St. Gabriel the Archangel

History & Founding of the Parish

St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish was canonically created on September 8, 2011 by a decree of Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Diocese of Worcester, merging Holy Angels Parish in Upton with St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Mendon. The decision was the product of a years-long, bottom-up discernment among parishioners of both communities, who — citing a shortage of space and priests and projected population growth — voted 73% in favor of building one combined church rather than two separate ones. The parish name 'St. Gabriel the Archangel' was chosen to honor the archangelic patronages of the two predecessor parishes (St. Michael and the Holy Angels). The new territorial parish's boundaries are co-terminus with the town lines of Upton and Mendon.

• Founded September 8, 2011 (Nativity of the BVM)
• Formed from the merger of Holy Angels (Upton) and St. Michael the Archangel (Mendon)
• Decree issued by Most Rev. Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester
• New 47-acre campus purchased for $1.1 million at 151 Mendon St., Upton
• Dedicated September 11, 2011 by Bishop McManus with retired Bishop Daniel P. Reilly

Worship & Liturgical Schedule

St. Gabriel the Archangel offers a robust schedule of daily and weekend Masses, with weekday morning Masses and the Sunday 8:00 AM Mass livestreamed for those at home. The parish also maintains an active perpetual adoration program and a regular weekly confession slot before Saturday evening Mass.

• Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 8:30 AM (livestreamed)
• Saturday Mass at 8:00 AM (livestreamed) and 5:00 PM Vigil
• Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM (livestreamed), 10:30 AM, and 5:30 PM
• Confessions Saturday at 4:00 PM and by appointment
• Perpetual Adoration Tuesdays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM with Benediction
• First Fridays Adoration 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Parish Mission

According to the parish's own mission statement, 'Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish is called to be a Eucharistic community of caring and loving Christians living and teaching the conviction that Jesus is Lord and our constant compassionate companion. We pray, as a community, to be open and sensitive to the spiritual, physical, and educational needs of all those around us. To reach this end, we believe that the strengthening of our domestic churches, fostering the works of charity, and maintaining a dynamic worshipping life are parish priorities. This is to be accomplished through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.'

Parish Staff

The parish is led by a small staff supported by lay volunteers. The current contacts listed on the official website are Rev. Steven Labaire as Pastor, Colette Rooney as Administrative Assistant, John Connely for Facilities & Maintenance, a Technology Committee reachable via [email protected], and Neeni Francis as Director of Religious Education (the contacts page currently lists the DRE role as 'TBA' pending update).

• Rev. Steven Labaire — Pastor ([email protected])
• Colette Rooney — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
• John Connely — Facilities & Maintenance ([email protected])
• Neeni Francis — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
• Technology Committee — [email protected]

Religious Education & Faith Formation

The parish Religious Education program teaches a basic Christian context for encounter with God, with prayer — first learned at home, reinforced by teachers, and deepened through community worship at Mass — as its primary focus. The curriculum aims for real spiritual growth in the lives of its youth, includes Confirmation preparation, and welcomes family involvement (family prayer is highlighted as essential). Registration forms and further information are available through the parish office.

• Director: Neeni Francis ([email protected], 508-603-1430)
• Curriculum emphasizes prayer, family prayer, and Mass participation
• Confirmation preparation is part of the program
• Parents play an active role in the teaching mission

Parish Ministries

St. Gabriel's active lay ministries touch nearly every aspect of parish life — from the sanctuary to outreach. Adult volunteers serve at weekday and funeral Masses, care for the altar and sanctuary, sew baptismal robes for every newly baptized infant, create liturgical banners and liturgigraphs for the seasons, and gather Monday mornings at 10:00 for Bible study.

• Perpetual Adoration (Tuesdays — parishioners sign up for one-hour slots)
• Adult Altar Servers — weekday morning and funeral Masses
• Altar Sodality — cleaning and care of the sanctuary
• Liturgical Banners and Liturgigraphs — seasonal décor
• Baptismal Robe Sewing Ministry
• Bible Study — Mondays at 10:00 AM

Knights of Columbus Council 12897

St. Gabriel's Council 12897 is a local council of the Knights of Columbus originally founded in March 2001 by parish men of St. Michael's Church in Mendon. After the 2011 merger with Holy Angels, the Council adopted the St. Gabriel name to match the new parish. Council 12897 has earned the Knights' Double Star Council Award — the highest honor given by the Supreme Council — and supports Church, Community, Family, Youth, Culture-of-Life, and Council Service programs, plus Supreme and Massachusetts State Council initiatives.

• Local Council #12897, founded March 2001
• Meets 2nd Sunday of every month at 7:00 PM at St. Gabriel's Church (151 Mendon St., Upton)
• Double Star Council Award recipient (Supreme Council's highest local honor)
• Four principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism

Haiti Twinning Ministry (St. Anne Parish, Sucrerie Henry)

St. Gabriel's has maintained an approximately twenty-year twinning relationship with St. Anne Parish in Sucrerie Henry, Haiti. The relationship intensified dramatically after the August 14, 2021 earthquake damaged or destroyed all of St. Anne's buildings, including the church, school, clinic, and rectory. The St. Gabriel Haiti Committee has organized sustained fundraising through the parish's online giving portal (designated 'Haiti St. Anne's Earthquake Fund') and continues to share updates on relief and rebuilding efforts.

• Twinning partner: St. Anne Parish, Sucrerie Henry, Haiti
• Earthquake relief and rebuilding campaign active since August 2021
• Donations accepted via the parish's online giving under 'Haiti St. Anne's Earthquake Fund'

Building & Architecture

The 27,000-square-foot church was designed by Maugel DeStefano Architects as a six-year collaborative effort between the two founding parishes and completed in 2011. The building intentionally incorporates liturgical elements from both predecessor parishes, allowing parishioners from Holy Angels and St. Michael's to encounter familiar sacred objects within the new worship space.

• Architect: Maugel DeStefano Architects
• Size: 27,000 sq. ft. on a 47-acre campus
• Main worship space: ~600 seats (capacity ~700 with gallery)
• 30-seat side chapel
• 12-room Christian education center
• Holy Angels' stained glass and Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary
• St. Michael's stained glass in the entry; St. Michael's Stations in the chapel
• Pews refurbished from another Worcester-diocese church
• Foundation stones decorated by each parish family

Sacraments

The parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Each newly baptized infant is presented with a white robe hand-sewn by the parish's Baptismal Robe Ministry, symbolizing the community's welcome of the new Christian. The Religious Education program includes Confirmation preparation, and the parish assists families with marriage preparation, funeral liturgies, and ongoing faith formation.

• Baptism — including a hand-sewn white robe from the parish's Baptismal Robe Ministry
• Confirmation — preparation through the Religious Education program
• Marriage — preparation through the parish office
• Funeral Masses — assisted by the Adult Altar Servers ministry
• Religious Education — ongoing for children and youth

Visiting & Getting Involved

New parishioners are encouraged to register with the parish by contacting the office at (508) 603-1430 or emailing the Administrative Assistant. The parish also offers a mobile app (search 'St. Gabriel' for the iOS/Android app) with events, a prayer wall, prayer journal, photo gallery, Bible, GPS directions, social-media integration, and push notifications.

• New parishioner registration: contact office at 508-603-1430
• Office phone: (508) 603-1430
• Parish app available on iOS and Android
• Facebook: facebook.com/StGabrielMendonUpton