June 14, 2026 — Eleventh 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, June 17, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Linda Thompson by Jerry & Marilyn Kuznia

Saturday, June 20, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Daniel Pietruszewski by Ralph Krolak

(Rosary said prior to Mass at 4:30 p.m.)

Next Eucharistic Adoration: August 2 from 1-5 p.m.

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers

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

June 7: $1,698.00 Adults: $1,655.00 Youth: $2.00 Plate: $41.00

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.

Father’s Day Collection — June 21. Each year on Father’s Day we do a special collection for our Diocese of Crookston retired priests to assist with their health insurance premiums, continuing education, and other retirement expenses. Please be generous with the men who have been so generous with us!

Other Items and Future Events

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

New Life Mission Thank you to all who came together to encounter the Lord in prayer, listen to the Holy Spirit as we reflected honestly on our parish reality, and then filled out feedback forms to be returned to the diocesan leadership group. Each person’s form was sent directly there. Thank you to Amy Kowalski for serving refreshments hosted by our Ladies Aid.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Tammi Anderson and Katrina Halfmann for their faithful time spent on this mission.

Please continue to pray for our church as this mission continues to lead us daily guided by the Holy Spirit.

Thank you to Craig Halfmann and Wendell Pietruszewski for spraying at both the St. Stephen’s and Red River Cemeteries for dandelions. They look beautiful.

Cemetery Reminder Please remove all plants and memorial decorations that are sitting by the stones by June 15. It is impossible to keep the cemetery trimmed with these articles there. Thank you.

Council Meetings — June 18 — Pastoral at 7:00 p.m. and Finance at 7:30 p.m.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for June For the values of sports Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.

Ladies Aid

Thank you to Tammi Anderson and Renee Borowicz for organizing the lunch following Delores Kuznia’s funeral Mass. Thank you to all who brought the delicious salads and bars. Thanks to Tammi Anderson, Renee Borowicz, Arnette Borowicz, Sandy Kuznia, Lenore Pietruszewski, and Aggie Schindele for sharing your time to serve the lunch. May God continue to bless our hospitality ministry.

Bowls and Pans Please pick up your bowls and pans that are on a table in the vestibule. Once again thank you for sharing!

June Ladies Aid Leaders – Tammi Anderson, Kathy Borowicz, Renee Borowicz, Rita Chwialkowski, Kim Clark, Alison Grzadzieleski, Marilyn Hanson, Gerri Kuznia, Julie Kuznia, Sandra Kuznia (Duane), Theresa Kuznia, Juliet Rogus, Aggie Schindele, Autumn Schindele, & Danika Sundby

Diocese of Crookston

The RESCUE Project On October 10, 2026, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., at the Alerus Center Ballroom in Grand Forks, North Dakota, our Diocese will be holding Rescue Live. Presented by internationally known evangelist Fr. John Riccardo and his team from ACTS 29, a missionary ministry based in Detroit. Rescue Live will be a gathering of parishioners from across the Diocese of Crookston. Fr. Riccardo will share the Rescue Project, which proclaims the gospel in a compelling and attractive way, and Bishop Cozzens will lead us in prayer and adoration during the day.

Registration cards for Rescue Live are located as you enter the church. Please use the QR code on the back to register. Registration is now open nationwide, so it is important that you register soon so that everyone from our Diocese who wishes to go can attend. There is a $50 entrance fee which pays for lunch and refreshments.

Nazareth Retreat House — There are many retreats being offered at the Nazareth Retreat House in 2026. For more information or to register: https://crookston.org/attend-a-retreat

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 10:7

Many of us take our lives for granted. We think we have plenty of time to “repent.” Maybe we should live with a little more urgency in making things right with God. This is the difference in living our discipleship out of obligation versus out of love. Obligation implies we do the minimum required. Love implies we want a relationship. God wants us to be with him in heaven forever. But he also wants to be in a relationship with us right now, while we are on earth. Start this second — invite the Lord into your heart.