Church of St. George

Parish History

St. George was founded in 1916 when Long Lake Catholics asked Fr. George Scheffold, OSB of Holy Name in Medina to help them form a parish; he sent the petition to Archbishop John Ireland, articles of incorporation were signed in June 1916, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1916 in the basement of the original church on Brown Road and Grand Avenue. The building was completed in 1917 and served the mission church until 1948, when St. George was brought under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis with Fr. William J. Nolan as the first resident pastor. A Catholic cemetery was added in 1953; a new, Vatican II–era cruciform church seating 800 followed in the mid-1960s; the community center was added in 1976; the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program began in 2004 and weekly Spanish Mass with a Spanish Music Ministry became a fixture in 2007.

• 1916: Articles of incorporation signed; named for founding-priest Fr. George Scheffold, OSB.
• 1916 (Christmas Day): First Mass celebrated in the basement.
• 1948: Enters the Archdiocese; Fr. William J. Nolan becomes first resident pastor.
• 1953: Catholic cemetery for the Lake Minnetonka area established.
• 1964: Construction of current cruciform church, one of the first Vatican II–era parish designs in the Archdiocese.
• 1971: Inaugural Corn Days Festival.
• 1976: Parish community center added.
• 2004: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program launched; monthly Spanish Mass introduced.
• 2007: Weekly Spanish Mass with Spanish Music Ministry begins.

Church Building and Architecture

St. George was one of the first parishes in the Archdiocese to redesign its sanctuary in response to Vatican II, breaking ground in the early 1960s and dedicating the current church in 1964. The cruciform layout seats nearly 800 people around a central freestanding altar with an overhanging canopy and a crucifix carved from linden wood in Italy — features that still define the worship space today. In 1976 a community center was added to host parish gatherings and events such as Corn Days.

Parish Life and Organizations

Beyond the Mass schedule, St. George runs an active calendar of parish organizations and gatherings. The Women's Council (an affiliate of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women) and the local Knights of Columbus council are the two main parish-wide bodies, alongside the Divine Will Group prayer meeting and parish council. AA meetings also take place at the parish on Thursdays.

• Women's Council (ACCW) — Marie Suchy, President; meets monthly.
• Knights of Columbus — Steve Cox, Grand Knight; meets first Thursday at 7:00 PM in the community center.
• Divine Will Group — Wednesdays 9:15 AM.
• Parish Pastoral Council — Chair Dick Speeter; meets monthly.
• AA Meetings — Thursdays at 7:00 PM.
• Corn Days Festival committee — annual volunteer team.

Outreach and Charity

St. George parishioners support a range of local and regional charities, from emergency shelter in Minneapolis to Native American ministry in northern Minnesota. The parish also maintains a Perpetual Care Endowment Fund for its cemetery and welcomes memorial gifts.

St. George Cemetery

Established by the parish in 1953, the St. George Cemetery at 401 Willow Drive, Long Lake provides a Catholic burial ground for the Lake Minnetonka area. Plot purchases, opening and closing of graves, and marker placement are coordinated through the parish office by Deacon Joe Kittok. Current published rates include $750 for a single parishioner plot with one burial ($1,000 for non-parishioners) and $525 for an opening and closing of a full-body burial ($550 in frozen-ground months). Sunday burials are not permitted.

• Single parishioner plot (1 burial): $750; with 2 burials: $1,250.
• Single non-parishioner plot (1 burial): $1,000; with 2 burials: $1,500.
• Infant plot: $300.
• Opening/closing of full-body burial: $525 ($550 frozen); cremated remains $200 ($225 frozen); baby burial $200 ($225 frozen).
• St. George Perpetual Care Endowment Fund supports ongoing care.
• Cemetery contact: Deacon Joe Kittok, 763-221-6658; office: Sara Dore, 952-473-1247 X101.

Parish Staff and Contacts

The parish is led by Fr. Shane Stoppel-Wasinger, pastor, with Fr. Tim Norris assisting as Sacramental Minister. A small office staff handles faith formation, music and liturgy, accounting, and facilities.

• Pastor: Fr. Shane Stoppel-Wasinger ([email protected], ext. 111).
• Sacramental Minister: Fr. Tim Norris ([email protected], 952-594-1169).
• Deacon Joe Kittok — Cemetery (763-221-6658).
• Director of Music and Liturgical Ministry: Nuriel Abdenur ([email protected], ext. 106).
• Faith Formation Director: Abby Wooley ([email protected], ext. 104).
• Bookkeeper: Paula Luna ([email protected], ext. 105).
• Parish Secretary / Safe Environment Coordinator: Sara Dore ([email protected], ext. 101).
• Office Assistant: Rowanne Dombeck ([email protected], ext. 107).
• Head of Building, Grounds & Supplies: Mike Dombeck ([email protected], ext. 103).
• Custodian: Matilde Narvaez.

Getting Involved / Registration

New parishioners may register by contacting the parish office at 952-473-1247 ext. 101, by emailing [email protected], or by picking up a registration packet at the Welcome Center at the back of church. Liturgical ministers, choir members, faith formation catechists, and Corn Days volunteers are regularly recruited, and training is provided for new liturgical roles.