St. Stephen’s Church offers great programs for helping children and teens grow as disciples of Jesus in the Catholic faith.  We have Sunday School for ages 3 1/2 to Kindergarten, Tuesday and Wednesday evening Faith for Life sessions for elementary school students, Wednesday evening EDGE sessions for middle school students, and our Sunday evening Confirmation preparation program for students in ninth grade and older.  There’s also sacramental prep for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, as well as a special sacrament prep program for children and teens over the age of seven who have not yet received Baptism, Reconciliation, or Eucharist.  Visit our Faith for Life registration page to register.

Parents and older teens: join our wonderful group of catechists who share the faith. Contact Maredith Toweh or call 763-712-7439 with any questions.

Calling all vocalists interested in or already cantoring for Mass. We are hosting a cantor training session on Wednesday, August 21 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Here you will get a chance to work collaboratively with our Choir Director, Aaron VanDanacker, and grow in the art of cantor ministry. The workshop will consist of learning techniques to enhance congregational singing, effectively lead various styles of music, and a chance for some interactive experience with a favorite psalm of your choice. After this stress-free training session, you can decide if you would like to make a commitment to serving as a cantor for our community. Please contact Aaron VanDanacker or Mary Newton with any questions and to express interest.

Come join us August 25 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass for a fun, stress-free morning of singing. (Please note, this is a time change from previously printed information.) People of all ages are invited and encouraged to bring a friend (or a couple) to this welcoming choir experience! We will gather at 9:00 a.m. in the St. Cecilia Room to enjoy breakfast treats and community building before learning and rehearsing the songs you know and love for Mass. This event is open to youth, teens, and adults, regardless of experience or musical literacy. This joy-filled morning will be a welcoming, commitment-free chance for you to get your voice back in shape and make music with friends, both old and new. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Aaron VanDanacker or call (763) 712-7490.  We look forward to overflowing the choir area with joyful noise and smiling faces!

In the fall of 2016 a team was formed to develop a Strategic Plan that flowed from and supported our mission statement to “Seek, Love, and Serve Jesus Christ”. In the late winter/early spring of 2017 the Strategic Planning Committee held three listening sessions and posted a survey online to allow them to gather the valuable feedback of parishioners.

St. Stephen’s Church is happy to present the strategic plan document to guide the parish as we move into the future.

Strategic Plan Document (printable PDF)

We are listening and responding to the input of our parishioners and want to keep you informed of the parish’s implementation progress.

The weekend of February 16/17, 2019, John Seibert, one of the parish trustees, gave an update on the implementation of the Strategic Plan. The presentation has been posted on St. Stephen’s Facebook page

We are committed to updating parishioners about the implementation process through bulletin articles, the e-newsletter, Facebook, and parish website.

How to Report Abuse and Neglect

How to Report Suspected Abuse – English

Como se reporta la sospecha del abuso y negligencia infantil

Survivor Assistance Materials

Healing Brochure – English

Ayuda Para Las Victimas y Sobrevivientes

Victim Assistance Hotline: 651-291-4475

Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda announced May 31, 2018 that the Archdiocese had reached an agreement with survivors of sexual abuse to resolve the bankruptcy that had been filed in January of 2015. The agreement both provides compensation to survivors and resolution of all related claims against individual parishes.

Read the letter from the Archbishop (PDF).
Bankruptcy Settlement Question and Answer sheet (PDF).

From Thomas J. Abood, Chair, Archdiocesan Reorganization Task Force and Archdiocesan Finance Council:  On Thursday, June 28, 2018, the Archdiocese and the Unsecured Creditors Committee filed a joint Plan of Reorganization which marks an important step in effectuating the recently announced $210 million settlement. The key element of this plan is that it is a consensual agreement among all parties working to resolve the bankruptcy and bring a measure of financial justice to those who have been harmed while also allowing this local Church to continue in its mission.

Read the full statement on the archdiocesan website.

Regular Mass Schedules: Mondays – Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. (with some exceptions for Holy Days or Holidays), Saturdays: 5:00 p.m. (except the Easter Vigil), Sundays: 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (en español) and 6:00 p.m. (No 6:00 p.m. Mass for Easter, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve/Day).

Visit the Mass times page for special liturgy schedules for holidays and Holy Days.

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter: Saturday: 5:00 p.m.

Low Gluten Hosts: For those sensitive to wheat, St. Stephen’s offers low-gluten hosts. The gluten content of the low-gluten hosts is 10 ppm. To receive a low-gluten host, please check in with the Sacristan or Communion Team Leader before Mass, and they will direct you on where and how to receive a low-gluten host during Communion.

La Misa en Español: Domingo a las 12:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. (except holidays and Holy Days)

Televised: QCTV Comcast cable channel 15 (Recorded Mass of the previous weekend) Sundays: 2:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

A recording of the Saturday evening Mass is also posted on St. Stephen’s YouTube Channel .

For those who do not have cable, there is a Mass that is televised on “antenna” TV at 11:00 a.m. on Channel 45 or 5.2.  That particular Mass comes from the Diocese of St. Cloud.

OFFICE HOURS:

Academic Year:  Monday and Thursday – 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;  Tuesday and Wednesday – 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. when Faith Formation is in session, otherwise closing at 5:00 p.m.;
Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;  Saturday – 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.;  Sunday – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Summer:  Monday through Thursday – 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;  Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday – 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.