April 12, 2026 — Sunday of Divine Mercy

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 Paul Rogus

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 the 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, April 15, at 8:30 a.m. — Mass for the William & Jacie Howard Family by Bill & Donna Howard

Saturday, April 18, at 5:00 p.m. — Mass for †MaryAnn Chwialkowski by Ted & Juliet Rogus

(Rosary said prior to Mass at 4:30 p.m.)

Next Eucharistic Adoration: May 3 from 1-5 p.m.

Liturgical Ministry

Special Prayers For

Jonathon Bolduc and David Wesolowski

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

April 5: $1,170.25 Adults: $885.00 Youth: $6.00 Plate: $279.25

Holy Thursday: $593.00 Good Friday: $415.00 Easter: $2,230.00 Catholic Relief Services: $10.00

CRS Rice Bowls: $183.74

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.

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.

2026 DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL: IN CHRIST, WE ARE ONE! Thank you for your support of the Diocesan Annual Appeal! Your generous gift, joined with others, gives encouragement, strength, and purpose to our family of faith. If you have not had the opportunity to make your commitment, please make your pledge or gift this weekend. You can donate online at www.crookston.org/DAA. For questions about automatic sustained giving, contact Renée Tate at rtate@crookston.org or call

218-281-4533, ext. 432. Your gifts shine the love of Christ to every corner of our diocese! — St. Stephen’s Goal: $11,155 Committed by 26 donors as of April 8, 2026: $9,800. (87.85% of our goal)

Ladies Aid

April Ladies Aid Leaders – Elaine Anderson, Kathy Bazey, Mavis Benson, Traci Chwialkowski, Marlene Dowdle, Amber Kuznia, Cindy Kuznia, Annie Osowski, Judy Osowski, Becki Sczepanski, Katie Sczepanski, & Nicole Sczepanski

Other Items and Future Events

Area Food Shelf is open every second Tuesday each month from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at St. Rose Church in Argyle.

Special Prayers Next month we will be celebrating First Eucharist and Graduate Recognition at St. Stephen’s. Please keep these students in your thoughts and prayers as they are in their final weeks of preparation for these special events in their lives.

Annual Tootsie Roll Fundraiser The Knights of Columbus will be having their Annual Tootsie Roll Fundraiser after Masses on April 18 and 19. Local proceeds benefit the Marshall County Group Homes in Argyle. Please help us support this organization.

Anointing Mass at St. Stephen’s An Anointing Mass will be held at St. Stephen’s on Thursday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. A meal and games will follow the Mass. Please RSVP for the meal to Marilyn Kuznia at 218-478-4273 on or before April 19.

Tri-Parish Councils Leadership Formation for Prayer and Discernment A Leadership Formation for Prayer and Discernment meeting will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at Assumption Church, Florian. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 15, to our parish office at 218-478-2231 or ststephens@wiktel.com.

April Day of Reflection You are invited to join us on Saturday, April 18, for a Day of Reflection (in-person or online). This month's theme, as we continue our Franciscan Spiritual Pilgrimage, will be "Saint Francis' Basilica." The event lasts from

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Register online at https://forms.office.com/r/qvVtezHnt9 or contact Sr. Mary Ruth with questions at srmaryruth@sfcretreats.org / 701-242-7195.

Marriage Encounter Spring is a sign of new growth, begin tremendous new growth in your marriage by attending the April 18-19 Marriage Encounter. Weekends are held at Mt Olivet Retreat Center in Farmington. Register at: www.marriages.org. A “perfect marriage” is simply two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other! If you have any questions, please call Mary Jackson at: 651-454-3238.

Real Presence Radio brings Christ into homes, cars, and workplaces across our region. Tune in on 92.5 FM / 1370 AM in Grand Forks or listen online at RealPresenceRadio.com. Be a part of the mission, and join us May 5-7 for our spring live drive!

Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for April For priests in crisis Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Diocese of Crookston

Mercy Hour for Individuals and Families — Throughout the year, Bishop Cozzens will lead monthly Mercy Hours across the diocese. Mercy Hours are services of healing for marriages and families — married, single, divorced, widowed — every person belongs to a family and has a place in this experience. Mercy Hours include exposition/adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a talk by Bishop Cozzens, prayers and intercessions, music and prayer stations all culminating in an intimate moment of a Eucharistic encounter offered for you as an individual, a couple or as a family. For more information, visit crookston.org/revival. Next Mercy Hour: April 19 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Badger, MN.

Seven Sisters Apostolate — The Power of Praying for Priests — Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 702 Summit Ave., Crookston, MN. Featuring: Mass with Bishop Cozzens, Adoration, Reconciliation, Relics, Reflections from Fr. Nate Brunn and Apostolate Foundress Janette Howe, Lunch Provided. For more info, check out the flyer on bulletin board.

Mercy Hour Service for Middle-School & High School Youth on Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN.

Nazareth Retreat House — There are many retreats being offered at the Nazareth Retreat House in 2026. For more information or to register: https://crookston.org/attend-a-retreat

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” John 20:19

Are you good at making people feel welcome? When you meet someone new, like a new neighbor, a new work colleague or a new parishioner, do you make them feel at home? When we make people feel welcome, we make them feel like they are included instead of being excluded. We are made for relationships — with God and each other. When you see yourself as a beloved son or daughter of God, you tend to see others the same way, too — just as God, Our Father, sees us.