St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, April 5, 2026

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! Alleluia!

Today, we awaken to the joy that changes everything—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. What once seemed lost has been restored, and hope rises again with the dawn.

All around us, new life is unfolding. The earth is stirring, light lingers a little longer each evening, and there’s a renewed energy in the air. These signs of spring echo the deeper truth we celebrate today: God is always bringing life out of darkness, renewal out of what feels worn or weary.

Over these sacred days, we have walked together through the mystery of Holy Week—gathering at the table, standing at the cross, and now rejoicing at the empty tomb. We have welcomed new members into the Church, shared in moments of prayer and reflection, and witnessed the beauty of a community alive in faith.

These moments remind us that Easter is not just something we observe—it is something we live. The Resurrection is not confined to a single day. It is a promise that continues to unfold in our lives—in acts of kindness, in renewed faith, in the courage to begin again, and in the love we share with one another.

So let this Easter joy stay with you. Carry it into your homes, your conversations, your work, and your relationships. Let it shape how you see the world—with hope, with compassion, and with trust in the new life God is always creating.

Christ is risen—and because of this, so are we.

Let us go forth and share that joy with the world.

St. Gertrude Parish: All are Welcome - and All Means All!

St. Gertrude extends a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, LBGQT, rich, poor, y no habla ingles. We offer special welcome to those who are young and old, or who have a crying baby. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli, or more like me, who just tries.

We don’t care if you're more Catholic than the pope or haven’t been in church since little Timmy’s baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60, but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome starving artist, tree huggers, latte sippers, vegetarians, and junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery and those who are still addicted.

We welcome you if your having problems or down in the dumps. We’ve been there too. We welcome those who don’t like “organized religion”. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, those who work too hard, those who don’t work, can’t spell, or came because grandma is in town.

We welcome those who could use a prayer right now, or thought you were on Clark Street, not Granville, and are here by mistake. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We welcome those who laugh at this, as well as those who gasped. We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, and bleeding hearts with all our hearts. We welcome YOU!

We are St. Gertrude!

Whether you are new to our parish or a long-time parishioner, we are so grateful you are here celebrating Easter with us.

Our parish’s mission is to be a caring, compassionate faith community, bringing the Gospel of the Lord into the world as we gather to worship God, serve others, grow in our faith, and work for justice.

Our ministries include:

Garden & Compost Project: This seasonal project combines composting and a vegetable garden. Parishioners lease a composting bucket and deposit appropriate materials in the parish’s compost bin. The compost is then used to fertilize a volunteer-tended vegetable garden that feeds patrons of Care for Real and the St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen.

Gym Mass: Music and short parishioner reflections after the homily engage participants in the celebration of our faith. Fellowship, coffee, and refreshments follow this 10:30 a.m. Mass held in the gym.

Heart to Heart and Medical Lending Closet: Serving seniors in Edgewater, volunteers provide friendly visits, well-being phone calls, assistance with grocery shopping, and transportation to church, events, and medical appointments. The ministry also oversees a lending closet of durable medical equipment for people across Chicago.

Kids Word: During the 10:30 a.m. Mass, children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to participate in age-appropriate activities, reflections, and lessons from the Bible.

Music Ministry: St. Gertrude’s vibrant music ministry enhances each Mass through song and helps strengthen community through concerts and programs.

Ministry of Prayer: Homebound parishioners who are unable to participate in parish life contribute through their gift of prayer for the intentions of the parish.

Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation: Children in grades 1–8 deepen their relationship with God through prayer and reflection, learn what it means to be disciples of Jesus, and grow as members of a faith community.

OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults): This program guides those interested in exploring the Catholic faith and prepares them to become members of the Church.

Refugee and Immigrant Ministry: In partnership with Catholic Charities, this group sponsors newly arrived refugees, providing financial and emotional support as they settle into life in Chicago.

Youth Group: Teens gather to build community, discuss what matters to them, participate in events and outings, and serve others through projects, including mission trips.

Additionally, St. Gertrude offers many other opportunities for parishioners to serve and build community, including roles such as Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, greeters, ushers, and members of the live-stream, art and environment, and counting teams.

Parish life also includes a wide range of groups and ministries, such as book groups, the Guadalupanos Rosary Group, Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA), PreCana and FOCCUS leaders, the pre-baptismal team, bulletin reflection writers (Growing in Faith), sandwich makers, the Men’s Faith Group, spiritual directors, blood drive organizers, the Environment Committee, the St. Gertrude Parish Players, the Friendship Club, the men’s basketball group, Care for Real, the Midwest Workers Association, the Kolbe House Jail Ministry, Brewed at St. Gertrude hospitality team, the Porch Prayer group, Ministers of Care, Women’s Scripture Study, the Social Justice Committee, Commonweal Dialogue, the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership, the Adult Spirituality and Faith Committee, and more!

We appreciate everyone who is part of St. Gertrude. Thank you to our parishioners for sharing their time and gifts, and we invite newcomers and those seeking community to get involved in ways that resonate with them.

*Special thanks to Maria Ugarte for the Palm Sunday photo.

Thanks to all Parish Volunteers and Staff Members! 

All of the services beginning with Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday require a great commitment of time and energy from many of our ministries. Thank you to all those who have come out for extra rehearsals, for volunteering to minister at a number of services, to be flexible in covering where most needed. 

Our choir, cantors, and instrumentalists; the Ministers of Communion and Ministers of the Word, ushers, photographers, the live-stream coordinators, sacristans, and our hardworking staff -- THANK YOU for making our services during Holy Week so beautiful! 

Easter Message from Cardinal Cupich

Dear Friends in Christ,

Before the proclamation of the gospel at the Easter Vigil liturgy, there is a deeply powerful and moving moment. It is the joyous triple Alleluia. It not only signals the end of our penitential observances but it expresses our passage with the Lord through his passion, death, and burial. Alleluia is our joyful shout of triumph for as Christ rises from the dead, so do we.

Yet, we may find that our Easter joy has been dampened this year in the face of the 

daunting challenges of war, the upheavals experienced by migrant families, the great turbulence and polarization in our political life, and the myriad uncertainties about our future and the future of our children. Can we sing Alleluia and mean it?

Experiencing those sentiments myself I am drawn to Saint Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. In a moment of suffering loss, confusion and grief he wrote: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 

even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1Thessalonians 4:13-

14)

Listen carefully to Paul’s words. He tells the Thessalonians that they can grieve and that  they can experience struggle and loss. But they must not grieve or suffer as those who have no hope, as those who do not believe that Jesus died and rose and will take us to himself. Like the Thessalonians, we do not ignore or deny the suffering and grief we are experiencing, but we are not held captive to this moment nor to this world. We hold fast to Christ our hope who draws us into a future defined and shaped by his Resurrection.

So, sisters and brothers, let’s not hold back our shouts of joy. Let us sing with gusto our 

Alleluia for it bears witness to our enduring hope in Christ’s Resurrection. It inspires us to do 

what we can to allow his risen life to take hold of and shape our lives and to empower us to reach out to our wounded world. A blessed Easter to all of you and your loved ones,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

Care for Real Collections

St. Gertrude will host a collection drive for Care for Real this weekend, April 4–5. Our Care for Real collection takes place on the fourth weekend of each month, and our asylum seekers’ collection is held on the first weekend of each month.

SNAP is one of the most effective ways to address food insecurity in the United States. However, as eligibility requirements change, many of our neighbors—especially seniors and others without exemptions—are at risk of losing their benefits. New requirements to work or volunteer 80 hours per month and report this to the state can be difficult to meet, increasing the risk of food insecurity. The Chicago Sun-Times covers these challenges in this article: Older Chicagoans at high risk of losing SNAP food assistance as new work rules kick in

As a result, Care for Real anticipates a growing need for their services. You can help by donating items during this weekend’s collection or on April 4–5. For more information, including current needs and ways to give, please visit https://linktr.ee/cfrchicago or follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.

We are grateful for your continued generosity in supporting Care for Real as they provide food and essential supplies to neighbors in need.

Friendship Club is Thursday, April 9

The St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of every month in the Ministry Center, 6216 North Glenwood Avenue.

The gathering begins at 11:30 am, and attendees should bring their own (brown bag) lunch.

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) Meeting Planned for Saturday, April 11

St. Gertrude is a member of CSPL, the faith-based organization that organized the recent People’s Mass and Eucharistic Procession to the Broadview Detention Center.

Come together with other parishioners on Saturday, April 11, from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Ministry Center to build community and discuss how to help advance our parish's commitments to social justice, human concerns and faith formation through our participation in CSPL. Learn more about CSPL. 

All are welcome! 

Book Club is Tuesday, April 14

Join us for a discussion of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm at the Ministry Center, 6214 W. Glenwood. New participants are always welcome!



For questions, contact Lea Cloninger (773.213.0509) or Sue Benjamin (773.551.8401).

Teens Invited to Join St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience: Deadline is May 23

Parish teens are invited to participate in St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience, taking place June 22–26. Open to students entering seventh grade through high school, this weeklong experience offers teens the chance to serve alongside Chicagoland organizations while growing in faith, friendship, and community.

Participants will enjoy meaningful service, have fun together, and earn volunteer hours. The cost for the week is $125. Please note, the deadline to sign up is Saturday, May 23.

To reserve a spot or learn more, please contact Pastoral Associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Growing in Faith

Our Easter joy comes right on time. Today, most of us are exhausted by the daily parade of violence, lies, abuses, and excesses. The stink of corruption is everywhere, like wading through a sewer. So we start to wonder if anyone in power can resist that seductive whisper of temptation: “Why should you deny yourself anything? Just take whatever you want.” That whisper, well portrayed in our scripture, slithers through our history. We know that voice. We know that corruption.

Our Easter story answers that slithering voice with a miracle that is more than a metaphor. Mary Magdalene goes to a place of literal bodily corruption and finds the incorruptible—Jesus, the risen Christ. He says, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell…” Then Mary and Peter find the courage to tell the truth in a dangerous world.

We still declare that we know that incorruptible man who rejects the voice of temptation in his ear, and whose goodness and godliness are so powerful that he can wash us clean and redeem us from death. Easter reminds us that it is never too late.

The bravest thing any one of us can do is tell the truth. It is not simple and requires a thick skin, stamina, kindness, and fire. I pray that, like Mary and Peter, Jesus helps us find the courage to tell truth to power, to name crimes, expose lies, and stand with our brothers and sisters who need our protection. We also know from our story that once we know the truth, we can never successfully wash our hands of it.

Let’s “go and tell,” and become the fire of truth.

~ KC Conway

Thank You to All Who Participated in Our Lenten Simple Suppers and Adult Spirituality Sessions!

Thank you to those who hosted the Simple Suppers—the Parish Pastoral Council, Men’s Basketball, Choir, Coalition for Spiritual and Political Leadership, and Northside Catholic Academy—and to those who facilitated the Lenten Spirituality Sessions: Sr. Wendy Cotter, CSJ; Patrick T. Reardon; Jonathan Hannau and the St. Gertrude Choir; Chris Countryman; and Rich Goode, Mary Kate Cahill, Krista Chinchilla-Patzke, and Bob Backis.

We would love to receive your feedback on the Lenten Adult Spirituality sessions and welcome your suggestions for future adult spirituality and formation offerings. If you would like to learn more about the Adult Spirituality and Faith Committee, or if you have any feedback or suggestions about future offerings, please send a note to Bob Backis at rjbackis@gmail.com.

We wish you an Easter season filled with the joy of the Resurrection. Alleluia!

- The Adult Spirituality and Faith Committee

Easter Flower Offering Envelopes

Flower Offering In Memory of Jeanette Cordero by Cristina Cordero

We are offering an opportunity to celebrate someone in your life, living or deceased, during the Easter season. Please consider making an Easter Flower offering in their name.

Envelopes are available in the back of the Church and may be placed in the collection basket or sent to Rectory. The names of those honored will be published in the bulletin during the Easter season.

Parish Directory Update

Thank you to everyone who had their photo taken or submitted photos for the upcoming directory. In the coming weeks, parishioners who were unable to participate will be invited to update their information and will have an opportunity to order a directory before final submission.

If you have any questions, please email stgertrudeparishcouncil@gmail.com.

Curious About the ’Cats? Come Visit NCA!



Thinking about a school for your family for next year? Join us for coffee and conversation and enjoy a relaxed morning where interested families can meet current parents, talk with school leadership, and learn what makes NCA such a special place.

Children are welcome! While parents connect and learn more about the school, students can enjoy a playdate and student-led tour with our NCA ambassadors.

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday, April 15
• Thursday, May 7

Please RSVP on our website: https://www.northsidecatholic.org/admissions/meet-the-cats.cfm

Find a School That Fits Your Family at NCA

At Northside Catholic Academy, we nurture students from PreK–8th grade to become kind, generous, and thoughtful individuals. Rooted in faith, we remind every child that they are a beloved child of God—while encouraging curiosity, questions, and a love of learning.

Join us for our Open House and experience our community firsthand.

RSVP for our next Open House on Saturday, April 18: https://forms.gle/ppXPHXykfKLdxvvx8

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 pm - Carol Ann Munro, Mark Kollar, Ellen Pierce, Patrick Robinson, Millie Slane, Rose Karasti 
• Sunday, April 5 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe, Anthony Myers
• Sunday, April 5 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Edie Sheridan 

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 pm - Michael Kowalsky, Michelle Kuehlhorn, Troy McMillan
• Sunday, April 5 at 8:00 am - Steven Monti
• Sunday, April 5 at 10:30 am - Lisa Scheneider, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Altar Servers

• Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 pm - cross bearer: Carter Dant; acolytes: Wyatt Dant, Danna Salinas   
• Sunday, April 5 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Adaobi Okoli; acolytes: Mathios Paulos, Diarmuid McKeown

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, April 6: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, April 7: 7:30 am - Pete Ballard+
• Wednesday, April 8: 7:30 am - Antoinette G. Linke+
• Thursday, April 9: 7:30 am - Jimmy Gracey+
• Friday, April 10: 7:30 am - Patricia Kelly+
• Saturday, April 11: 5:00 pm - Sheridan Gorman+
• Sunday, April 12: 8:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude; 10:30 am - Will Pruit+; 10:30 am - Bill Washburn+

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or email stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org. Names will remain on the list for three weeks. After that time, please renew the name using same contact information.