November 16, 2025 — Thirty-third 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 Paul Rogus

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

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 Father Luis 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 Father Luis.

St. Stephen’s Church Mass Schedule

Wednesday, November 19, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Adelle Kostrzewski by Rick & Priscilla Steinke

Sunday, November 23, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Jeanne Silewski by Tom Silewski

(Rosary at 8:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: December 7 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

Sue Anderson and David Wesolowski

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

November 9: $1,603.00 Adults: $1,540.00 Youth: $1.00 Plate: $62.00.00

World Mission Sunday: $5.00 Archdiocese Military Collection: $92.00

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.

2025 DAA as of November 5 St. Stephen’s Goal: $9,730.00 Committed: $11,115.00 (114.23% 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!

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.

Other Items and Future Events

Book of Remembrance During the month of November you are invited to inscribe the names of your deceased family and friends in our Book of Remembrance. They will be remembered at Mass and in our prayers throughout the month.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord.

And may perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

SCAM NOTICE! If any parishioners have received any text or e-mail message from Father Luis or Reverend Luis asking you to buy from online stores or requesting money, please delete it IMMEDIATELY because it is a SCAM. Thanks. — Fr. Luis

Thank you to our generous teachers who volunteered to serve the St. Stephen’s RE students this year: Kristen Gjeski, Laura Efta, Katrina Halfmann, Emily Marquis, Katie Adolphson, and Sarah Marquis.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for November For the prevention of suicide Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

Area Food Shelf is open every second Tuesday each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at St. Rose Church in Argyle.

Real Presence Radio Fundraising Banquets Come enjoy a night of faith and fellowship at Real Presence Radio’s Fundraising Banquets! Join them in Grand Forks with Keynote Speaker Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers on Thursday, December 2, 2025, or in Fargo with Keynote Speaker Dr. David Andes on Monday, February 2, 2026. Reserve your spot today by scanning the QR code on the flyer in vestibule or call Sunshine Diem at 701-960-0453 for details!

A Biblical Walk Through the Mass

[Liturgy is] the privileged setting in which God speaks to us in the midst of our lives; he speaks today to his people, who hear and respond. Every liturgical action is by its very nature steeped in sacred Scripture. ...From Scripture the petitions, prayers and liturgical hymns receive their inspiration and substance. From Scripture the liturgical actions and signs draw their meaning. – Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 52.

Join us at St. Stephen’s Church for a study by Dr. Edward Sri titled A Biblical Walk Through the Mass. It is a scriptural tour through the prayers, hymns, and rituals of the Liturgy. Practically every part of the Mass finds its inspiration in Scripture, as Pope Benedict XVI has noted. After providing a general overview of the Mass, this study devotes a session to each of the major sections of the Mass: the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rites. Readings from the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) draw participants into the meaning and background of the prayers and other elements of the Mass.

We will meet at 9:00 a.m. following 8:30 a.m. Mass in the St. Stephen’s Church basement on Wednesday, November 19. The format will follow past studies with prayer, video, and small group discussion. Refreshments will be served! All are welcome to attend one, some, or all the sessions.

Please contact Tammi Anderson (218-478-4217) or Marilyn Kuznia (218-478-4273) if you have any questions.

Ladies Aid

November Ladies Aid Leaders – Elaine Anderson, Kathy Bazey, Mavis Benson, Kathy Borowicz, Traci Chwialkowski, Marlene Dowdle, Amber Kuznia, Cindy Kuznia, Annie Osowski, Judy Osowski, Becki Sczepanski, Katie Sczepanski & Nicole Sczepanski

Diocese of Crookston

Mercy Hour for Individuals and Families Join Bishop Andrew Cozzens for this hour of adoration and prayer, culminating in an intimate moment of Eucharistic encounter offered for you as an individual, a couple, or as a family. All are welcome. Next Mercy Hour with Bishop Cozzens: November 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Park, Minnesota.

Mercy Hour for Middle-School & High School Youth: December 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fosston, Minnesota.

Undone: Freedom for the Feminine Heart (Women’s Healing Retreat), November 20-22, 2025 The Dioceses of Fargo and Crookston are sponsoring the Undone Women’s retreat offered by the John Paul II Healing Center. This two evening (Thursday, Friday) and Saturday retreat will provide women with an authentic encounter with Mary’s model of radical receptivity to the Lord and will be an experience of truth, beauty, and transformation. Bring yourself, your mother, your sister, your adult daughters and friends. This is a weekend you won’t want to miss! Presented by the John Paul II Healing Center, and sponsored by the Diocese of Fargo and Diocese of Crookston, this event will be held at Stes. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo. The retreat is being offered in person OR virtually via livestream! Register online for either experience at https://fargodiocese.net/undone. Registration opens August 18th. Scholarships, student and missionary discounts available. Contact JPIIretreatFargoND@gmail.com for more information.

Catholic Men — Are you Ready? Becoming the Man God Created You to Be You are being called to join us for a three-day retreat for Catholic men November 21-23 at the Nazareth Retreat House in Crookston, MN. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. Friday; first talk at 9:30 a.m.; ends about Noon on Sunday. Cost: $300 (includes accommodations and meals To Register: Call 605-929-2551 or email ecclesiaretreats@ecclesiadomestica.net or online at www.ecclesiadomestica.net or scan QR code from poster on the bulletin board. For more info, check out the poster or grab a brochure from the vestibule.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

“…Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:9

Most people who live a grateful and generous lifestyle don’t go around bragging about it. But through their words and actions, others do take notice. They notice because of the joy and peace that results and others desire this in their own life. Know that the way you live your life may be the only interaction others may have with our Catholic faith.