About Risen Savior · Burnsville, Minnesota
The Church of the Risen Savior is a Catholic parish in Burnsville, Minnesota, serving about 2,900 households in the southern Twin Cities communities of Burnsville, Apple Valley, and Lakeville. Founded on September 10, 1970, it is a Conventual Franciscan-led community within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis that celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish's motto — 'Our Doors are Open to All, Our Eucharist is a Celebration of the Risen Savior, Our Call is to Love and Serve' — reflects its bilingual ministry, robust faith formation for all ages, and active outreach through partner agency 360 Communities.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- The Risen Savior (the Resurrected Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM Conv
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Risen Savior is a vibrant, diverse, and growing parish in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis — one of the few locally with rising Mass attendance — that welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics through bilingual liturgies, confession, and Eucharistic Adoration. Families can find a full faith-formation track from preschool through Confirmation (including the GIFT family program, Sunday School, and the Chosen Confirmation curriculum for grades 9–12), and adults are welcomed through OCIA, ongoing formation, and 360 Communities outreach. Led by Conventual Franciscans and supported by a large lay staff of directors and ministers, it offers something for nearly every stage of Catholic life in the southern Twin Cities.
Mass times at Risen Savior
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in English and Spanish (in the Confession Room in the Chapel)
- Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Spanish (before the 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass)
Adoration times
- Bi-lingual Eucharistic Adoration every Friday 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel (Blessed Sacrament exposed following the 9:00 a.m. Mass)
- Holy Hour every Friday 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (bilingual)
- The tabernacle in the Chapel is also open for prayer whenever the church building is open
Parish History & Identity
Church of the Risen Savior traces its roots to the rapid growth of the former township of Lebanon (today's Apple Valley) in the late 1960s. Officially founded on September 10, 1970, by 350 founding families from Apple Valley, Burnsville and Lakeville under their first pastor Fr. Frederick Cussler, the parish began in the converted garage of a small house on Baldwin Drive in Apple Valley before moving to its permanent home in Burnsville on land donated by a parishioner. The current worship building, finished in 1978, was affectionately dubbed 'the white warehouse' by longtime parishioners — a phrase the parish itself now uses to describe its ethos of 'simplicity clothed with the Spirit.' Major expansions followed in 1989 (worship space) and 1996 (lower level, youth room, music room and offices), as the parish grew from its 350 original families to its current ~2,900 households.
- Founded September 10, 1970 — 350 founding families
- First pastor: Fr. Frederick Cussler
- 1978: New worship area ('the white warehouse') completed
- 1989: Original worship space expanded
- 1996: Lower level, youth room, music room, offices completed
- 2004: Sunday Spanish Mass and Latino Ministry launched
- 2008: Projection screens installed in worship space
- 2020: Electronic message boards installed on the County Road 42 sign
- Today: ~2,900 households across Burnsville, Apple Valley and Lakeville
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Risen Savior is described by the parish as 'a lifelong process of forming and growing in faith' through prayer, sacraments, liturgy, parish life and works of charity. Programs run year-round for preschoolers through adults, with a fall registration period and the option to download forms online. Director of Family & Youth Formation Rae Ann Konkol oversees the overall program; Adult Faith Formation is led by Ben Caduff; Preschool & Elementary by Jessica Sosa; and Latino Faith Formation & Youth Ministry by Nalleli Renteria.
- Sunday School (age 3 through Kindergarten, three Sundays a month during the 9:00 a.m. Mass, October–April)
- GIFT Family Program (Grades 1–4) — sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist
- Middle School Faith Formation (Grades 5–8, two Wednesdays a month)
- Sanctuary youth group (large-group gatherings for Grades 6–8)
- Confirmation Prep (Grades 9–12) — two-year 'Chosen' curriculum
- Vacation Bible School (summer, four mornings, preschool–Grade 5)
- Liturgy of the Word for Children (during 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, Grades 1–3)
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
The Adult Faith Formation office offers ongoing opportunities for adults 'to continue their journey with God through prayer, study, and action,' integrating lived experience with identity as a disciple of Christ. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — the modern name for the traditional RCIA — for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and Eucharist. The process is individualized rather than 'one-size-fits-all,' and concludes with the Sacraments of Initiation during the Easter season.
- OCIA inquiries: Ben Caduff, [email protected], (952) 698-1724
- Customized formation plans based on each inquirer's faith journey
- Catechesis on Scripture, Church history, Sacraments, morality and prayer
Music & Liturgy
The Music Ministry exists to 'support and energize the celebration of the Liturgy' and welcomes anyone with a love for singing or playing an instrument. It is led by Director of Liturgy & Music Kevin Rotty, with Sandy Jimenez coordinating the Latino Music Ministry and Rebecca Dobias serving as Liturgy Assistant. Monthly music schedules are published online, including a separate schedule for Holy Week.
- Director of Liturgy & Music: Kevin Rotty, (952) 698-1728
- Latino Music Ministry: Sandy Jimenez, (952) 698-1715
- Liturgy Assistant: Rebecca Dobias, (952) 698-1725
Service, Outreach & Social Justice
Risen Savior partners closely with 360 Communities, a local nonprofit offering emergency food assistance and other family services in Burnsville and Rosemount. Parishioners can support the mission by giving financially (with the parish leveraging matching dollars through Second Harvest Heartland, multiplying donations at roughly 7.5×), donating non-perishable goods or grocery gift cards, or pre-packing emergency food bags at 360 Communities' Burnsville location. Social-justice and outreach programs are coordinated through Adult Faith Formation Coordinator Ben Caduff.
- Financial giving matched 7.5× via Second Harvest Heartland
- Drop-off locations: 501 State Hwy 13 #112, Burnsville, MN 55337 and 14521 Cimarron Ave W, Rosemount, MN 55068
- Outreach contact: Ben Caduff, (952) 698-1724
Parish Staff & Clergy
Risen Savior is led by Conventual Franciscan pastor Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM Conv, who was installed by Archbishop Bernard Hebda on July 7, 2024, and who also serves as a supervised Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor providing therapy to individuals, couples and families at the parish. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Edwin Ngah (assigned July 1, 2025), and a large lay staff spanning liturgy, music, formation, communications and maintenance.
- Pastor — Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM Conv — [email protected], (952) 698-1710
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Edwin Ngah — [email protected], (952) 698-1731
- Parochial Administrator (parish operations) — Sherwin Pasillos, [email protected], (952) 698-1720
- Pastoral Care — Deacon Chris Sorensen (staff minister), (952) 698-1722
- Director of Liturgy & Music — Kevin Rotty, (952) 698-1728
- Director of Family & Youth Formation — Rae Ann Konkol, (952) 698-1727
- Adult Faith Formation / Social Justice — Ben Caduff, (952) 698-1724
- Preschool & Elementary Faith Formation — Jessica Sosa, (952) 679-1523
- Latino Ministry Coordinator — Carmen Marin, (952) 698-1716
- Latino Faith Formation & Youth — Nalleli Renteria, (952) 698-1713
- Latino Music Ministry — Sandy Jimenez, (952) 698-1715
- Communications, Community Life, Safe Environment — Marianne Brass, (952) 698-1714
- Liturgy Assistant — Rebecca Dobias, (952) 698-1725
- Maintenance Chief — Gerardo Marin, (952) 698-1726
- Receptionist — Poli Hernandez / Dave Dinh
Bilingual & Latino Ministry
Since 2004, Risen Savior has celebrated a Sunday Mass in Spanish and founded its Latino Ministry, which today serves roughly 400 households. Spanish-language liturgical and faith-formation offerings include a weekly Saturday evening Mass, a Sunday afternoon Mass, Sunday reconciliation, bilingual Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Hour on Fridays, the Latino Music Ministry under Sandy Jimenez, and dedicated Latino Faith Formation and Youth Ministry under Nalleli Renteria. The parish also lists ASL-interpreted or signed services through the Archdiocesan directory.
- Saturday Vigil in Spanish — 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday Mass in Spanish — 1:00 p.m. (live-streamed)
- Latinx outreach contact: Carmen Marin, (952) 698-1716
Visit, Contact & Connect
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday at (952) 431-5222, or by e-mail at [email protected]. The Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (Spanish) Masses are live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel ('Church of the Risen Savior MN') for those who cannot attend in person; recordings are posted the same afternoon. The parish building doors are locked 15 minutes after the start of each weekend Mass out of an abundance of caution.
- Address: 1501 County Road 42 E, Burnsville, MN 55306-4723
- Phone: (952) 431-5222 — Fax: (952) 431-5221
- General e-mail: [email protected]
- Live-stream YouTube: Church of the Risen Savior MN
- Office-hours inquiries via individual staff extensions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Frederick Cussler1970–
Founding pastor at the parish's establishment on September 10, 1970 with 350 founding families.
- Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM ConvInstalled July 7, 2024
Conventual Franciscan friar and supervised Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor; regularly presides at two weekend Masses; installed as Pastor by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.