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
Weekends
Saturday at 5:00 p.m. — St.
Rose
Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — Assumption
Sunday at 10:30 a.m. — St.
Stephen’s
Weekdays
Tuesday Mass at 5:00 p.m.
— St. Rose
Wednesday and Friday Masses
at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s
Thursday Mass at 6:00
p.m. — Assumption
Liturgical
Ministry
Sunday,
May 18, at 10:30 a.m.
Lectors — Annika A.
Altar Servers — Annika A.
& Ashley A.
Eucharistic Ministers — Darin
A. & Amy K.
Greeters — David &
Kim C.
Rosary Leader for May — Rita
C.
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