January 25, 2026 — 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 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, January 28, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Florent & Pauline Kalis by Linda Kalis

Friday, January 30, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Vi Halfmann by Jim & Renee Seibel

Sunday, February 1, at 10:30 a.m. — Mass for Tri-Parish Families of St. Stephen’s, St. Rose & Assumption Churches

(Rosary said prior to Mass at 10:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: February 1 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for January, February & March, 2026

Special Prayers For

Ron Jensen, Carol Sunsdahl, David Wesolowski and Joyce Woinarowicz

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

January 18: No Mass held

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.

Ladies Aid

January Ladies Aid Leaders – Katie Adolphson, Julie Bolduc, Arnette Borowicz, Britni Gajeski, Kim Gajeski, Katrina Halfmann, Marlys Halfmann, Nan Nelson, Barb Price, Connie Price & Carol Sunsdahl

Postponement of February 1 Parish Dinner Due to other events happening at this time, the parish dinner scheduled for February 1 has been postponed. Watch upcoming bulletins for updates.

Thank you to Britni Gajeski for all her time in organizing the Sue Anderson funeral. Also, thank you to Arnette Borowicz, Britni Gajeski, Kim Gajeski, Craig and Marlys Halfmann, Mary Kowalski, Darrin Kowalski, Vern Smith, and Danika Sundby for serving and cleaning up following the dinner and to all those who provided the delicious variety of food. Thank you also to Amy Kowalski, Mary Kowalski, and Linda Laudal for making all the bars for the prayer service. Because of all the caring and generous people of our parish family, we continue to be able to support others during difficult times. Thank you!

Other Items and Future Events

Our condolences to the family and friends of Sue Anderson, who was recently called home to the Lord. May she rest in the peace of Christ.

Knights of Columbus members: Bishop Corbett Council #3385 will being having a monthly council meeting on Monday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Rose Parish Hall. Aaron Kaiser, our local Knights of Columbus Field Agent will be present and making a presentation. Please make plans to attend.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for January For prayer with the Word of God Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

February 1 from 1-5 p.m.

Real Presence Radio Fundraising Banquets Come enjoy a night of faith and fellowship at Real Presence Radio’s Fundraising Banquets! Join them 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!

Diocese of Crookston

Men’s Silent Retreat — January 29-February 1 — This silent retreat led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens will consist of conferences each day aimed at helping you to relate and receive from God in the present, with daily Mass, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and plenty of opportunities for silence and solitude. In addition, there will be times of individual spiritual direction. There will be plenty of guidance in terms of how to be in the silence on retreat, so if this is your first silent retreat there is no need to fear.

Diocesan Cursillos Would you like to deepen your faith and let Jesus become more involved in your life? Let the Spirit lead you on a Cursillo. The Diocese of Crookston is offering a Men’s Cursillo on the weekend of February 19-22 and the Women’s Cursillo on the weekend of March 19-22 at the Nazareth Retreat House in Crookston. Applications are available at https://crookstoncursillo.weebly.com/.

Pre-Marriage Retreat — February 28-March 1 — All engaged couples are invited to come be Transformed in Love. On this weekend retreat, couples will learn about how God designed marriage to be a reflection of His love for humanity and how in marriage, couples get to participate in God’s absolute love. Couples will also learn practical tools for a healthy marriage while diving into a deeper understanding of the nature of marriage.  Engaged couples are invited to participate in relationship-building conversations and activities with their future spouse and hear firsthand marriage experiences from our Diocese of Crookston host couples.

Reason for Hope Retreat — March 7-8 — Are you a high schooler that is desiring to learn more about your faith? Have you had an encounter with the Lord that you desire to deepen? These retreats are for you! These 24-hour retreats are inspired by 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Mercy Hour for Middle-School and High School Youth: January 28, 2026, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

SAVE THE DATE — Screenstrong is coming to St. Michael’s School in Mahnomen — Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss this educational workshop for all parents and caregivers! Rethinking Screens – Reclaiming Kids – Reconnecting Families

“Till Death Do Us Part” — from 6:00 p.m. on March 16 through Noon on March 18, 2026 — A retreat designed specifically for widows or widowers who are on the journey of life after the death of a beloved spouse. For more info: call Beth at 218-281-4533 or email her at bschauer@crookston.org or register at crookston.org/attend-a-retreat.

Redeemed: A Call to Catholic Men We are so privileged to be welcoming to the Diocese of Crookston the Redeemed Men’s Retreat, presented by the John Paul II Healing Center and co-hosted by the Diocese of Fargo. This will be a powerful opportunity for spiritual renewal and brotherhood. This three-day experience is designed precisely for husbands, fathers, sons, grandfathers, and all men seeking to deepen their identity and purpose in Christ.

The retreat will take place right here in the Diocese of Crookston March 19–21, 2026 (the feast of St. Joseph!) at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN. If you have questions, email JPIIRetreatMoorheadMN@gmail.com. Registration is now open at jpiihealingcenter.org or scan the code found on flyer on bulletin board, and there are options both in person and via livestream so that every man can participate.