February 23, 2025 — Seventh 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)

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

Wednesday, February 26, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Dorothy Woinarowicz by Rita Chwialkowski

Sunday, March 2, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †James Nelson by Don & Kathy Kuznia

(Rosary said at 8:00 a.m. before Sunday Mass)

Eucharistic Adoration at St. Stephen’s – March 2 from 1-5 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for March, 2025

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. — Assumption

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. — St. Rose

Tuesday Mass at 5:00 p.m. — St. Rose

Wednesday Mass at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s (Exception: Ash Wednesday Mass at 7:30 a.m.)

Thursday and Friday Masses at 6:00 p.m. — Assumption

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

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

February 16: Data not available at this time

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

February Ladies Aid Leaders – Mindy Gerszewski, Mary Gryskiewicz, Marilyn Kuznia & Danielle Szklarski

March Ladies Aid Leaders – Kristin Gajeski, Linda Laudal, Jodi Szczepanski & Dana Woinarowicz

Other Items and Future Events

PLEASE NOTE -- Eucharistic Cup Due to all of the viruses at this time, we will not be offering the cup until further notice. Only the host will be distributed.

Six weeks of Lenten Group Study at St. Stephen’s A video series for New Life!

Join our Bishop Andrew Cozzens for a study on the foundations of our Diocesan Pastoral Vision. What is this series about? The series is comprised of four video sessions running about 80 minutes with prayer, inspiration, testimony and time for sharing faith. Bishop Andrew Cozzens will address various elements of the New Life pastoral letter. Hosts will guide viewers through each session and Catholics from the Diocese of Crookston will also provide brief personal testimonies.

Please join us on Wednesdays, March 12-April 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church. If you have any questions, please contact Tammi Anderson (218-478-4217), Marilyn Kuznia (218-478-4273), or Katrina Halfmann (218-280-2388). Come for one, two, three, more or all of the sessions! Everyone is welcome, and hospitality will be provided! We hope to see you there!

Come & See Do you sometimes wonder: What is it like in Convent? Am I called to Religious Life? What is the Franciscan charism? Come & See with the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen in Hankinson, ND. This year’s theme is “Come, Follow Me,” and our first weekend experience will be March 28-30. Visit ndfranciscans.org/vocation-events or contact Sr. Mary Ruth at srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org / (701) 242-7195.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for February For vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life.

March 2	March 3	March 4	March 5	March 6	March 7	March 8
Rosary at 8:00 a.m.; Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Eucharistic Adoration 1:00-5:00 p.m. *Pick up your Lenten Rice Bowls today!*			*Ash Wednesday* Mass at St. Stephen’s at 7:30 a.m.; St. Rose at 5:30 p.m.; Assumption at 7:30 p.m.		.
March 9	March 10	March 11	March 12	March 13	March 14	March 15
Rosary at 8:00 a.m.; Mass at 8:30 a.m.			Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Lenten Study Sessions at St. Stephen’s at 9:00 a.m. (following Mass); Lenten Soup & Sandwich Supper (hosted by the Ladies Aid) 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.

Diocese of Crookston Announcements

Mercy Hour Throughout the year, Bishop Cozzens will lead monthly Mercy Hours across the diocese. Mercy Hours are services of healing for marriages and families — married, single, divorced, widowed — every person belongs to a family and has a place in this experience. Mercy Hours include exposition/adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a talk by Bishop Cozzens, prayers and intercessions, music and prayer stations all culminating in an intimate moment of a Eucharistic encounter offered for you as an individual, a couple or as a family. For more information, visit crookston.org/revival. Next Mercy Hour: February 23 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hallock at 3 p.m.

2025 Diocesan Annual Appeal Thank you for your generosity to the Diocesan Annual Appeal! The ministries you support touch the lives of thousands of Catholics in the Diocese of Crookston. If you have not had the opportunity to make your commitment, please make your pledge or gift this weekend. You can donate online at www.crookston.org/DAA. For questions about automatic sustained giving, which is highly recommended, contact Renee Tate at rtate@crookston.org or call 218-281-4533, ext. 432.

YOUR GIFTS MAKE CHRIST’S LOVE PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITY!

“But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend without expecting anything back…” Luke 6:35

Easier said than done, right? But, if we are to imitate Christ, most of us need to practice mercy and compassion more frequently.

Start with the little daily annoyances that we experience, the unkind word or hateful glance we receive. Instead of plotting revenge on that person, try saying a quick prayer for that person. Praying for our enemies doesn’t change them, it changes us. Mercy and compassion will keep us on the path to holiness.