Fr. Gabriel was born in Ariany, Mallorca on October 30, 1932, the son of Jaime Genovard Vidal (April 24, 1958) and Bárbara Mestre Mestre (June 17, 1968). He was baptized on October 31, 1932, and was confirmed on May 9, 1933.
He received the Franciscan habit on August 10, 1947, in the Porziuncola and made his temporary profession on November 3, 1948, in Artá and the solemn profession on August 12, 1954, at the Porziuncola. He studied Humanities in the Portiuncula, Philosophy in Inca and Theology in Palma. He received his minor orders in 1954 in Palma, his ordination to the subdiaconate on May 8, 1955, Diaconate on December 17, 1955, and Priesthood on March 17, 1956, in Palma from the hands of Bishop Jesús Enciso.
After his ordination to the priesthood, he was assigned to the College of Palma as the Spiritual Director from 1958 to 1964. In addition to this function as a Spiritual Direction, he supervised the movement “Oasis” and dedicated many hours to the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in the Basilica of San Francisco, and in 1964 he was assigned to the Portiuncula as Spiritual Director of the Seraphic Seminary.
In mid-1969, he was assigned to Puerto Rico and appointed parish priest of Santa Rosa de Lima in Rincón, located in the western coastal area of the island, where he exhibited extensive and fruitful pastoral work. In addition to the numerous liturgical celebrations on weekends, he took great care of the catechesis of children, youth and adults and took great care in promoting of the various traditional apostolic movements such as the Cursillos in Christianity, Legion of Mary, Society of the Holy Name, Youth for Christ and under his direction and with the layman Nelson Rivera Beauchamp, from the 13th to the 15th of July, 1973, began the first of the many John XXIII Retreats, popularly known as the “Retirist Movement”, which spread to several countries in South America, the UA, the Iberian Peninsula and Italy. From 1973 to 1977 he was a Provincial Counselor for the USA Commission and from 1977 to 1981 he was Commissariat delegate.
In the Provincial Congregation of 1981, he was assigned to the Commissariat of Peru and in 1985 he was appointed Pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Hope in Lima.
In January of 1991, and for health reasons, he was assigned to the Fraternity of the Portiuncula, in Mallorca and, in the Congregation of 1993, he was appointed Vicar and Treasurer of the Fraternity and Rector of the Church.
In the Provincial Congregation of 1997, he was assigned to the Fraternity of Inca as Vicar and Treasurer of the same and Administrator of the College and Delegate of the Pastoral.
In the Provincial Congregation of 2001, he was assigned to the Fraternity of San Antonio de Padua de Artà as Local Minister, General Director of the College and Master of Novices and, in the Congregation of the year 2005, he was appointed responsible for the Pastoral of the College and Local Minister of the Fraternity. In the Congregation of 2009, he was assigned to the Fraternity of San Francisco de Inca as Local Minister and responsible for the Pastoral of the College.
In October 2010, he was assigned to the Provincial Infirmary of the Porziuncola. After a long illness, he passed away September 7, 2018, at the age of 85.
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, the funeral was held at 6.30 pm, after receiving visits at the funeral home of Son Valentí in Palma, and at 8:00 pm the funeral was held at the Church of the Porziuncola. The Very Rev. Fr. Jaume Puigserver, Provincial Minister, presided over the Mass and Fr. Pere Ribot Mestre delivered the homily. Representatives of the various fraternities of Mallorca concelebrated in the Eucharist.
On Monday, September 10, 2018, the funeral was held at the tomb of the Franciscan Fathers in the Cemetery of Palma.