Modern white church with cross tower and trees

Parish Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is made up of commission representatives along with the Pastor. It is the role of the PPC to be the visioning body of the parish. In consultation with staff and parishioners, the PPC is to discern the mission, vision and goals of the parish.

Parish Trustees

Our parish is technically a corporation within the Archdiocese. As such, a corporation must have corporate officers. Risen Savior has five corporate officers; (1) Fr. Matthew Malek as corporate chair, (2) Archbishop Hebda is one of the corporate officers, the (3) Parochial Vicar for Archbishop Hebda, and two lay people as corporate officers, the trustees, (4) Andrea Rodriguez as corporate treasurer, (5) Dave Hutton as corporate secretary. The trustees are liaisons to the pastor and leadership. They are authorized to sign checks.

Man wearing a green shirt and a cross necklace.

William Bitzenhofer

Finance Council
Parish Pastoral Council

William Bitzenhofer

My name is William Bitzenhofer. I have been attending Risen Savior since my family moved to Apple Valley in the mid 1980's. I stopped going after I moved out but started attending again in the early 2010's.

Currently I am the Accountant at Valley Natural Foods. In January will be my 26th year at the company.

I enjoy golfing, bowling & softball. I also enjoy traveling when I have the time.

I have been on two mission trips to the Sister Parish in Gris Gris, in 2015 & 2017, an absolute eye opening experience.

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Oscar Miranda Dominguez

Parish Pastoral Council

Oscar Miranda Dominguez

Oscar Miranda-Domínguez joined Risen Savior in 2023. He lives in the South Metro area with his wife and their three daughters. At the parish, he serves as a lector for the Spanish-language liturgy and participates in other activities of the Hispanic ministry.

Professionally, Oscar works at the University of Minnesota, where his research focuses on brain development. Outside of work and parish activities, he enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, and spending time with his family.

Oscar is honored to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council and looks forward to helping strengthen connections among the many cultures, ministries, and families that make Risen Savior such a welcoming community.

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Violeta Hernandez Espinoza

Parish Pastoral Council

Violeta Hernandez Espinoza

Violeta has been a member of Risen Savior since 2021. After moving to Burnsville, Risen Savior became her nearest parish with a Spanish language mass option. The large Spanish-speaking community and the welcoming, culturally responsive environment, made her want to continue to be a part of the parish. She feels blessed to have found this faith community.

Over the past five years in this community, Violeta has increased her involvement and participation in activities within the church, including Consecration to The Sacred Heart of Jesus in 2025 and her most recent participation as a promoter of the Lord Renew Your Church Campaign with the Spanish-speaking community, in its final stretch. While newer to the Catholic community at Risen Savior, Violeta has previously served in her former home parishes of St. Peter and Paul in Mankato and as Latino Youth Group Coordinator with St Mary's Catholic Church Parish in Madelia. As she is originally from Mexico and sometimes spends extended periods there, Violeta also serves her home parish, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Maravatio, Michoacán, Mexico. One of her most joyful experiences in the church was attending the 2011 World Youth Day held in Madrid, Spain, along with 300 other youth from the U.S.

Violeta also brings to the Council the experience of a 20-year career in the private, nonprofit and public sectors, having worked in all levels of the education field, from early childhood to higher education, the philanthropic sector, legislative affairs, and in community and business development roles. In her career, Violeta is driven by the desire to change the trajectories of underserved and under-resourced communities on a local and global level through action, advocacy, visioning, and connecting people to resources & opportunities.

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Theresa Lummis

Parish Pastoral Council

Theresa Lummis

I have been a member at Risen Savior since the early 1980’s. I have enjoyed being active with several volunteer activities and committees for over 30 years here at Risen Savior. Currently, I’m a Sacristan/ Eucharistic minister for weekend masses and funerals, ‘Prepare’ mentor for engaged couples, Community Sharing Commission member, and Parish Pastoral Council member starting in the summer 2022. As I said in a “ministry moment” at Mass many years ago “It all starts with a salad.

In 2018, I retired from Xcel Energy after 40 years of service, and I am loving retirement. I enjoy reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and additional community volunteer opportunities.

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Mary Miller

Parish Pastoral Council

Mary Miller

My name is Mary Miller. My husband, Scott and I have been members of Risen Savior for almost 30 years. We live in Lakeville and have two daughters, both married and living nearby.

I am an Accountant and work as an independent contractor for a variety of businesses. We enjoy time at our cabin and every minute with our grandson.

I have served on the Risen Savior Finance Committee, been involved in Faith Formation as well as an adult leader on two Youth Mission trips. I am honored to be part of the Parish Pastoral Council and look forward to serving our community.

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Paul Pankratz

Finance Council
Parish Pastoral Council, Chair

Paul Pankratz

Paul Pankratz has been a member of The Church of the Risen Savior since July 1990. He currently serves on the Risen Savior Finance Council and is new to serving on the Parish Pastoral Council as parishioner member and liaison to the Sacramental Life Commission. Paul has been a long-time member of the Risen Savior Music Ministry. He joined the Cursillo movement in 2015 and holds a Section Leader position on the Twin Cities Cursillo Secretariate.

Paul is a past president of the Minnesota Chapter of Pilots for Christ and served for many years on that group’s international Board of Directors. He recently retired after 41 years with ECOLAB, Inc., where he held various leadership roles in the Operations and RD&E branches of that organization.

Paul’s hope is to live out the Risen Savior parish Mission Statement (Our Doors Are Open to All – Our Eucharist Is a Celebration of the Risen Savior – Our Call Is to Love and Serve) and looks forward to contributing to the promotion of its precepts.

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Sheila Peterson

Parish Pastoral Council, Vice Chair

Parish Pastoral Council

My husband Dave and I live in Shakopee with our two teenage daughters. I've been a member of Risen
Savior for over 25 years, and my family has been active in youth and teen ministries.
I work in corporate finance and lead a team of financial analysts that provides forecasting and financial
analysis support to the business.

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Dave Hutton

Trustee

Dave Hutton

Dave Hutton has served as a Parish Trustee since July 2020. He and his wife, Dawn, have been members of the Church of the Risen Savior since 2001. Dave has also served on the Parish Pastoral Council for two terms and is a graduate of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. Dave and Dawn are very active in the Twin Cities Cursillo movement.

Dave is a retired US Navy Commander and is employed by the University of Minnesota in Facilities Management. Dave and Dawn have three adult sons, all married, and seven grandchildren. They are truly grateful to be members of this Risen Savior community!

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Andrea Rodriguez

Trustee

Andrea Rodriguez

Andrea Rodriguez has served as Parish Trustee since July 2020. She and her husband, Marco, have been members of Church of the Risen Savior since 2004 and were the first couple to have a Spanish wedding at Risen Savior. Andrea has also served on the Parish Pastoral Council, Latino Commission, Guadalupe Committee, and Community Sharing Commission throughout the years. In 2019, Andrea was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award by the Corporation for National and Community Service in recognition and appreciation for her commitment to strengthen our nation and communities through volunteer service. Andrea is employed by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as a Loan Officer/Production Partner. Andrea and Marco have 2 kids, 20 & 14. The Rodriguez family is happy and grateful for the opportunity to serve the needs of Risen Savior and its parishioners.

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