December 14, 2025 — Third Sunday of Advent

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 the 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, December 17, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Matt Kuznia by Gerri Kuznia

Sunday, December 21, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Eugene Kuznia by Theresa Kuznia & Family

(Rosary said privately prior to Mass. Choir practice at 8:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: January 4 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for October, November & December, 2025

Special Prayers For

Sue Anderson, Ron Jensen, 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

December 7: $2,332.00 Adults: $1,955.00 Youth: $2.00 Plate: $375.00

Immaculate Conception: $100.00

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.

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.

Retirement Fund for Religious They gave their lives in service — now they need your help. For decades, women and men religious have cared for others, teaching, praying, and serving those in need. Many now face retirement without sufficient savings. Your support ensures they receive the care they deserve. Let us now offer them the dignity they have so selflessly granted to others. Your generosity today is not just a donation — it’s a way of thanking them for their lifelong service. Please give to the Retirement Fund for Religious.

Other Items and Future Events

Church Decorating at St. Stephen’s for Christmas We will gather after Mass on December 14 to decorate. All are invited to help!

Stephen Lions Club Burger Night — Wednesday, December 17 — serving from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Stephen American Legion. Register for the meat raffle. Fundraiser proceeds going to the Old Home Town Museum to replace the Tamarac Mac wood carving.

Christmas Gift Bags We invite all St. Stephen’s parishioners and Knights of Columbus members to come and join in this annual gift giving event. On Saturday, December 20, at 9:00 a.m., we will gather in the church basement to prepare and deliver gift bags for shut-ins. Hope to see you there!

St. Stephen’s Choir will sing at Masses on December 21 and December 25. We will practice on December 21 at 8:00 a.m. before Mass.

Christmas Program and Brunch Potluck will be held at St. Stephen’s on December 21.

2026 Donation Envelopes and Calendars are now available in the vestibule. Please pick yours up today!

Flower Donation Envelopes can be placed in the donations box or Sunday collection basket.

Advent Gift Giving Project We will once again be donating to the Saint Gianna & Pietro Molla Maternity Home in Minto, ND. This Christmas season they will likely have three moms, each with a baby, and they are going to do as much outreach to former moms as they can to really try uplift them and make them feel loved this Christmas. They would be so grateful for any donation that may help them this Holiday season. Some ways that you could help them would be with gift cards for things like haircuts, nails, gas, groceries, Walmart, Target, Hugo's, Hornbacher's or restaurants. Any gift cards or monetary donations should be placed in an envelope marked “Saint Gianna & Pietro Molla Maternity Home Gift Giving Project” and placed in the vestibule donations box or in the Sunday collection basket. Other items purchased can be put in the St. Gianna’s box or playpen located in the vestibule. Thank you in advance for the gift of giving.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for December For Christians in areas of conflict. Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.

“You too must be patient. Make you hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:8

Patience is another one of those things many of us struggle with. We want things to go according to our plan and our schedule; we like things to be convenient. Any change brings anxiety and fear. Through daily prayer God reveals to us what He wants us to do with the gifts He has given us. We are able to better align ourselves with God’s will and His plan, which is far better than anything we can come up with on our own.

Tri-Parish Holy Days of Obligation/Holiday Schedule:

December 17, Tri-Parish Advent Penance Service – St. Rose at 7:00 p.m.

December 24, Christmas Eve – St. Rose at 5:00 p.m.; St. Stephen’s at 7:00 p.m.; Assumption at 9:30 p.m.

December 25, Christmas – St. Stephen’s at 10:00 a.m.

December 26, Feast of St. Stephen – St. Stephen’s at 8:30 a.m.

December 31, Solemnity of Mary Eve – Assumption at 5:00 p.m.; St. Stephen’s at 7:00 p.m.

January 1, Solemnity of Mary – St. Rose at 10:00 a.m.

Ladies Aid

As time is flying by, our December parish activities will soon be here. Dates and activities:

· Parish gift bags and visits for our shut-ins will be done once again this Advent/Christmas Season by St. Stephen’s and the Knights of Columbus Council #3385 on December 20 at 9:00 a.m. Parishioners are asked to bring items to fill them ASAP and place them in the labeled container in the vestibule. Examples: juice boxes, fruit cups, snack cracker packets, small Kleenex packets, etc.

· Christmas program and potluck brunch on December 21.

December Ladies Aid Leaders – Sue Anderson, Mindy Gerszewski, Brooke Grochowski, Mary Gryskiewicz, Amy Kowalski, Holly Kowalski, Mary Kowalski, Brittney Kuznia, Marilyn Kuznia, Sarah Marquis & Danielle Szklarski

Diocese of Crookston

Mercy Hour for Middle-School & High School Youth: December 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Fosston, Minnesota.

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: January 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee, Minnesota.

Bemidji March for Life The St. Gianna’s Group of St. Philip’s in Bemidji will be hosting the annual Bemidji March for Life on Saturday, January 24, 2026, beginning at Noon in front of the Beltrami County Courthouse. The local March for Life is sponsored by the St. Gianna’s ministry and the Bemidji Knights of Columbus.