mary Church while the founding pastor, Father Stingle, organized the building committee and prepared the Geiger Street site. Ground was broken on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1960; the altar was consecrated by Bishop John Grellinger on March 9, 1961; and the first Mass in the new church was offered on the parish's patronal feast, March 24, 1961, by Monsignor Joseph Glueckstein. The combined church-and-school complex was formally dedicated on September 17, 1961. In its first decade the parish school opened under Sister Donna Marie and eight Franciscan Sisters, and a succession of associate pastors — beginning with Fr. Michael Clifford — built up the young community. Father Stingle retired in 1985, and the parish has since been led by Fr. Richard L. Allen (1985–2011), Fr. Larry J. Seidl (2011–2019), Fr. Robert Kollath (2019–2025), and the current pastor, Fr. Brian Wideman, named by Bishop David Ricken in 2025.
- 1959: First parish meeting on July 6 — Don Hassler and Paul Peeters elected trustees.
- April 17, 1960: Groundbreaking on Easter Sunday.
- March 9, 1961: Altar consecrated by Bishop John Grellinger.
- March 24, 1961: First Mass on the feast of St. Gabriel.
- September 17, 1961: Dedication of the church-school complex.
- 1961: School opens under Sr. Donna Marie and eight Franciscan Sisters.
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Gabriel the Archangel is led by Pastor Fr. Brian Wideman with the assistance of Deacon Tom Gritton and a full lay staff for liturgy, music, faith formation, and parish administration. The parish also has an active Pastoral Council that includes the pastor and deacon along with lay members.
- Fr. Brian Wideman — Pastor
- Deacon Tom Gritton — Deacon
- Michael Jerger — Pastoral Minister
- Tim Laurin — Director of Music
- Sara Van Frachen — Coordinator of Liturgy & Evangelization
- Lori Lynch — Parish Secretary
- Anne Greif — Business Administrator
- Tina Peirick — Religious Education Coordinator (920-725-0660)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Gabriel is coordinated by Tina Peirick (920-725-0660) and is part of the broader sacramental preparation program of the parish, which celebrates First Communion (most recently in April 2025) and Confirmation each year. The parish also has strong ties to St. Gabriel Elementary School on the same campus.
- Religious Education Coordinator — Tina Peirick
- Faith Formation Registration offered each program year
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through the parish
School — St. Gabriel Elementary
St. Gabriel Elementary School shares the 900 Geiger Street campus with the parish church. The school is part of the St. Mary Catholic Schools system serving the Neenah/Menasha area and is led by Principal Anna Cihlar with Associate Principal Jennifer Giombetti. It is one of three parish-based elementary schools (alongside St. Mary Elementary in Menasha and St. Margaret Mary Elementary in Neenah) that feed into St. Mary Catholic Middle School and St. Mary Catholic High School.
- Address: 900 Geiger St., Neenah, WI 54956
- Phone: (920) 725-4161
- Principal: Anna Cihlar
- Associate Principal: Jennifer Giombetti
- Member of St. Mary Catholic Schools (Neenah/Menasha)
Parish Ministries
St. Gabriel organizes its ministries into two streams — those that build up life inside the parish and those that reach outward into the wider Neenah and Fox Valley community. The In The Parish section includes liturgical, social, and leadership teams; the In The Community section centers on the parish's pro-life and human-concerns work, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and seasonal outreach events.
- Prayer Ministry — rosary each Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. and a weekly Eucharistic Holy Hour.
- Music Team / Worship Team — supporting the sacred liturgy through music and liturgical roles.
- Hospitality Team — coffee after Mass, ushers and greeters.
- Fundraisers & Socials Team — parish events and Scrip gift-card sales.
- Support Ministries — parish mailings, church cleaning, money counters.
- Parish Structure / Pastoral Council — leadership and planning.
- Fox Valley Family Ministry — pro-life committee that meets the first Monday of each month.
- Human Concerns Commission — addresses social needs through education, advocacy, and service.
Outreach to the Wider Community
Beyond the parish walls, St. Gabriel parishioners run and support a number of service ministries serving Neenah, the Fox Valley, and beyond. These include the local St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, a long-standing Christmas gift drive for residents of the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, the Fox Valley Community Table Saturday meal at St. Paul's, an annual Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event during Lent, and the Global Outreach Catholic foreign exchange program.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Food Pantry (monthly themed collections; Hygiene Drive each June).
- Christmas Season outreach to residents of Winnebago Mental Health Institute — coordinated by Pastoral Minister Michael Jerger.
- Fox Valley Community Table — Saturday meal every other month at St. Paul's (across from YMCA).
- Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing event — Lenten tradition.
- Visits/Calls to Homebound or Nursing Homes — Pastoral Minister Michael Jerger.
- Bereavement Cards & Stampers — Sandy Brost.
- Senior Birthdays — Karrie Deering.
- Global Outreach — Catholic foreign exchange student program.
Sacraments
St. Gabriel celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Parishioners and visitors can request information about Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders directly from the parish office. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact Fr. Brian Wideman at least six months before the wedding.
- Baptism
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony — contact Fr. Brian Wideman at least six months in advance
- Holy Orders
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office at 900 Geiger Street, Neenah. Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Weekly bulletins and a parish calendar are available online, and Mass can be watched live via the parish website.
- Address: 900 Geiger St, Neenah, WI 54956
- Phone: (920) 722-4914
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stgabrielparish.com/
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Live-streamed Mass and current bulletins available on the website
- Diocese: Diocese of Green Bay
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Stingle1959–1985
Founding pastor; broke ground Easter Sunday 1960, celebrated first Mass in new church March 24, 1961; retired 1985.
- Fr. Richard L. Allen1985–2011
Named pastor in 1985; retired June 2011.
- Fr. Larry J. Seidl2011–2019
Named pastor July 2011; retired June 2019.
- Fr. Robert Kollath2019–2025
Named pastor July 2019; reassigned June 2025.
- Fr. Brian Wideman2025–present
Named pastor by Bishop David Ricken following Fr. Kollath's reassignment in June 2025.