St. Stephen's Catholic Church    Stephen, Mn

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website contact: ststephens@wiktel.com

Assumption Bulletin website contact:  assumption@wiktel.com

St Rose Bulletin website contact: stroser@wiktel.com

September 27, 2020 — Twenty-sixth 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: Britni Gajeski, Darrin Kowalski and Todd Chwialkowski

Finance Council: Tammi Anderson, Carmen Beauclair and Brent Halfmann

Trustees: Ethan Marquis and Danielle Szklarski

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).

Struggling after an abortion? The Diocese of Crookston has a confidential phone line to assist those suffering in the aftermath of an abortion. Call 218-470-0112 (Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.).

Newcomers Contact the parish office to register.

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 and Spiritual Direction

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

St. Stephen’s Church Mass Schedule

Wednesday, September 30, at 8:30 a.m. – Mass for †Margaret Gerszewski by Virginia Deraney

Friday, October 2, at 8:30 a.m. – Mass for †Alice Grzadzieleski by Linda Thompson

Sunday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. – Mass for Tri-Parish Families of St. Stephen’s, St. Rose & Assumption Churches

(Face covering required as per Minnesota Executive Order 20-81.)

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for October, November & December, 2020

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. – St. Rose

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. – Assumption

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen’s

Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. — St. Rose

Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s

Thursday at 6:30 p.m. — Assumption

Prayer List

Raymond Borowicz, Mary Ann Chwialkowski, Daniel Gajeski, Duane “Buddy” Hoeper, Donald Narlock, Msgr. Jerry Noesen, Brooklyn Poe & all those affected by the Covid-19 virus

To add or remove a name, please call the parish office. Names will be removed after four weeks. You may call and request 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

“Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves…”  (Philippians 2:3)

Pride and ego are hard things to control. We see how others act or dress and think we are superior to them. We idolize our own self-image. But, if we truly believe everything is a gift from God, we recognize all the people that God has put into our lives as gifts! We are grateful for how they enrich our lives. Pray every day for the people in your life: your family, your friends, and those who make you angry.

Other Items and Future Events

Safe Environment Testing for all employees and volunteers is now available on-line at crookston.org. Go to Safe Environment, Certification, and then to New or Returning Certification.

Religious Education Coordinator Position St. Stephen’s is seeking someone for the position of Religious Education Coordinator for the 2020‑2021 year. If interested, please text Fr. Luis at 218-242-5689 for details.

Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention each month. You are invited to answer the Holy Father's request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this intention each month. Month of October: The Laity’s Mission in the Church. We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church.

Pro-Life Presentation — All are welcome! Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) will offer a brief pro-life presentation on Sunday, September 27, from 7-8 p.m. at Abundant Life Free Lutheran Church, 1602 Pennington Ave. S., Thief River Falls, MN. You will learn about the latest abortion numbers and trends in Minnesota, the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on beginning-of-life and end-of-life issues, court cases that will affect our ability to pass or retain lifesaving laws, and the stakes in the upcoming election. Discover how you can make a difference in protecting and supporting unborn children and their mothers. For more information, visit mccl.org/falltour.  

First Lutheran Church – Stephen will be hosting a Faith Caravan, Sunday, September 27. Everyone is welcome to join.  Please gather at the east parking lot of the church by 4:30 p.m. in your car, pickup, golf cart, ATV or other mode of transportation.  We will begin with a short litany, prayer and song verse before heading out on our journey.  Our first stop will be on Main Street (approx. 4:45 p.m.) in front of the Post Office, then on to the Tamarac (approx. 5 p.m.), finally stopping at the school parking lot.  At each stop, we will engage in a litany, prayer and sing a verse or two of hymn.  This will be a COVID friendly event; participants may remain in their vehicle or get out and stand next to it while joining in the fellowship at each stop.  Mark your calendars and plan to join our hour-long journey of friendship and fellowship.  

Marriage Celebration Sunday Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner invites all of the faithful to join him and married couples from across the Diocese of Crookston for the 2020 Marriage Celebration Day on Sunday, October 4, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston. The celebration will begin with Sunday Mass at 2:30 p.m. during which couples will be honored. All married couples as well as widows and widowers will receive a special blessing from Bishop Hoeppner and each couple will receive a gift in thanksgiving for their support of marriage. Due to the Covid restrictions, we will not be able to offer a meal after Mass this year.

Real Presence Radio is holding their 15^th Annual Fall Live Drive Fundraiser October 6-9.  Tune in to hear inspirational stories of faith and hope and find out which parish will win the Incredible Parishes Challenge. Donate and you’ll be entered in a chance to win a beautiful handmade crucifix, gift cards, a rosary and a variety of books from Stephen Ray, Teresa Tomeo and Susan Tassone. Something new every day!!  You can support the Real Presence Radio Live Drive in two ways: Call 877-795-0122 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CST – October 6-9 or donate online at www.realpresenceradio.com. Your gift helps to support one of the greatest resources we have to share the truth about the Catholic faith and deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

The 2020 Public Square Rosary Crusade What: The Holy Rosary Where: Lions Park in Argyle, MN When: Saturday, October 10, at 12 Noon. For more information contact Pat Crummy at 218-230-4991.

Reaching Others for Christ You may have heard Pope Francis’ call for all Catholics to be “Missionary Disciples” but wonder “What does this mean for me?” or even “How do I do this?” Join Deacon Mark Krejci for this six-session online course which will prepare you for sharing the good news of the Gospel with anyone in your life. This course will help you figure out how to share your faith with family members, others in your parish, people at work or even someone you meet in the grocery store. The course is a practical approach to discovering how Jesus is calling you to be a missionary disciple for we are all, in our own way, sent on mission. The workshop will be offered via zoom and will occur from 7:00 to 8:15 on Thursday nights beginning on October 15th and concluding on November 19th (the week before Thanksgiving). Because this course is offered online people from across the Diocese of Crookston can participate from the comfort of their homes. You will need a high-speed internet connection for the course to work. Please go to the Diocese of Crookston website to register for the course or use this link to access the registration form https://bit.ly/3kiWP49 If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Krejci, Office of Formation in Discipleship for the Diocese of Crookston, at mkrejci@crookston.org.

40 Rosaries for Life The 40 Rosaries for Life campaign will run from September 23 to November 1. As in past years, the parishes of the Diocese are invited to participate in the “40 Rosaries for Life” campaign with each parish (as well as Chancery staff on their designated day) asking a group of parishioners to pray a rosary with the intention of Respect for Life from conception to natural death. St. Stephen’s Church assigned date is October 17.

Marriage Encounter Weekend These last months have been incredibly difficult on all of us and marriages have suffered! Please let us help you to find enrichment, joy, and hope in your relationship! Register for the October 24-25 Marriage Encounter. Weekends are held at Mt. Olivet Conference and Retreat Center in Farmington. Visit www.marriages.org for additional information or call 651‑454-3238.

Minnesota Catholic Conference 2020 Election Resources The Minnesota Catholic Conference provides a wealth of resources that help Catholics form their consciences and inform their vote. There is a direct link to these resources on the Diocese of Crookston home page, www.crookston.org, or by going directly to https://www.mncatholic.org/resources/election/.

Fall Parish Dinners Each Fall, Our Northland Diocese publishes a parish dinner listing online and in print. The COVID–19 pandemic has created an uncertain environment regarding gatherings of people. Due to this situation, OND will not be printing a list of Fall dinners. Any parishes still hosting a dinner in some form have been invited to share their information via ond@crookston.org. Any notices received will be published at www.crookston.org/falldinners. Those wishing to attend a listed dinner are encouraged to contact the parish before going to ensure it is still happening and to learn of any precautions being taken.

At St. Stephen’s Church due to the Covid-19 Pandemic:

· As of July 25, 2020, people in Minnesota are required to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses, including churches, but with some exceptions. A copy of the order is located on the vestibule bulletin board. A face covering is required at St. Stephen’s following Minnesota Executive Order 20-81. If you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of sickness, we ask that you do not attend Mass.

· Masses will be said with a maximum limit of 90 attendees.

· We will be following social distancing seating guidelines.

· There will be no food served at St. Stephen’s Church until further notice.

· No Sunday Eucharistic Adoration until further notice.

· Feel free to use the church for personal prayer. Please use one of the pews which are not taped off. When finished, please clean the area you used with the cleaning supplies at the top of the entrance steps.

· Church bulletins can be viewed online at wiktel.net/ststephens.