July 13, 2025 — Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Stephen’s Church, Stephen

515 Fifth Street, P.O. Box 507, Stephen, MN 56757

Phone: 218-478-2231 ststephens@wiktel.com www.wiktel.net/ststephens

Pastor: Father Luis Buitron lbuitron@wiktel.com Phone: 218-242-5689

Parish Secretary: Priscilla Steinke

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday — 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

(closed all holy days of obligation and holidays)

Pastoral Council: Kristin Gajeski, Katrina Halfmann, Autumn Schindele, and Danika Sundby

Finance Council: Alex Anderson, Daniel Gerszewski, and Darrin Kowalski

Trustees: Todd Chwialkowski and Ethan Marquis

Diocesan Victim Assistance If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual misconduct on the part of a priest, deacon, or individual representing the Diocese of Crookston, its parishes, or its schools, your first call should be to law enforcement. In addition, the diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator is available at 218-281-7895 (24-hour confidential number).

Project Rachel Ministry: Healing After Abortion The Project Rachel ministry is offered to women and men who have had a past experience with abortion and wish to seek healing and reconciliation. A trained counselor can be reached through this confidential phone number (218‑470‑0112) on Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-Noon.

New to the area? Please contact the parish office to register. Change of address/phone number. Please contact the parish office.

Knights of Columbus members: If you have insurance questions, please contact Field Agent Aaron Kaiser at 218-280-4707 or by email at Aaron.kaiser@kofc.org.

Mission Statement of St. Stephen’s Church

We the community of St Stephen’s are believers in Jesus Christ; striving to proclaim His Gospel in word and in deed. Through worship, evangelization, formation and service we invite our brothers and sisters to know the Lord.

The Sacramental Life

Note: Father Luis will be unavailable from June 15-July 25. Please contact another priest for these sacraments.

Baptism: Pre-baptism class is required for parents.

Reconciliation: available before Saturday evening Mass: 4:30-5:00 p.m.; before Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass: 8:00-8:30 a.m.; or call a priest for an appointment. No Reconciliation before 10:30 a.m. Mass. If you are homebound or handicapped, call a priest for an in-home appointment.

Marriage: All Catholics who have made a decision to enter into marriage must meet with a priest six months before the proposed wedding date. If a Catholic is contemplating marriage to a non-Catholic, the Catholic must still contact a priest to fill the requirements of the Catholic Church for the marriage to be validly recognized by the Catholic Church.

Pastoral Visit/Anointing of the Sick: If you or a family member would like to receive a home visit, the Holy Eucharist for the homebound, or the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please call a priest.

St. Stephen’s Church Mass Schedule

Saturday, July 19, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Rita Stich Wehking by Theresa Kuznia

(Rosary at 4:30 p.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: August 3 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for July, August & September, 2025

Special Prayers For

Vern Smith & Linda Thompson

To add a name to the prayer list — ask their permission first, then contact the parish office. Names are left on the list for four weeks. If you want a name kept on the prayer list, call the parish office for an additional four weeks.

Prayer Chain Please call the parish office with prayer requests.

Prayer Blankets Please contact Theresa Kuznia if you know of anyone who needs comfort and prayers and would like a prayer blanket from the Ladies Aid.

Stewardship of Treasure

July 6: Data not available at this time

2025-2026 Budget for Sunday Offertory: $101,630 / 52 weeks = $1,954.42

Donations while away for the weekend When you are away from Stephen for weekend Mass you can still give to your home parish by dropping your donation envelope in the collection basket at the church where you are attending Mass and it will be mailed back to St. Stephen’s. OR Did you know that St. Stephen’s Church has the option for automatic debit from a checking or savings account? Contact the parish office at 218‑478‑2231 to set this up.

Building Repair Fund If you wish to make a donation or memorial, we have the Building Repair Fund. Funds are used to maintain and make repairs and updates in the church, rectory and grounds.

2025 DAA as of July 1: St. Stephen’s Goal: $9,730 Committed: $9,930 (102.06% of our goal)! Have you made a commitment to the 2025 DAA? If you have, thank you! If not, you can make a donation by placing it in a DAA envelope located in the vestibule and dropping it in the mail or in the Sunday collection, or you can donate online at www.crookston.org/DAA. Help the Diocese of Crookston reach their goal. Thank you!

Peter’s Pence Collection Today is the Peter’s Pence Collection, a worldwide collection that supports the work of the Universal Church, including the work of the Holy See and the charitable works of Pope Leo. Take this opportunity to join with Pope Leo to be a sign of mercy to our suffering brothers and sisters. Please be generous today. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/peters-pence.

Other Items and Future Events

Our condolences to the family and friends of Michael “Mike” Russell, who was recently called home to the Lord and buried in the St. Stephen’s Cemetery. May he rest in the peace of Christ.

Vacation Father Luis left on June 15 after Mass and will be returning July 25. There will be no weekday Masses. As of July 1, 2025, Father Xavier Illango at Stes. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Warren and Father Maschio Mascarenghas of St. Patrick’s Church in Hallock will be the on-call priests.

Deepen Your Faith Beyond Sunday Catholic radio is here to accompany you every day of the week, not just on Sundays. Tune in to Real Presence Radio for inspiring conversations, solid Catholic teaching, and encouragement to live your faith fully. Listen on the radio - 92.5/1370, online at RealPresenceRadio.com, or on our free mobile app.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for July For formation in discernment Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life, and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

Ladies Aid

July Ladies Aid Leaders – Julie Bolduc, Arnette Borowicz, Britni Gajeski, Kim Gajeski & Nan Nelson

Diocese of Crookston

Pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain, and France Join Father Chuck Huck on an unforgettable pilgrimage through Portugal, Spain, and France from June 16-June 27, 2026. This 11-day journey promises to be a spiritual and cultural immersion, providing a unique opportunity to visit some of the most revered and historical sites in these magnificent countries. Fatima, Lourdes, and viewing two Eucharistic miracles are on the itinerary.

We will fly out of Minneapolis, ensuring a comfortable journey to Europe. The tour includes medical and dental insurance for peace of mind, and two meals per day to keep us nourished throughout our travels. Additionally, travelers under the age of 23 are eligible for a special rate, making this pilgrimage accessible for younger participants.

Copies of an agenda are available in the vestibule. For more information and to sign up, visit educationaltravel.com/huck-3967 or contact Father Chuck directly at 218-329-6572. Do not miss this chance to embark on a spiritual journey that will enrich your life and deepen your faith.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:37

This was Jesus’ command at the end of the Good Samaritan story. Did you know that the Samaritans and Jews despised each other? The moral of the story is to love our neighbor. That means loving someone you may not know, or someone that looks different than you, or someone that has different beliefs than you, or someone that you don’t like. All without expecting anything in return.