March 1, 2026 — Second Sunday of Lent

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, March 4, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Fr. Richard “Rick” Lambert by Jerry & Marilyn Kuznia

Friday, March 6, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Denis McGee by Rita Chwialkowski

Sunday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. — Mass for the Tri-Parish Families of St. Stephen’s, St. Rose & Assumption Churches

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

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

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

Todd Bazey, Jonathon Bolduc, Penny Jensen, Ron Jensen, 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

February 22: $1,368.00 Adults: $1,255.00 Youth: $.00 Plate: $113.00

Ash Wednesday: $597.00 Black & Indian Missions: $256.00 February Direct Deposits: $440.00

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.

2026 DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL: IN CHRIST, WE ARE ONE! Thank you for your support of the Diocesan Annual Appeal! Your generous gift, joined with others, gives encouragement, strength, and purpose to our family of faith. 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, contact Renée Tate at rtate@crookston.org or call

218-281-4533, ext. 432. Your gifts shine the love of Christ to every corner of our diocese! — St. Stephen’s Goal: $11,155 Committed as of February 11, 2026: $2,415.00

Ladies Aid

Thank you to Laura Efta for organizing the Soup and Sandwich Supper and Stations of the Cross held this past Wednesday, to all of the Ladies Aid members who provided and served the delicious food, and to those who assisted with the Stations. We pray that God continues to bless our parish with these wonderful Lenten traditions.

The free-will offerings of $147 were donated to the St. Stephen’s Building Repair Fund.

March Ladies Aid Leaders – Kristin Gajeski, Donna Laudal, Linda Laudal, Donna Nelson, Doris Nelson, Georgie Nelson, Sheila Peterson, Lenore Pietruszewski, Jodi Szczepanski, & Dana Woinarowicz.

Other Items and Future Events

Our condolences to the family and friends of Jim Schindele, who was recently called home to the Lord. May he rest in the peace of Christ.

Extra Flower Donation Envelopes are located in the vestibule. If you would like to donate toward the flowers, please drop your donation envelope in the Sunday collection basket.

CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in every diocese throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For more information, please visit: www.crsricebowl.org. Rice bowls are now available. Please take one home and return it by the April 9^th collection date.

No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion Join us this Lenten Season at St. Stephen’s Church for a study by Dr. Edward Sri titled No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk Through Christ’s Passion. This is more than a Bible study. It is a biblical pilgrimage that reveals Christ’s amazing love for us. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays — March 4, 11, 25, and April 1. The format will follow past studies with prayer, video, and small group discussion. Refreshments will be served! All are welcome to attend one, some, or all of the sessions! Please contact Tammi Anderson (218-478-4217) or Marilyn Kuznia

(218-478-4273) if you have any questions.

Prayer Before the Crucifix - a Lenten Retreat with St. Francis of Assisi — Weekend held Friday, March 6, 7:15 p.m. to Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m. This Lent, as we prepare for Holy Week, the Hankinson Franciscans invite you to come away for a weekend of reflection. During this special year of St. Francis, we will pray with this beloved saint of Assisi, delving into his spirituality and learning from his touching example of love for Christ Crucified. The weekend includes presentations, opportunities for small group sharing (optional), time for prayer and reflection, and more! The suggested donation is $200 for the weekend (covering room and board as well as programming). Please register as soon as possible, preferably before March 3rd. You may also call or email Sr. Christina for more information at (701) 242-7195 or sr.christinaosf@gmail.com.

Tri-Parish Lenten Penance Service at Assumption on March 25 at 7:00 p.m.

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. Our next weekend experience will be March 27-29, 2026.

Visit ndfranciscans.org/vocation-events or contact Sr. Mary Ruth at srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org / (701) 242-7195.

Journey with us to prepare for Easter Take time to reflect and grow by listening to Real Presence Radio. Our local programming offers prayerful conversations, teachings, and stories that help you enter the season with intention. Tune in on 92.5 FM / 1370 AM in Grand Forks or listen online at RealPresenceRadio.com.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for March For disarmament and peace Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

Rosary at 10:00 a.m.; Mass at 10:30 a.m.;

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

Mass at 8:30 a.m.;

Bible Study Session at St. Stephen’s at 9:00 a.m.; Lenten Soup & Sandwich Supper (hosted by the Knights of Columbus) 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.

Mass at 8:30 a.m.

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

Rosary at 10:00 a.m.; Mass at 10:30 a.m.;

Mercy Hour with Bishop Cozzens at St. Rose Church at 3:00 p.m.

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Mass at 8:30 a.m.;

Bible Study Session at St. Stephen’s at 9:00 a.m.; Lenten Soup & Sandwich Supper (hosted by the Ladies Aid) 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.

Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Holy Week Schedule:

Sun., Mar. 29 (Palm Sunday) — Mass at St. Stephen’s at 10:30 a.m. (No Rosary at 10:00 a.m. – people meet in the basement for blessing of palms and procession)

Mon., Mar. 30 — Chrism Mass at the Crookston Cathedral at 6:30 p.m.

Wed., Apr. 1 — Mass at 8:30 a.m.; No Stations of the Cross

Thurs., Apr. 2 (Holy Thursday) — Mass at St. Stephen’s at 7:00 p.m.

Fri., Apr. 3 (Good Friday) — Good Friday Service at Assumption at 3:00 p.m.

Sat., Apr. 4 (Holy Saturday) — Mass at St. Rose at 8:00 p.m.

Sun., Apr. 5 (Easter) — Masses at St. Stephen’s at 8:30 a.m. (No Rosary at 8:00 a.m.) and Assumption at 10:30 a.m.

Diocese of Crookston

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

Reason For Hope Retreat — March 7 at 2:00-March 8 at 2:00 p.m. — 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”.

“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.

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 Women’s Cursillo on the weekend of March 19-22. Applications are available at https://crookstoncursillo.weebly.com/.

Mercy Hour Service for Individuals and Families 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: March 8 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Rose Church in Argyle, MN.

Mercy Hour Service for Middle-School & High School Youth on Wednesday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Moorhead, MN.

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.

Come and join the Knights of Columbus

on Wednesday, March 4, for a Lenten Soup and Sandwich Supper from

5:30-6:30 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.