From Fr. Griffith: After consultation with parish leadership, myself and The Comprehensive Assignment Board, Archbishop Hebda has assigned Deacon Ripperton Riordan to our parish. He will be joining us September 1st.
Deacon Rip Riordan is married to Lilly for over 40 years and they reside in Lake Elmo. He was ordained in 1998 and has many roles with the Archdiocese since 2001. However, if you ask him what his role is, he will say with a smile..."a priest's main role is inside sales and a deacon's main role is outside sales". Deacon Rip mentioned that a deacon is sent to the people, not just to the parish That is why my primary ministry has been with the dying, the suffering and those who have experienced a violent death of a loved one, as the Department Chaplain at the St. Paul Police Department or previously holding the hand of those in Hospice at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home in St. Paul.
Deacon Rip serves full-time on Archbishop Hebda's staff as the Director of Clergy Personnel with a background in Formation, Ministerial Standards and serving the Advocate for the survivors of Clergy Abuse. Prior to joining the Archdiocese, he stepped down as the President/ COO of Clear Chanel TV, Inc. a public company that owned many television and radio stations. He was based in NE Minneapolis on Broadway Street NE where he was the former VP/General Manager of WFTC-TV.
Lilly was the co-founder of Safe Place for Newborns and was successful in a grass roots initiative that lead Minnesota to be the first state in creating save haven laws and resources for those women who are in a crisis with a newborn baby. She also enjoys facilitating Bible Study Groups for woman.