Parish Staff Pastor Rev. Gerald Dvorak Deacon Mr. Mark Johanns Pastoral Assoc. for Ministry

Sr. Rita Worm, SLW Pastoral Assoc. for Liturgical Music

Barb Schrenk Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Sacraments & ECFL Joanne Foley Confirmation Kate and John Capistrant RCIC Sarah Moon Business Administrator & Faith Formation Dir. Mike McNeil Maintenance Office Tony Good Administrative Assistant Patti DeMay Administrative Assistant Theresa Jensen

Parish Office Phone — 612-866-5089 Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 8:30 am and 3:30 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7:30 am (or call 612-866-5089)

Head of Committees Parish Pastoral Council (Office, 612-866-5089)

Finance (Mark, 612-203-7757) Christian Service (Francie, 612-644-8596)

Communications (Mike, 612-861-2212) Community Builders (John, 612-866-2342)

Environment (Linda, 952-934-8053) Kingdom Builders (Leroy, 651-457-0055) Knights of Columbus & KC Round Table

(Pat, 612-861-3981) Meals on Wheels (Mary Anne, 612-866-9541)

Prayer Shawl (Joan, 612-861-2825) Respect Life (Jane, 612-866-1304)

St. Peter’s Boosters (Casey & Tasya, 612-910-2224)

St. Peter’s Senior Club (Francie, 612-644-8596) VEAP (Lois, 612-869-8996)

Prayer & Action (Joanne, 612-925-1203) Loaves & Fishes (Cheryl, 952-884-3653)

Blessed Trinity Catholic School: Preschool-Grade 3 612-866-6906 Grade 4-8 612-869-5200

The Week’s Events: 12-15-19 to 12-22-19 Sun (12/15/19): Third Sunday of Advent—9:00 & 11:00 Prayer Shawl Blessing at Masses Gaudete Sunday—Bring Baby Jesus from your crèche for blessing in the narthex after Masses Fr. Jerry’s Creche Exhibit Opens Noon-1:00 pm Rosaire en Francais (Chapel) Mon (12/16/19): Meals on Wheels 5:30 pm Communications Committee Meeting (Rm B) 6-6:45 pm Children’s Christmas Choir Rehearsal (Rm 201) Tues (12/17/19): Meals on Wheels Blessed Trinity Fundraiser Dairy Days 12:15 pm Blessed Trinity Christmas Program/Concert (Church) 2-6:00 pm Dairy Days at Dairy Queen on 75th & Lyndale 6:30-8:30 pm Blessed Trinity Christmas Program/Concert & Reception (Church, Msgr. Brand Social Hall) 7:00-7:45 pm Contemporary Group/Seasonal Choir Rehearsal (Rm 201) Wed (12/18/19): Meals on Wheels 12:15 pm Blessed Trinity School Mass at St. Richard’s 6-6:45 pm Children’s Christmas Choir Rehearsal (Rm 201) 6:30-8:00 pm Confirmation Class (Rm D) 7-8:00 pm Individual Reconciliation (Church) 7-8:00 pm Seasonal Choir Rehearsal (Rm 201) Thur (12/19/19): Eucharistic Adoration Meals on Wheels 8:30 am-8:30 pm Eucharistic Adoration (Chapel) 9-10:30 am Individual Reconciliation (Church) 7-8:00 pm Individual Reconciliation (Church) 7:30 pm Kingdom Builders (Rm C) Fri (12/20/19): Meals on Wheels 8:30-9:30 am Blessed Trinity Posadas (Church) 8:30 am Bulletin Stuffers (Rm B) 7:00 pm Vocal Sparks Choir Concert (Church) Sat (12/21/19) Mass Time — 4:30 pm Fr. Jerry’s Creche Exhibit 8:30-10:00 am Mary Queen of Heaven Advent Journey (Rm D) Sun (12/22/19): Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:00 & 11:00 Fr. Jerry’s Creche Exhibit Noon-1:00 pm Rosaire en Francais (Chapel)

Being Involved at St. Peter’s

Calling All Capable Men and Women Do you have two to three hours to spare maybe once every four to five weeks? The funeral committee, called the Good Samaritans, is in need of more people to help set up the lunches or clean up after the lunches on the day of a funer-al. This is one of the services St. Peter’s has been able to offer a family in their moments of grief after a death in the family. We need your help if we are to continue this service to grieving families. Please call Sister Rita Worm at the par-ish office (612-866-5089) for more details and to sign up. You will experience a deep sense of satisfaction for doing this. Thank you!

We’re Glad You’re Here! We are grateful to the many new parishioners who have recently chosen to become members at St. Peter’s Church.

Adriana Tapia 6532 16th Ave. S., #311

Richfield, MN 55423 Miguel Alvarez & Mayra Rosas

119 E. 59th St. #303 Minneapolis, MN 55419

Alex Barr 7039 Columbus Ave. S.

Richfield, MN 55423 Cait Quinn

7039 Columbus Ave. S. Richfield, MN 55423

Vern & Shonny Bolduc 400 W. 67th St. #202 Richfield, MN 55423

Bill & Cynch Hiller 312 W. 65th St. #202 Richfield, MN 55423

Charles Stewart 5732 Bossen Terrace #5 Minneapolis, MN 55417

Sacrament of Reconciliation Individual Reconciliation

December 18, 19, 23, 7:00-8:00pm Thursday, December 19th, 9:00am

(with Blessed Trinity) Regular Reconciliation Schedule

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 7:30am Saturdays, 8:30am & 3:30pm

Christmas Flower Memorials Christmas Flower & Environment Memorial Fund donations may be put in an envelope and placed in the collection basket any time during Ad-vent. Clearly print the memorial name or names on the front, as well as the person making the contribution. Envelopes are in the pews to use if you wish.

Christmas Decorating Help

The Environment Committee needs all good elves, young and old, to help assemble Christmas trees on Monday, December 23rd at 8:30 am. All parishioners and Knights of Columbus and spouses are invited to come and help adorn our church.

Christmas Eve Masses Tuesday, December 24th, 4:00pm & 10:00pm

Christmas Day Masses Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am & 11:00am

Solemnity of Mary Masses Tuesday, December 31, Vigil Mass, 4:30 pm

Wednesday, January 1st, 9:00 am Calendars for 2020

Next weekend, December 21/22, calendars will be available after Masses until the supply is exhausted. Since only 200 calendars are provided, please take only one per household and only if you are sure they will be used.

Help Needed Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers and ushers are needed for St. Peter’s Christmas and Solemnity of Mary Masses. Please sign up in the sacristy or call the parish office at 612-866-5089.

Holiday Hours The parish office will be closed Tuesday, December 24th [at noon], Wednesday, December 25th and Thursday, December 26th. It will be closed again on Wednesday, January 1st.

Third Sunday of Advent

Especially for St. Peter’s Parishioners... Blessed Trinity Catholic School News

Sunday, December 15 Monday, December 16 Ron Iden Tuesday, December 17 Pat Proft, Joanne Foley Wednesday, December 18 Joan Snider Thursday, December 19 Cheryl Sarno Friday, December 20 Florence Habegger Saturday, December 21 Ralph & Alice Laven

Every Day A Prayer Sign-up to pray for the well being of our parish and

parishioners by calling 612-866-5089.

Christmas Program and Concert Please join us as our 4th graders put on their Christmas Program. Stay and listen to our choir and band! All are welcome. The perfor-mance is Tuesday, December 17, 12:15 & 6:30 pm at St. Peter's.

Las Posadas Everyone is invited to join us as we celebrate Las Posadas at As-sumption Church. We'll be hosting the evening of Thursday, Decem-ber 19, at 6:00 pm. What is Las Posadas? Las Posadas, (Spanish: “The Inns”) is a reli-gious festival celebrated in Mexico and some parts of the United States between December 16 and 24. Las Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the Baby Jesus. We will have refreshments following our reenactment. All are wel-come.

The Gift of Hearing St. Peter’s would like to thank the gra-cious donor who funded the purchase of several new sound amplifiers for our parishioners’ use. This generous donation will help many hear and cele-brate the Good News. What a special gift to enhance this very holy time of year! If you would benefit from the use of one of these devices, see an usher at the back of church.

End of Year Tax Information for Seniors Seniors, IF: 1. you are over 70 1/2 2. you are receiving a "RMD" (required minimum ) distribution from an IRA account 3. you do not itemize deductions, but take the standard deductions on your federal tax form 1040 4. you are paying federal or federal and Minnesota tax on your IRA RMD now THEN, the IRS and Minnesota allows you to have part or all of your IRA RMD distribution up to $100,000 as non-taxable if you have the Trustee of your IRA account send your request or a direct distribution to a qualified charitable organization. (Hopefully, the Church of St. Peter). This tax savings would give you the op-portunity to increase your contribution. The total RMD IRA distribution is shown on IRS form 1040 line 4a and the taxable amount (line 4a less amount given to your charita-ble organization directly from your account) on line 4b with "QCD" written on the left of line 14b. Remember, this is only advantageous if you take the standard deduction of $24,000, because you get the standard deduction plus you don't pay tax on the direct RMD IRA contribution to your qualified charitable organization. See IRS Pub 590B for more in-formation. Questions: Consult your tax preparer/advisor (per 2018 1040 tax form; 2019 1040 tax form has not been pub-lished)

Clearly Catholic Intentionally Inclusive Academically Excellent

St. Peter’s

End of Year Contributions The IRS requires that your year-end gifts must be postmarked or received into the parish office by Dec. 31st to qualify for a 2019 deduction. Envelopes placed in the collection basket through Tues-day, December 31st Masses will count towards 2019 giving. Those placed in the collection on Wednesday, January 1st, will count to-wards 2020 giving, regardless of check date.

Church of Saint Peter

Submit names for the bulletin of those who are serving our country, or have died while serving our country, by printing their name clearly and placing it in the collection

basket. Keep all men and women in our armed forces in your pray-ers, especially: Joshua Grout, Ryan, Sean and Kelly Fitzhenry,

Tony Meyers, J. Kyle Monssen, Brian Eichers, Norbert Kar-czewski, Jr. and Ryan Heath.

Prayer Chain Call your intentions in to the prayer chain so that your loved ones who may be sick, dying, facing surgery or living with a terminal illness, may be remembered in prayer by members of the parish whose ministry is praying for others. There is power in prayer. Please call Tom 612-866-9541.

Thank You to the St. Nick’s Breakfast Elves

What a wonderful turn out of youth for helping to serve as elves at the St. Nick’s Breakfast last weekend! A special thanks to: Kari Chimbo, Marco DeLeon, Ashley Vega, Giselle & Edwin Guasco Paucar, Kaylee Caron, Tiffany Dubbeldee, Helen Grote, Sarah Carlson, Grace Anderson, Ellie Foley and Dang Nguyen. Thank you to all who helped and to all who came and enjoyed a deli-cious breakfast with St. Nick.

Eucharistic Adoration People Needed You are invited to spend an hour with the Blessed Sacrament once a week in the Chapel. Allow Jesus to make positive changes in your life. Come anytime 8:30 am through 8:30 pm each Thurs-day. Our Adoration Ministry needs two committed people for each hour. Individuals are needed who can commit for an hour from 12-1:00 pm, 1-2:00 pm, 2-3:00 pm and 3-4:00 pm. Please call Bernadette at 612-866-0283.

Richfield Symphonic Christmas Concert The Richfield Symphonic will be playing a Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 15 from 4-5 pm at Richfield United Methodist Church, 5835 Lyndale Ave So. “Ave Maria,” along with traditional holiday tunes, will be performed. A free will offering will be accept-ed.

Vocal Sparks Choir Enjoy the sounds of the season with Vocal Sparks Choir here at Saint Peter's on Friday, December 20 at 7pm! They will perform a free concert showcasing favorite carols and tunes that will warm the heart. Free will donations will be given to Park Nicollet Foun-dation/Frauenshuh Cancer Center. The all women's show choir, formerly the Methodaires, have sung together for close to 50 years and raised over $200,000 for cancer patient care. www.vocalsparkschoir.com.

Bloomington-Richfield Grief Support Coalition If you have recently suffered the loss of a loved one, this could be very helpful for you. The Winter Series 2020 is being held at Nor-mandale Hylands United Methodist Church at 9920 Normandale Blvd. S., Bloomington, on Thursdays, January 9-February 27. Sessions run from 4:30—6:00pm. Please call 952-835-7585 for more information. You may attend all or individual sessions: January 9, Happy New Year with Donna Mathiowetz January 16, What’s Left? with Bob Bartlett January 23, The Puzzle called Grief with Donna Mathiowetz January 30, Wings for Widows: Taking Control -The First 90 Days with Tamara Block February 6, Wings for Widows: Taking Control -The Next 90 Days with Tamara Block February 13, Myths of Grief with Brenda DeMotte February 20, Grief and Intimacy with Bob Bartlett February 27, Habits of Resilience for Grievers with Beryl Schewe

Special Announcements Financial Update

Fr. Jerry’s end of the year appeal letter was mailed last week. What follows is a summary of his appeal. Dear Parishioner of St. Peter’s: Advent and Christmas are special sacred times in the Church calendar. Each has its own special purpose. Advent is a time of preparing our hearts for Jesus and making room for Christ’s incarnation in our lives. Then Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s presence among us, in our lived experience through loving relationships, Word and Sacrament. I hope your preparations for Christmas include participating in the sac-rament of reconciliation, increased time for prayer and adoration, and a prayerful reflection on your year-end charitable giving. There are many good causes with which you may share what you have been given. I hope St. Peter’s will be part of your year-end giving. Our mission at St. Peter’s is to ever strive to be a Roman Catholic faith community who, in the spirit of Jesus Christ welcomes all people, cher-ishes the Eucharist, fosters faith formation for all ages and serves our members and the broader community in justice and charity. Your year-end support allows St. Peters to continue to serve our members and the broader community. Your support allows St. Peters to continue to be a place where people can turn for spiritual support during times of grief and celebrate God’s presence in our lives through Word and Sac-rament. May God bless you for your generosity. Have a Blessed Christmas and New Year.

Father Jerry Dvorak

Mass Intentions To offer a Mass for someone

please call (612-866-5089) or visit the parish office.

Monday, December 16 - Sunday, December 22 Monday 8:00 am Volunteer Ministers at St. Peter’s Tuesday 8:00 am Special Intention Wednesday 8:00 am St. Peter’s Parish Staff Thursday 8:00 am †Irene Kupfer Friday 8:00 am †Betty Iverson Saturday 8:00 am 4:30 pm People of the parish Sunday 9:00 am †David Johnson 11:00 am †Mariuciaa Bulgherini

December 15, 2019

Life in Christ

Robert Goering passed away. Please pray for the Goering family. Keep Robert and all our deceased in your prayers.

Father Jerry’s Crèche

Exhibit Now through January 19th

Exhibit closed on Monday & Tuesday evenings. Father Jerry’s collection of crèches is displayed throughout the building.

Viewing hours are: Monday & Tuesday 8:30am — 4:30pm Wednesday-Friday 8:30am—7:30pm

Saturdays 9:00am — 6:00pm Sundays 9:00am — noon

Christmas Eve 9:00am — 10:00pm Christmas Day 9:00am — 1:00pm

New Year’s Eve 10:00am — 6:00pm New Year’s Day 8:00 am — noon

Father Jerry’s crèches will be on display from December 14th through January 19th. If you came and saw the display last year, you’ll be happy to see additional crèches. The Santon Village in Room 105 has also been expanded. The exhibit will be displayed in the social hall and cafeteria. Please make sure to allow enough time to see the exhibit. The time estimate is 1-1½ hours to view the crèches and read the accompanying descriptions.

Book Club Starting Saturday, January 11th, the book club will meet for four sessions of discussion in the social hall from 8:30-10:00 am after morning Mass. Women of all ages are welcome! Registration fee is $25 and includes book. We need to order the books, so please register at the parish office 612-866-5089 or fill in the forms that can be found at each en-trance of church. Please place all registration information in an envelope and drop it in the collection basket. Please pick up the book at the parish office before sessions begin in January.

Start the new year with a new book and

join our St. Peter’s Book Club

discussion!

Jesus Approaches

The book Jesus Approaches, by award-winning Minnesota author, Liz Kelly, shares vivid stories of New Testament women whose encounters with Jesus freed them to flourish in life

FUN TIMES AT ST. NICK’S

BREAKFAST IF YOU DIDN’T MAKE IT THIS

YEAR MAKE SURE TO PUT IT ON

YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR!

Gerhardson & Warner CPAsMike Warner, CPA

Parishioner763-544-0850

Individual & Business Taxes

Tax Planning

For ad info. call 1-800-950-9952 • www.4lpi.com St. Peter, Richfield, MN A 4C 02-0018

www.moorechiropractic.org drcasey@moorechiropractic.org

(952) 926-7515 • 6600 France Ave. So. #206, Edina

Parishioner

Suzanne Couillard SandahlAttorney At Law• Wills • Trusts • Real Estate • POA’s • Probates • Elder Law • Medical Assistance

612-866-60007400 Lyndale Av. So. www.sandahllaw.com

“A Family Owned Business Since 1948”4500 Nicollet Avenue South

612-827-2971www.hawkinsautomotiveinc.com

BLAYLOCK PLUMBING CO.“Dependable Service Since 1938”

• Repairs • Remodeling • Sewer Work

7731 4th Ave. S. 612-869-7531

BoB’s sewer service

Residential • CommercialMain Sewer - Tubs & Basins

Richfield • 612-866-2828

6527 Portland Ave. S. P: (612) 869-3226 morrisnilsen.com

Contact Tim Browne • tbrowne@4LPi.com • (800) 950-9952 x2518

SHIFT TO THE PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST

7444 Lyndale Ave. S. • Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-0009 • www.richfieldtransmission.net

Care Suites • Memory Care Assisted Living • Independent Living

6501 Woodlake Drive, Richfield

612.746.4703

washburn-mcreavy .comFuneral Chapels, Cemeteries and Cremation Services

EDINA CHAPEL

NOKOMIS PARK CHAPEL

BLOOMINGTON CHAPEL 2300 W Old Shakopee Road 952.884.8145

1838 E Minnehaha Parkway 612.721.1651

5000 W 50th Street 952.920.3996

WMF_18-ChurchBulletinAd_03_7.54x0.955_v1_ED_NP_BL.indd 1 10/23/18 1:27 PM

BUYING OR SELLINGBruce A. Hendrickson, CRS, CBR

Professional Real Estate Services5318 Lyndale Ave. So.

Dir: 612.821.4215 • Cell:612.750.2136brucehendrickson@edinarealty.com

BruceHendrickson.com

• Flexible Hours• Up to $16.49/hour• Great Benefits • College Tuition

Assistance Apply now: careers.fedex.com/express/jobs

NOW HIRING!

Care That’s Customized to Your Smile

ethosdental.com6945 Penn Ave S, Richfi eld, MN

Care That’s Customized to Your Smile

ethosdental.com6945 Penn Ave S, Richfi eld, MN

Terry Ahlstrom YOUR GUY

YourRichfieldGuy.com

612.418.9085

a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate

Richfield