Learn About the Mass Schedule of Our Church
Mass Times and Liturgy Information
Saturday
Reconciliation in English and Spanish from 3:00p.m. to 4:30p.m.
5:00p.m.
Sunday
9:00a.m. (Live Stream)
11:00a.m.
1:00p.m. (Mass in Spanish, Live Stream)
Weekday Liturgies
Monday – Friday 9:00a.m.
New Mass Schedule Starting the the First Weekend of Lent, March 8 & 9, 2025
Mass Times and Liturgy Information
Saturday
Reconciliation in English and Spanish from 2:00p.m. to 3:30p.m.
Mass 4:00p.m. (English)
Mass 6:00 p.m. (Spanish)
Sunday
9:00a.m. (Live Stream)
11:00a.m.
1:00p.m. (Mass in Spanish, Live Stream)
A Message from the Pastor:
CHANGE. Sometimes just this word can intimidate us. But not all change is bad. Sometimes change allows us to transform, to become stronger, more responsive. With this in mind, please note that there will be some changes to our mass schedule beginning the first weekend in Lent, March 8-9, 2025. That weekend we will inaugurate a new Saturday 6:00 p.m. Vigil Mass in Spanish, something our Latino sisters and brothers really need.
To make this viable, we must make a few more adjustments. The current 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturdays will shift to 4:00 p.m., beginning that weekend. Likewise, reconciliation will start one hour earlier, from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
“But Father Matthew, these are BIG changes!” Yes, they are. And ones that I do not take lightly. However, they do let us address some significant issues:
- Often the 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass attendance exceeds the capacity of the sanctuary to hold everyone. This violates the building fire code and creates safety issues in our parking lot. Utilizing the Bays or other rooms as “overflow spaces” is not possible as classes are taught at the same time occupying these other rooms.
- The current 5:00 p.m. English Vigil Mass is convenient for some, especially our seniors. However, for much of the year this Mass ends after dark. This is a significant barrier for those who struggle with driving at night. Shifting this mass to 4:00 p.m. will compensate for this.
- Presently, there is only one option for a Spanish-language Mass, and three Masses in English. Many Spanish-speaking parishioners work Sundays, meaning they must miss this Mass frequently. Adding the Saturday Vigil Mass option will be a big help.
“Father, is moving the current 5:00 p.m. Mass our only choice?” No, but it currently is the best choice. In conjunction with the staff, Parish Council, and parishioners, I evaluated our options. I remain committed to offering as many Mass choices as possible without changing the format of the masses we have already. Overall, our Mass attendance has increased in the past two years. That is a rarity in our diocese. It’s a good problem to have, but still a challenge we must address.
I realize altering the mass schedule affects many people, and I truly appreciate everyone’s patience and willingness to adjust their routines. Risen Savior is a vibrant, diverse community. Any changes we make hopefully will enhance this. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (952) 698-1710.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM Conv, Pastor, Church of the Risen Savior
A note from Fr Matthew: Receiving the Precious Blood
As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. In 1963, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council authorized the extension of the faculty for Holy Communion under both kinds in the document Sacrosanctum Concilium. Since then, many Catholics have embraced the option to receive both the Precious Body and the Precious Blood at mass. Our recent pandemic made using a common chalice unfeasible. COVID-19, unfortunately, is still with us, and it has created ongoing concerns about health and safety.
With that in mind, please know that receiving the Precious Blood is an option, not a requirement. Our priests, deacon, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EMEs) will reverently and carefully wipe the chalice with a purificator cloth after each person receives the Precious Blood. There is no way to “sanitize” the chalice, but we can be mindful.
Receiving both species of the Eucharist means we must be aware of our health. Yet it is also an opportunity to experience the mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have stated that, “Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it takes place under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clearer expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the connection between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Kingdom of the Father.”
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Matthew Malek, OFM Conv
Parochial Adminsitrator
[email protected], (952) 698-1710
