Our History

St. Gabriel's Parish was originally a part of St. Michael's, also in Poway. An early census showed nearly two hundred families within its boundaries, encompassing the southern part of the community of Poway. Our parish was established on the feast of Corpus Christi, June 15, 1973. Initially, Sunday Masses were celebrated at Twin Peaks Middle School with Saturday and Holy Day Masses held in the homes of parishioners. Eventually, Saturday Masses also were moved to Twin Peaks. Through the years, St. Gabriel's has grown to over 1,100 families.

Fr. (Monsignor) Charles J. Dollen was the first pastor of St. Gabriel's. He envisioned, with architect Dale St. Denis and the community, the building of our current parish center and a church to be built in a second phase. The first Benediction on the current church property was held in 1976. The first Mass was celebrated on the church property in September of 1977, as construction of the parish center was about to begin. Groundbreaking for St. Gabriel's took place September 18, 1977. The first Mass within the temporary church (our existing worship space) was celebrated July 30, 1978. Bishop Leo T. Maher formally dedicated St. Gabriel's on September 16, 1978. Carillon bells were installed in December 1980, and a new organ was dedicated and blessed in September 1981.

A revised master plan was set in motion by Msgr. Dollen and architect Hendrick & Mock in 1983. It included the addition of five buildings: Maintenance (Bldg B), Education (Bldg C), Office (Bldg D), Church (Bldg E), and Rectory (Bldg F). The maintenance, education and office buildings were completed in 1988. A house was bequeathed to St. Gabriel's by the Edward Engel family on June 27, 1996, to be used as a parish rectory.

On July 1, 1996, Fr. Joseph (Jay) Brady became pastor upon the retirement of Monsignor Dollen. Our current pastor, Fr. Michael Froidurot, was appointed to St. Gabriel's on July 1, 1999. In 2000, Fr. Michael formed the Parish Building Committee to rekindle efforts to build a new worship space. During the next five years, The Committee conducted a needs assessment, purchased an additional six acres for the new church site, sold the previous rectory and purchased a new rectory on Budwin Lane to gain direct access to the church property. Also during this period, the Committee finalized the site plan, began floor planning and building concepts; and held a Cross planting for the new worship space on August 14, 2005.

In 2006, St. Gabriel's received preliminary approval for our design from the Diocese of San Diego, and also selected a fundraising consultant and launched a campaign. In 2008, T. B. Penick & Sons, Inc. (a design-build contractor) was hired along with architects Hyndman & Hyndman, who designed our beautiful new worship space.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 was a landmark day in St. Gabriel's history. On that day, more than 125 parishioners, together with Fr. Michael and architect Shelly Hyndman presented our case to the City of Poway during a council meeting, and received our Conditional Use Permit so we could finally start the building of the new worship space. On February 8, 2010, a groundbreaking for the new space was held, and on Saturday, March 13, 2010, a Cornerstone ceremony was celebrated by Bishop Robert Brom with Fr. Michael, Fr. Hal Tindall and Deacon Bob Troy.

After years of planning and more than a year of construction, the first official Mass was celebrated in the new church on Friday, June 24, 2011.  The Mass of Dedication was held on Friday, July 8, 2011.