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

February 17, 2019 — Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

St. Stephen’s Church, Stephen

515 Fifth Street, PO Box 507, Stephen, MN 56757

Phone: (218)478-2231 ststephens@wiktel.com www.wiktel.net/ststephens

Pastor: Father Luis Buitron Phone: (218)242-5689 lbuitron@wiktel.com

Parish Coordinator: Priscilla Steinke

Office Hours: Tuesday — 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Thursday — 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

(closed all holy days and holidays)

If you have a church question or need something outside of office hours, you are to only contact Fr. Luis at (218)-242-5689.

Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: Cindy Hulst, LSW, at (218)281-7895 (24-hour confidential number)

Parish Membership If you or someone you know would like to become a member of St. Stephen’s, please call or

stop by the parish office and register.

As of July 1, 2018

Pastoral Council: Britni Gajeski, Darrin Kowalski, Ethan Marquis, Donna Nelson, Carol Riley, Aggie Schindele and Lance Woinarowicz

Finance Council: Jim Blair, Brent Halfmann and Vernon Smith

Trustees: Amy Kowalski and Danielle Szklarski

The Sacramental Life and Spiritual Direction

Baptism: pre-baptism class is required; contact Father Luis Buitron

Reconciliation: 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 Father Luis Buitron for an 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 full the requirements of the Catholic Church for the marriage to be validly recognized by the Catholic Church

Anointing of the Sick: please call the parish office during serious illness or before surgery

Shut-ins: if you know anyone who cannot come to church, please let the parish office know so they can be put on a visiting schedule by a Eucharistic Minister

Spiritual Direction: is available Tuesdays at St. Rose from 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon; Wednesdays at St. Stephen’s from 9:00 a.m.-12 Noon; and Thursdays at Assumption from 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon. Call Father Luis Buitron at (218)242-5689 for an appointment.

St. Stephen’s Church Mass Schedule

Wednesday, February 20, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Elsie Kuznia by Ethan & Sarah Marquis & Family

Friday, February 22, at 10:15 a.m. at the Tamarac — Mass for †Christine Dziengel by Tim Sevigny

Sunday, February 24, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for †Don Wald by Arlene Wald

(Rosary beginning at 8:00 a.m.)

Eucharistic Adoration at St. Stephen’s: March 3 from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule — January, February & March, 2019

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. — Assumption

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. — St. Rose

St. Rose — Tuesdays - Eucharistic Adoration at 6:00 p.m. and Mass at 7:00 p.m.

Assumption — Thursdays - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

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.

Stewardship of Treasure

“Blessed are you when people hate you,…exclude and insult you, and denounce your name…on account of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22)

All of us have been in situations when someone has made a negative comment or joke about God or our Catholic faith. How did you respond?

Did you stay silent or pretend to go along with the crowd because you didn’t want to cause waves and then, later, you felt bad. Know that God is with you all the time, the Holy Spirit will put the right words in your mouth. Pray for the strength and courage to proclaim our faith to others, especially during uncomfortable situations.

February 10 Collection: $2114.00 Adult: $2089.00 Children: $4.00 Plate: $21.00

Church in Africa: $20.00 Children’s Altar Donations: $1.88

Building Repair Fund We have the Building Repair Fund if you wish to make a special donation or memorial. This fund is used for general repairs to the church and rectory. Thank you to all who have donated to this fund, either as a general donation or as a memorial.

Sound System Fund In the future we will be updating our sound system in the church. Our current estimate for this project is $7,000. Anyone wishing to donate toward this project can put their donation in an envelope marked “Sound System” and drop it in the Sunday collection basket. Contributions to Date: $5,190.

Prayer List

Abigail Loff & Donald Narlock

(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.

Liturgical Ministry

Sunday, February 24 (8:30 a.m.) – Lector: Roger K. Servers: Annika A. & Molly M.

Eucharist: Brian A.* & Tammi A. Greeters: Ken & Arnette B.

Religious Education

Religious education classes will be held for grades 1-12 on February 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m. As a service project the youth in grades 9-12 will be going to the Tamarac to play bingo with the residents. Each student in grades 9-12 is asked to bring a bingo prize with them.

Ladies Aid

Thank you to Bill and Danielle Szklarski and Dan and Mindy Gerszewski for providing the food and serving community Sunday.  Thank you to all who shared their time with one and another and the donations of $122. 

Coming Up March 3 Following Confirmation the Ladies Aid will host a reception serving brunch and cake to honor our Confirmation students and their families.  Please plan to attend this parish family celebration. 

Other Items and Future Events

FEBRUARY LADIES AID LEADERS: Linda Borowicz, Mindy Gerszewski, Mary Gryskiewicz, Rose Marie Price & Danielle Szklarski

St. Stephen’s Bible Study Sessions will begin meeting on Thurs., Feb. 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Spirit Room with Session 16. Please feel free to join the group for The Bible Timeline sessions.

Walleye Fish Fry in Tabor A Walleye Fish Fry will be held in Tabor, Minnesota, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Hall (Bohemian Hall) on Fri., Mar. 1, 2019.  The meal will be served from 5:00-7:30 p.m.  Meal options include:  #1) Fish Dinner; #2) Fish & Shrimp Combo; #3) Shrimp Dinner; or #4) XXL Fish Dinner.  All meals include a baked potato with all of the fixings, coleslaw, and dinner rolls.  Carry out meals are available, and children's meals, including chicken fingers or walleye fingers and fries, will also be available.  Coffee, water, lemonade, and beer are included with the meal.  All proceeds from this event will help support the church hall.  For additional information, please call Susie Novak at (701) 739-0224.

Bake Sale on Sat., Mar. 2, at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Warren from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Delicious homemade donuts will be sold. BBQ, Pie & Coffee will be served. Sponsored by SS. Peter & Paul Altar Society.

Cursillo Weekend Are you looking for a deeper relationship with Jesus? Is the busyness of life suffocating you? Consider stepping away from life for a weekend and spending it in the peaceful presence of Jesus and other like-minded Catholics. A Cursillo weekend has the power to redefine your life. Pray about attending a weekend. It is an investment of time that is well spent.  There are two Cursillo weekends coming up this Spring. Both of them will be held at Sand Hill Bible Camp in Fosston, MN. The Men's weekend is Feb. 21-24 and the Women's weekend is Mar. 21-24.