About Us

Welcome to Archangelbooks.com! This web site is the online storefront of Archangel Books & Gifts, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA, and owned by Kathleen and Norman Virnig.

Archangel Books & Gifts opened its doors in 1995 with the purpose of providing a ministry through the selling of solid Catholic books to the St. Cloud area. This mission quickly branched out into the selling of gifts as well, and soon the store became the largest Catholic book and gift store in Central Minnesota. By 1998 it was time to venture into the internet, and by November of that year Archangelbooks.com was born.

Today, through its store in St. Cloud, its online storefront, and seasonal catalogs, Archangel Books & Gifts serves the United States and countries throughout the world.

About the Owners

Kathleen Virnig grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and has degrees in both nursing and history. From 1991 to 1997 she directed a yearly rosary cenacle retreat in St. Paul, Minnesota, attracting such speakers as the late Bishop Austin Vaughn of New York, Bishop John Meyer of Peoria, Ill., Fr. Thomas Dubay, Catholic convert Steve Woods, and philosophy professor Dr. Rhonda Chervin. Kathleen has also given many speeches over the years on Marian topics and has been involved with the organization of rosary rallies in Minnesota and the production of a video on Marian dogma.

Norman Virnig, a Minnesota native, received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1961 before getting his specialization in pediatrics. He has worked in hospital neonatology units in both St. Paul and St. Cloud, and in 2005 he retired after a long career in medicine. He continues in his "second" career assisting in the operation of Archangel Books & Gifts.

Kathleen and Norman have five children and ~~six~~ ~~eleven~~ ~~thirteen~~ fifteen grandchildren and currently reside in St. Cloud. They opened Archangel Books & Gifts in 1995, and after steady growth they moved their store to a larger location across the street in 1999. In the Fall of 2005 they completed a major remodeling of the showroom floor to provide more space, a cleaner look, and easier navigation through their continually growing inventory.