August 24, 2025 — Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

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 a 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, August 27, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Ted Chwialkowski by John & Linda Meek

Saturday, August 30, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †Vi Halfmann by Jim & Renae Seibel

(Rosary at 4:30 p.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration: September 7 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

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

August 17: $815.00 Adults: $740.00 Youth: $.00 Plate: $75.00

Assumption: $612.00

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.

2025 DAA as of August 20 St. Stephen’s Goal: $9,730 Committed: $10,655 (109.51% of 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 the Diocese of Crookston reach their goal. Thank you!

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.

Other Items and Future Events

NEEDED!

A few individuals (at least two) to volunteer their time to count the weekend collections.
An individual to wash and iron altar linens (this is done about every 6-8 weeks).

Please call the office for more information.

Real Presence Radio — Our Fall Live Drive is Here! Join us September 9-11, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, for Real Stories, Real People, and Real Faith on your local Catholic radio station. Support Real Presence Radio by tuning in at 92.5 FM / 1370 AM, calling 877-795-0122, or scanning the QR codes to give!

Days of Reflection We are excited to announce Days of Reflection at St. Francis Retreat Center in Hankinson, ND, facilitated by Sr. Mary Ruth Huhn, OSF! This coming year (2026) is the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death. The days of reflection will serve as a spiritual pilgrimage to significant sites in the Assisi and the Umbrian valley. They may be attended in-person or online. The September Day of Reflection (Sept. 20) is entitled: Going Forth, Going Within Retreat. Details: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (includes lunch); suggested donation is $30; register online at https://forms.office.com/r/qvVtezHnt9 or contact Sr. Mary Ruth with questions: srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org or 701-242-7195. Informational flyer is located on the bulletin board.

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for August For mutual coexistence Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons.

Ladies Aid

August Ladies Aid Leaders – Carmen Beauclair, Carol Riley, Sam Roets, Donna Safranski & Priscilla Steinke

Thank you to Carmen Beauclair, Carol Riley and Priscilla Steinke for calling and serving the Leonard Jacobson funeral dinner and to all of those who provided the delicious food. Thank you to the Lazarean Committee for preparing and serving the delightful bars and coffee following the Rosary. The family was very thankful for these services by our parish women. Thank you.

Thank you to Carmen Beauclair, Carol Riley and Priscilla Steinke for hosting the parish gathering after Mass last Saturday evening and to Carol Riley for providing the food for the event. We had a very nice number of people in attendance for this fellowship get-together.

2025-2026 Booklets will be coming out in September.

Diocese of Crookston

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Full-time Director for the Nazareth Retreat House Are you passionate about retreat ministry, hospitality, and leading others into deeper encounters with Christ? The Diocese of Crookston is seeking a full-time Director for Nazareth Retreat House — a sacred space where lives are changed and Christ is intimately encountered. This is more than a job — it’s a mission-driven leadership role ideal for someone with strong organizational skills, a heart for spiritual renewal, and a desire to grow a vibrant diocesan ministry.

Location: Crookston, MN

Start Date: Negotiable (Interviews begin in September) Apply by sending a cover letter, resume, and references to: jgergen@crookston.org

Healthcare Ambassador – Crookston, MN Do you have a healthcare background? Do you love your Catholic faith and have a desire to help priests set and meet healthy living goals? Our diocese is seeking applications for a unique, part-time, mission-driven position dedicated to providing essential healthcare navigation and support for our clergy. This role does not require hands-on clinical care. Please submit your resume to vsheaffer@metacareusa.com For more information, scan the QR Code:

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 September 25-28 and a Men’s Cursillo on the weekend of October 23-26 at the Crookston Pastoral Center. Applications are available at https://crookstoncursillo.weebly.com/.

Undone: Freedom for the Feminine Heart (Women’s Healing Retreat), November 20-22, 2025 The Dioceses and Fargo and Crookston are sponsoring the Undone Women’s retreat offered by the John Paul II Healing Center. This two evening (Thursday, Friday) and Saturday retreat will provide women with an authentic encounter with Mary’s model of radical receptivity to the Lord and will be an experience of truth, beauty, and transformation. Bring yourself, your mother, your sister, your adult daughters and friends. This is a weekend you won’t want to miss! Presented by the John Paul II Healing Center, and sponsored by the Diocese of Fargo and Diocese of Crookston, this event will be held at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo. The retreat is being offered in person OR virtually via livestream! Register online for either experience at https://fargodiocese.net/undone. Registration opens August 18^th. Scholarships, student and missionary discounts available. Contact JPIIretreatFargoND@gmail.com for more information.

Pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain, and France 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.

Copies of an agenda are available in the vestibule. 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.

“For behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.” Luke 13:30

Our cultural standards are different from God’s standards. We often rank people by what they have, how powerful they are, or how successful they are. Jesus reminds us that God will not judge us by the same earthly standards. When God asks you, “What have you done with the gifts I have given you?” How will you respond?