St Stephens Catholic Church Stephen, Mn

St. Stephen's Catholic Church Stephen, Mn

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Website Contact: ststephens@wiktel.co m

Assumption Bulletin Website Contact: assumptionchurch@wiktel.com

December 22, 2024 — Fourth 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)

Youth Minister: Ethan Marquis

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

Please contact Father Luis at 218-242-5689 to schedule an appointment.

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 by calling Father Luis 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

Tuesday, December 24, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Daniel Pietruszewski by Rudy Rogus

Thursday, December 26, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Paul & Vi Halfmann by Craig & Marlys Halfmann

Saturday, December 28, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Raymond Kuznia by Tom & Marlene Dowdle

(Rosary said at 4:30 p.m. before Saturday Mass)

Eucharistic Adoration at St. Stephen’s – January 5 from 1-5 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for December, 2024

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. — St. Stephen’s

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — St. Rose

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. — Assumption

Tuesday and Friday Masses at 5:00 p.m. — St. Rose (no Mass on December 27)

Wednesday Mass at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s

Thursday Mass at 6:00 p.m. — Assumption

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

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

December 15: $1,344.00 Adults: $1,245.00 Children: $.00 Plate: $99.00

Thanksgiving: $100.00 Immaculate Conception: $5.00 Flowers: $355.00

2024-2025 Budget for Sunday Offertory: $101,450 / 52 weeks = $1,950.96

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.

Ladies Aid

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

Other Items and Future Events

NEEDED - Rosary Leaders Please call the parish office if you are willing to volunteer.

St. Stephen’s Church Advent Giving Project The parish Advent giving project is once again the St. Gianna & Pietro Molla Maternity Home. Please take a tag from the wall, pick up the item, and return it to the playpen in the vestibule.

2025 Church Calendars and Envelopes are now available. Pick yours up today.

Flower Donations can be dropped in the Sunday collection basket. Extra donation envelopes are located in the vestibule. Memorials will be published in December 29 bulletin.

Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast at St. Rose parish on Sunday, December 29, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for December For pilgrims of hope — We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Holiday Masses Schedule

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

December 25 (Christmas Day) – Assumption at 10:00 a.m.

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

December 31 (Eve of Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) – St. Rose at 4:30 p.m.; Assumption at 6:30 p.m.

January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) – St. Stephen’s at 8:30 a.m.

Diocese of Crookston Announcements

Mercy Hour Services Throughout the year, Bishop Andrew Cozzens will lead monthly Mercy Hour services across the Diocese of Crookston. Mercy Hours are services of Eucharistic healing for individuals, couples and families. Join Bishop Cozzens for this hour of adoration and prayer, culminating in an intimate moment of Eucharistic encounter. All are welcome! Next Mercy Hour: January 19 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Francis in Moorhead, MN.

Serra Club YOU ARE INVITED! Serra is an organization of Catholic men and women dedicated to the purpose of encouraging and fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The Diocese of Crookston’s Serra Club is an affiliate of Serra International. There are over six hundred individual, chartered clubs in thirty-six countries.

Our club members invite you to join and learn more about the Diocese of Crookston’s Serra Club. We meet over Zoom on the second Monday of each month at 8:00 p.m. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 13, 2025.

Access Serra Ministry for more details about the club. Contact Shawn Erickson, Crookston Diocese Serra Club President, at serickson@stjoesmhd.com for information and to be able to join our Zoom meetings.

“For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.” Luke 1:44

When you hear the scripture readings and Gospel reading at Mass, do you “leap for joy?” If not, don’t blame the lecturer or priest, rather look inside yourself. What are you doing to grow in friendship with Jesus? How do you prepare for Mass each week? Do you just show up and expect to be entertained? As the Body of Christ, we are called to be active participants, not just passive observers.

Peace and blessings
this Christmas
and throughout the new year.