About Our Parish Staff
Rev. William Martin, Pastor
Robert Schnell, Deacon
Nicole Adams Blume, Office Manager/Bookkeeper
Isidro Cardoso, Maintenance
Sharon Christie-Beets, 9 & 11 Mass Nursery
Sue Ernster, FSPA, Parish Administrator
Donna Kavanaugh, Childrens Choir & Bell Choir Director
Jolaine M.J. Liupakka, Director of Pastoral Care
Jack Reher, Director of Maintenance
Travis Salisbury, Director of Liturgy
Betsy Sullivan, Director of Music
Rev. William Martin, Pastor
Robert Schnell, Deacon
Nicole Adams Blume, Office Manager/Bookkeeper
Isidro Cardoso, Maintenance
Sharon Christie-Beets, 9 & 11 Mass Nursery
Sue Ernster, FSPA, Parish Administrator
Donna Kavanaugh, Childrens Choir & Bell Choir Director
Jolaine M.J. Liupakka, Director of Pastoral Care
Jack Reher, Director of Maintenance
Travis Salisbury, Director of Liturgy
Betsy Sullivan, Director of Music
Pastoral Council
Jennifer Anderson Kelly
Shari Barnes
Paul Gutkowski
Stephen Knauff
Charlotte Reed
Jeremy Woolever
Jennifer Anderson Kelly
Shari Barnes
Paul Gutkowski
Stephen Knauff
Charlotte Reed
Jeremy Woolever
Fr. Martin became the eighth pastor of St. Richard's Church on July 1, 2011. He was Associate Pastor at St. Margaret Mary in Golden Valley for a year-and-a-half, and then went to Christ the King in Southwest Minneapolis for six-and-a-half years. He became Pastor in 1986 at St. Mary's in Waverly for twelve years, then became Pastor of Guardian Angels Parish in Oakdale, for thirteen years.
Fr. Martin is a musician (BA in Music-education from St. John's University and Masters work in Composition at the U of M). His major instrument is the organ, but he can also at least produce a tone on the piano, guitar, violin, trombone, percussion instruments and he sings a little. He always wanted to be in a marching band, but his instrument was the pipe organ.
Deacon Bob Schnell was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Harry Flynn of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on September 25, 2004. St. Richard's is Bob's first assignment and his responsibilities include preaching and acting as Deacon of the Mass for all the masses approximately one weekend a month, presiding at weddings, doing baptisms and getting involved in other activities in the St. Richard's community.
Bob is married and has five children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in the Twin Cities. He is also a lawyer in the Minneapolis office of Faegre & Benson, where Bob has practiced in the area of business litigation for the last 30 years. Bob's home parish is St. Patrick's in Edina where he and his wife, Julie Schnell, have been members since the 1980's.
When time permits Bob enjoys getting away with his family to their cabin outside of Shell Lake, Wisconsin, to go for walks, chop wood, swim, fish, read and just relax.
Bob is originally from the Twin Cities, and graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1970. He obtained his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1974. In addition to his assignment at St. Richard's, Bob also works with the Minnesota Catholic Conference on public policy issues, is a member of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese, and is on the board of Our Lady of Good Counsel Free Cancer Home.
Nicole joined the St. Richard's staff in August 2010, after nearly eight years serving the parishes of the Archdiocese through our risk management and self-insurance provider. Her educational background is in risk management and she is graduate of the Harry J. Flynn Catechetic Institute at the Saint Paul Seminary. She loves the Church's liturgical traditions and has served on liturgy committee at her home parish for several years, in addition to twelve years singing in the choir and serving as a lector.
She views every aspect of church work as ministry and loves the opportunity to interact with the great St. Richard's parishioners - especially the dedicated volunteers. She can be found in the parish office all week long helping Sr. Sue make sure that we can pay the heating bills and assisting all of the staff with the administrative aspects of their ministry. After hours, she enjoys singing in church choir, reading, crochet projects for human service organizations and exploring fine teas.
Nicole is a life-long Catholic who grew up in St. Paul with her parents and younger sister. She currently lives in Minneapolis and shares her house with a variety of special-needs animals, including two parrots, Ellie and Mogwai, and two cats, Caoimhe Fionnoula and Maible, who do their best to run her life.
Sue Ernster began her ministry at St. Richard's in August, 2006 and is excited to be here. Prior to coming to St. Richard's Sue spent two years teaching Theology and working in Campus Ministry at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria, MN and before that two years as Director of Faith Formation at The Church of St. Therese in Deephaven, MN.
Ministry for Sue is a way of life of giving back to God in utilizing the talents and God given gifts she has to assist in bringing forth the reign of God and caring for all of creation.
Sue entered her religious community, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, in 1994, and took final vows in 2001. The community was founded in 1849 with the motherhouse in La Crosse, WI. The FSPA have been praying for the needs of the world, church community non-stop since August 1, 1878.
Sue is originally from Dubuque, IA and grew up in a family of 2 brothers (1 younger and 1 older) and an older sister. She received her BA in Accounting from Loras College in Dubuque, IA in 1985 and her Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN in 2002.
Sue's greatest experience has been the gift of traveling to Italy to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi's footsteps (founders of the Franciscan movement). This emphasized that all is gift from God and we cannot hold anything back from praising God since God held nothing back from us in the gift of Jesus.
In her leisure time, Sue enjoys reading, going to movies, almost any variety, working on counted cross-stitch, watching Green Bay Packer games, socializing, and eating out especially at Macaroni Grill.
Jolaine joined the St. Richard staff in September of 2011 and quickly grew to LOVE her coworkers, volunteers, and parish. Prior to joining the staff here, she was the Youth Minister (senior high) at St. Mary's in Alexandria MN for four years, and the Director of Senior High Faith Formation at St. Hubert's in Chanhassen for 3 1/2 years. She received a B.A. in Liberal Arts for the Human Services with a Theatre Arts minor from the University of MN-Morris in 2003; then went on to receive a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from St. John's University in Collegeville in 2008.
Jolaine grew up on a dairy farm in central Minnesota (near Alexandria) and is the youngest of four children. Growing up she enjoyed theatre, baking, cross-stitch, crafts, picnics in the hay barn with friends, and playing with the dogs. She was also active in 4-H, and especially loved training and showing her golden retriever, Sadie. In high school and college she went on several mission trips including two in high school to Weslaco, TX where she volunteered at Holy Family Birthing Center where her aunt was a nurse/social worker. And two mission trips to Peru while in college, January of 2002 and the summer of 2003.
Jolaine became active in ministry in college when she started attending events at the UMM Newman Center, through the center she was active in social justice, women's ministry, liturgy, and retreats. It was in college that she learned of her passion and vocation in ministry. To Jolaine ministry is all about social justice and creating a loving and accepting environment for all of God's children. She loves getting to know people and listening to the life stories, and strives to accept people for who they are and where they are in their life journey.
Jolaine and her husband, Dan, were married in October 2009 and welcomed their daughter in February of 2011. They currently live in Richfield. When she's not at church Jolaine likes sewing, reading, cooking, couponing, movies, and walks at MOA…that is when she's not running after her daughter!
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jack has been in Minnesota for 45 years. He has been involved with repairing things his entire life. As a kid his father would scold him for wrecking even the things that were not broken. Jack worked on cars in high school and in the service was an aircraft hydraulic mechanic. He met Judy and stayed in Minnesota after his service years. He repaired household appliances for 17 years, then switched to building maintenance. He has now worked in the building maintenance field for over 26 years.
Jack joined St. Richard's 1966 while dating Judy Hanson (Judy's home parish since 1952). They were married here November 1970. Their children were baptized here and schooled here from 1974 to 1992.
He has served with the building and grounds committee since 1980; has been a church volunteer, Eucharistic minister, and Usher since 1980; was on staff as part time evening shift cleaning and building security from 1980 to 1982; has been active at festivals and functions since 1980; helped with ushers and servers from 1982 to 2009; Parish Trustee 2000-2002; and has been on the maintenance staff since 2002.
Travis Salisbury began his ministry with St. Richard's Catholic Community in December 2009 after six years in ministry at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. Raised in northern Minnesota, Travis moved to Minneapolis 12 years ago and has worked in administration for the Minnesota Orchestra, the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, and Plymouth Congregational Church of Minneapolis. At the Basilica of Saint Mary he served as the head sacristan and most recently as coordinator of liturgical celebrations.
An exceptionally deep love of liturgy and the worship of God in the celebration of the Eucharist characterizes Travis's ministry in the Church. At the Basilica of Saint Mary he greatly loved working with the community to deepen devotion in ministry and increase participation in the life of the church through prayer and study.
Travis grew up in Bemidji and is the oldest of four children. He is the companion to two adorable cats (Dory and Bomber) that definitely keep him on his toes. He enjoys reading and studying, time with friends, spending time outside in God's creation, exploring new restaurants, watching movies, and visiting houses of worship, specifically Catholic churches.
Betsy joined the staff as the choir director in the summer of 2002. She grew up in Richfield, where she attended Assumption grade school (one of the 'parent' schools of Blessed Trinity,) and Holy Angels. She went on to receive a B.A. in Liturgical Music and Piano Performance form the College of St. Benedict, and an M.A. in Liturgical Music (with an emphasis on vocal/choral music) from St. John's University.
Prior to coming to St. Richard's, Betsy served as the Director of Music at Mary, Mother of the Church (Burnsville) for 13 years and before that, as the Liturgist and Music Director at Corpus Christi parish (Roseville) for 6 years. During her time at Corpus Christi, Betsy married one of her volunteers, guitarist Mike Barrett. They now have two teenage sons, Jack and Charlie, who are also musical and who sometimes get roped into playing their brass instruments for special masses at St. Richard's.
Besides serving as the part-time music director at our parish, Betsy also teaches singing to future priests at the St. Paul Seminary, and sings professionally with the Minnesota Chorale.
