March 22, 2026 — Fifth 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 25, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Jeff Schindele by Jim & Aggie Schindele

Friday, March 27, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Lawrence Kuznia by Tom & Venita Rogus

Sunday, March 29, at 10:30 a.m. — Mass for the Tri-Parish Families of St. Stephen’s, St. Rose & Assumption Churches

(Note: We will meet in the basement prior to Mass for blessing of the palms and the procession. No Rosary said prior to Mass at 10:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: None in April

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

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

March 15: $6,676.92 Adults: $6,645.00 Youth: $2.92 Plate: $29.00

Ash Wednesday: $15.00 Catholic Relief Services: $395.00 Children’s Altar Donations: $9.00 Flowers: $405.00

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 by 18 donors as of March 11, 2026: $6,725.00 (60.29% of our goal)

Ladies Aid

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

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 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.

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.

Marriage Encounter Spring is a sign of new growth, begin tremendous new growth in your marriage by attending the April 18-19 Marriage Encounter. Weekends are held at Mt Olivet Retreat Center in Farmington. Register at: www.marriages.org. A “perfect marriage” is simply two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other! If you have any questions, please call Mary Jackson at: 651-454-3238.

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 22	March 23	March 24	March 25	March 26	March 27	March 28
Rosary at 10:00 a.m.; Mass at 10:30 a.m.			Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Bible Study Session at St. Stephen’s at 9:00 a.m.; *Lenten Penance Service at Assumption at 7:00 p.m.*		Mass at 8:30 a.m.
March 29	March 30	March 31	April 1	April 2	April 3	April 4
Mass at 10:30 a.m. (No Rosary said prior to Mass)	*Chrism Mass at the Cathedral at 6:30 p.m.*		Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Bible Study Session at St. Stephen’s at 9:00 a.m.; Sacred Sounds Concert at First Lutheran at 7:00 p.m.	Holy Thursday Mass at 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen’s	Good Friday Services at 3:00 p.m. at Assumption	Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00 p.m. at St. Rose

Easter Sunday Schedule:

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

Mercy Hour for Individuals and Families — 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: April 19 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Badger, MN.

Mercy Hour Service for Middle-School & High School Youth on Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in

Thief River Falls, MN.

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