May 11, 2025 — 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 Ethan Marquis

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

Please contact Father Luis at 218-242-5689 to schedule an appointment.

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 by calling Father Luis 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, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. — †Mass for Judy Sten by Rita Chwialkowski

Friday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. — †Mass for JoAnn Kazmierczak by Eugene & Theresa Kuznia

Sunday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. — Mass for Tri-Parish Families of St. Stephen’s, St. Rose & Assumption Churches

(Rosary at 10:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration at St. Stephen’s – June 1 from 1-5 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for April, May & June, 2025

Special Prayers For

Pope Francis

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

May 4: $1,656.00 Adults: $1,320.00 Children: $4.00 Plate: $332.00

Easter: $20.00 Catholic Home Missions: $20.00 CRS Rice Bowls: $186.40

2024-2025 Budget for Sunday Offertory: $101,450 / 52 weeks = $1,950.96

2025 DAA as of April 30: St. Stephen’s Goal: $9,730 Committed by 32 donors: $7,630 (78.42% of our goal) $2,100 from our goal! Have you made a commitment to the 2025 DAA? If you have, thank you! If not, you can make a donation by placing it in a DAA envelope located in the vestibule and dropping it in the mail or in the Sunday collection, or you can donate online at www.crookston.org/DAA. Help us reach our goal. Thank you!

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.

Catholic Communication Campaign Next week our special collection supports the Catholic Communication Campaign. This campaign connects Catholics with Christ in the United States using the internet, television, radio, and print media. Half of the money we collect remains here in the Diocese of Crookston to fund local communications efforts. The other half supports the communication activities of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and some projects across the United States and abroad. Your support spreads the gospel message! Learn more at www.usccb.org/ccc.

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

Thank you to Lenore Pietruszewski for calling and organizing the breakfast last Sunday in the honor of our First Communicants. Thanks to Brittney Kuznia, Georgie Nelson, Lenore Pietruszewski, Autumn Schindele, and Danika Sundby for serving the event and to all those who provided the food for the breakfast. Thank you for serving others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.

May Ladies Aid Leaders – Donna Nelson, Doris Nelson, Georgie Nelson, Sheila Peterson & Lenore Pietruszewski

Other Items and Future Events

Thank you to our 2024-25 St Stephen’s volunteer RE teachers Laura Efta, Nicki Sczepanski, Emily Marquis, Katie Adolphson, and Sarah Marquis for a great season working with the students of St. Stephens. Also, a special thank you to volunteer teacher Katrina Halfmann for all the work in preparing our First Communion students.

NEEDED The Ladies Aid is in need of a President (or with a friend as Co-Presidents) for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. If you are willing to fill this position and have any questions about it, please contact Amy Kowalski as soon as possible at

218-478-4177. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Invite to Vacation Bible School at St. Patrick’s Church in Hallock - May 29-31 We would like to invite the children of your parish for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. This promises to be a fun-filled, faith-enriching experience for children of all ages, from kindergarten through grade 12. We are especially delighted to welcome two Benedictine nuns, Sister Laura and Sister Alice from St. Cloud who will be leading our VBS program again this year! If interested in attending, check out the flyer on the bulletin board.

Summer Mother Daughter Days Mother and their daughters are invited to join the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen in Hankinson, ND, this summer for a time of fun and faith while also having a glimpse into life as a Sister. Our theme this year is “Come, Follow Me.” We offer two sessions of “Mother Daughter Days,” each beginning Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and concluding around noon on Saturday. The dates are June 12-14 and July 10-12. To register, visit ndfranciscans.org/vocation-events or contact Sr. Mary Ruth for more information at (701) 242-7195 / srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org.

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. This year’s theme is “Come, Follow Me,” and our first weekend experience will be June 27-29. Visit ndfranciscans.org/vocation-events or contact Sr. Mary Ruth at srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org / (701) 242-7195.

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations Prayer cards are available in the vestibule.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for May For working conditions Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.

Prayer Cards for Pope Francis and the College of Cardinals are available in the vestibule. Please take one home and pray for Pope Francis and those who will embark on their sacred duty to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

Novena in Memory of Pope Francis Copies are available in the vestibule. Feel free to take a copy home.

Diocese of Crookston Announcements

Pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain, and France — June 16-June 27, 2026

Join Father Chuck Huck on an unforgettable pilgrimage through Portugal, Spain, and France from June 16-June 27, 2026. This 11-day journey promises to be a spiritual and cultural immersion, providing a unique opportunity to visit some of the most revered and historical sites in these magnificent countries. Fatima, Lourdes, and viewing two Eucharistic miracles are on the itinerary.

We will fly out of Minneapolis, ensuring a comfortable journey to Europe. The tour includes medical and dental insurance for peace of mind, and two meals per day to keep us nourished throughout our travels. Additionally, travelers under the age of 23 are eligible for a special rate, making this pilgrimage accessible for younger participants.

There is a savings of $300 if you sign up by June 10, 2025. This offer provides an excellent opportunity to join this remarkable pilgrimage at a reduced cost.

For more information and to sign up, visit educationaltravel.com/huck-3967 or contact Father Chuck directly at 218-329-6572. Do not miss this chance to embark on a spiritual journey that will enrich your life and deepen your faith.

“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52
The disciples heard Our Lord’s call and were able to spread the Gospel message with strength and vitality. We, too, can experience that

same joy if we make room for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts. When we use our gifts in the way that God intends, He fills us

with supernatural joy. A joy that others notice and are attracted to!

World Day of Prayer for Vocations