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

August 9, 2020 — Nineteenth 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, August 12, at 8:30 a.m. – Mass for Alice Grzadzieleski by Linda Thompson

Friday, August 14, at 8:30 a.m. – Mass for †Raymond Kuznia by James & Ione Kuznia

Sunday, August 16, at 8:30 a.m. – Mass for †Margaret Gerszewski by Dorothy Borowicz

Tri-Parish Mass Schedule for July, August & September, 2020

Saturday at 7:00 p.m. — Assumption

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — St. Stephen’s

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. — St. Rose

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Saturday, August 15 — Mass at 9:00 a.m. at St. Rose

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, Alice Grzadzieleski, Duane “Buddy” Hoeper, Donald Narlock, Peter Novak,

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

“He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.”  (Matthew 14:29)

When you hear Jesus calling, do you respond immediately and trust that He knows what He’s doing?  If so, you are walking on water!  When we say “yes” to Jesus, we feel the power of His presence in our lives.  We can feel the freedom it gives us!  Listen to how Jesus is calling you to live the extraordinary life He has intended for you.

We ask for your continued support of our church. During and after the virus pandemic it is important that we each give what we can to the church as the church continues to have expenses for utilities, church and rectory supplies, insurance, payroll, etc. Please consider continuing to give to the church through one of the following means:

· Send your Sunday collection envelope to the church at PO Box 507, Stephen, MN 56757;

· Start direct deposits from your bank to KodaBank; or

· The Diocese has established a website that people can use to give online donations to parishes. The website is www.crookston.org/parishgiving. The site has a dropdown menu where people can choose the parish they want to donate to. They can give via credit card or direct debit from a checking account. All donations will go to the Diocese of Crookston Catholic Community Foundation; the CCF will then send checks to the parishes weekly. There is no fee for direct deposit transactions. Credit card transactions have a transaction fee of $0.26 plus an additional 2.598%.

2020 Diocesan Annual Appeal Please keep in mind our call to GOD, PRAYER and SERVICE. We are only $497 away from our goal!! St. Stephen’s Church goal is $8,937. As of July 30, 2020, we have reached 94.44% of our goal with 37 families having donated $8,440. If you have not yet made a 2020 DAA gift, we ask that you consider doing so.

2020 Summer Appeal Our Diocesan Annual Appeal needs your attention in this extraordinary year. Next week you will find summer appeal envelopes will be available on the table in the vestibule here at our parish. We are asking that even if you have never supported the Diocesan Annual Appeal in the past, or if you have already supported the appeal, that you consider a modest gift to support diocesan ministries. We will be taking a second collection for the Summer Appeal on August 22 and 23. Please pick up the envelope, with the sun emblem, pray about a gift and bring it back to the parish on Summer Appeal weekend. We are all in this together! You can make an online gift at www.crookston.org/daa. Thank you!

Other Items and Future Events

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 contact Fr. Luis at 218-242-5689 for details.

Mowing Position St. Stephen’s is in need of someone to do the lawn mowing and trimming at the church and the two cemeteries. Individual must be 18 years or older. If interested in this position, please contact Fr. Luis at 218-242-5689 for details.

First Communion Father Luis began Masses for students to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Parents, please contact Father Luis at 218-242-5689 to schedule a public or private Mass for your child.

Pray for World Peace This week we marked the solemn 75^th anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Nuclear weapons still pose a threat to our world. We are called to pray for peace and take action in solidarity with our brothers and sisters globally. The Catholic Church in Japan observes “Ten Days of Prayer for Peace” each year at this time. Let us pray, in the words of Pope Francis, “for the triumph of a culture of life, reconciliation and fraternity” (Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, Nagasaki, November 24, 2019). Please feel free to pick up a special prayer card from the church vestibule.

Worldwide 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 August 29-30 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.

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. 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 50 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.

Official Statements by Bishop Michael Hoeppner can be viewed at www.crookston.org, click on News & Media, then click Official Statements.

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 August: The Maritime World: We pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.

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