April 26, 2026 — Fourth Sunday of Easter

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, April 29, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Mass for Jim Nelson by Lein & Susan Schiller

Saturday, May 2 (First Communion), at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Carol Bolduc by Rita Chwialkowski

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

Next Eucharistic Adoration: May 3 from 1-5 p.m.

Liturgical Ministry

Note: No Tri-Parish weekday Masses held May 4-7

Special Prayers For

Jonathon Bolduc, Ron Jensen & Dennis Rousseau

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

April 19: $1,137.00 Adults: $1,100.00 Youth: $3.00 Plate: $34.00

Good Friday: $10.00 Easter: $170.00

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 28 donors as of April 15, 2026: $9,800 (97.71% of our goal)

Catholic Home Missions Appeal Support the Catholic Home Missions Appeal today! Nearly 40% of dioceses in the United States and its current and former territories are considered mission territories because they are unable to fund essential pastoral activities for their communities. Your support funds religious education, seminary formation, lay ministry training, and other programs that build vibrant faith communities right here in the United States. Please be generous. Find more information at www.usccb.org/home-missions.

Other Items and Future Events

Special Prayers Next month we will be celebrating First Eucharist and Graduate Recognition at St. Stephen’s. Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers as they are in their final days of preparation for these special events in their lives.

Thank you to our generous volunteer RE staff for all the time and effort given to the students of St. Stephen this RE season: Kristen Gajeski, Laura Efta, Katrina Halfmann, Emily Marquis, Katie Adolphson, and Sarah Marquis.

Salad Bar Luncheon The Catholic Daughters will host their annual Salad Bar Luncheon at St. Rose on Saturday, May 2. This year's theme is "God Bless America," and Michaela Sustad will share her inspirational story. There will be an assortment of salads and several raffle items. Please dress in red, white, and blue. Doors open at 11 o'clock and the luncheon starts at 11:30.

Real Presence Radio brings Christ into homes, cars, and workplaces across our region. Tune in on 92.5 FM / 1370 AM in Grand Forks or listen online at RealPresenceRadio.com. Be a part of the mission, and join us May 5-7 for our spring live drive!

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for April For priests in crisis Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Ladies Aid

April Ladies Aid Leaders – Elaine Anderson, Kathy Bazey, Mavis Benson, Traci Chwialkowski, Marlene Dowdle, Amber Kuznia, Cindy Kuznia, Annie Osowski, Judy Osowski, Becki Sczepanski, Katie Sczepanski, & Nicole Sczepanski

May Ladies Aid Leaders – Mindy Gerszewski, Brooke Grochowski, Mary Gryskiewicz, Amy Kowalski, Holly Kowalski, Mary Kowalski, Brittney Kuznia, Marilyn Kuznia, Sarah Marquis, & Danielle Szklarski

Knights of Columbus Council #3385

Thank You The Bishop Corbett Council #3385 would like to thank everyone who donated during our recent Tootsie Roll fundraiser drive. What a sweet way to help the Marshall County Group Home in Argyle, as proceeds are directed there.

Monthly Meeting Knights of Columbus members: Bishop Corbett Council #3385 will being having a monthly council meeting on Monday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Rose Parish Hall. Please make plans to attend as we will be reviewing scholarship applications.

Diocese of Crookston

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.

All Are Invited: A Missionary Moment for Our Diocese Bishop Cozzens has spoken often of the missionary moment that we are living through, including most recently at the 2026 Diocese of Crookston Chrism Mass. The Holy Spirit continues to work powerfully in our midst as we try to make the conversion of helping our parishes become mission centers. You have a role in this mission. Each of our parishes has a role. We need to continue to learn together how to do this. For this reason, Bishop Cozzens is pleased to invite all the faithful of the Diocese of Crookston to a special event. Matt Regitz and Fr. Nick Desimone from Divine Renovation will be presenting an evening address for the lay faithful on Tuesday, May 5, from 7:00–8:15 p.m. at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Bemidji. No RSVP is necessary — simply come.

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

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 by the end of May. In June, registration will open nationwide and 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.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ…’” Acts 2:38

The word “repent” means to turn from sin – to change our thoughts, words and actions. Change that is permanent comes from within – a transformation or conversion of heart. This requires prayer, discipline and perseverance. Change is hard. The first step is recognizing that we are broken and that we need God’s help. The good news – we are not alone in our journey. Ask Jesus daily for guidance and patiently listen for his response.