St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, March 29, 2026

Palm Sunday

Holy Week Begins!

Holy Week is the most sacred time of the Church year—a profound journey with Christ through His Passion, death, and Resurrection. In these days, we are invited not only to remember what Jesus has done for us, but to enter more deeply into the mystery of His love through prayer, reflection, and participation in the liturgy.

Beginning with Holy Thursday, we recall the Last Supper, where Jesus gave us the gift of the Eucharist and showed us the meaning of service. On Good Friday, we stand at the foot of the cross, reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice and venerating the cross as the sign of our salvation. Then, at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, we gather in darkness and light to celebrate the Resurrection—the triumph of life over death.

There are also two special collections during Holy Week. On Holy Thursday, the second collection will benefit the Catholic Extension Society, which works in solidarity with communities in some of the poorest regions of America to build vibrant Catholic faith communities through leadership, ministries, and essential resources.

On Good Friday, the second collection supports the Pontifical Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land, helping sustain church ministries, preserve sacred shrines, and provide critical assistance to Christians living in the region.

Whether you are able to attend one liturgy or all, these moments offer a powerful opportunity to renew your faith and draw closer to Christ.

Come and experience the beauty, depth, and hope of Holy Week. Let us walk together from the cross to the joy of the Resurrection.

Last Chance to Share Your Voice – Parish Survey Closes This Sunday

This Sunday is the final opportunity to participate in our parish’s Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey. This important survey helps us better understand our community—where we are thriving and where we are being called to grow as disciples of Christ.

Your feedback will guide future decisions about parish life, including the Mass experience, preaching, ministries, and how we support one another in faith. Every response matters, and we especially need to hear from you.

If you have not yet taken the survey, we encourage you to do so before it closes this Sunday. The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete.

Together, let us continue building a parish that more fully knows, loves, and serves Christ.

Care for Real Collections

St. Gertrude will host a collection drive for Care for Real this weekend and again 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

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.

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

Growing in Faith

The following activities, in addition to the liturgies of St. Gertrude parish, have enabled me over the years to pray and reflect during Holy Week.

I listen to the whole Messiah over and over. I use headphones and study the words. I find endless versions on YouTube. I am surprised to find that the entire text is drawn from scripture, much of it from the Old Testament. Both the instruments and the voices take me deep into a personal experience of Jesus and His meaning to me and to the rest of the world.

I attended the Eastern Mennonite High School production of Godspell. I grew up in a Jesuit parish, went to a Jesuit high school and university, and have taught in a Jesuit high school. I have made the long retreat twice. Yet the purest experience of Jesuit spirituality I have ever had was attending that play three times (my granddaughter was in it). I recommend finding a high school production if you can.

I sing Jesus Christ Superstar. We have friends who host gatherings this time of year to simply sing the songs without any music. Experiencing Jesus through the eyes of Judas sheds light on Jesus, similar to how the movie Amadeus revealed Mozart through the eyes of an envious adversary.

I attended a Jewish funeral. The words, rituals, and especially the singing—led by a woman—helped me, while mourning the death of my friend, connect to the Passion, the actual events, and the meaning of Holy Week.

~ Marty Butzen

Please Keep our RCIA Class in Your Prayers!

At the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 4, our parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) group will become full members of the Catholic Church. We ask that you keep them in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate the Easter Sacraments.

Please consider attending and providing an atmosphere of love and support! 

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.

Easter Flower Offering Envelopes

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.

New Parishioners

• Gina DeLuca and Mike Geraghty

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 pm - Art Lyons, Roman Reyes 
• Sunday, March 29 at 8:00 am - Suzanne Teberg, Suzanne Teberg
• Sunday, March 29 at 10:30 am - Eric Ameyaw, Rose Karasti  

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, March 29 at 8:00 am - Michelle Kuehlhorn
• Sunday, March 29 at 10:30 am - Tim Love, Michael Kowalsky, Bob Backis

Altar Servers

• Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 pm - cross bearer: Carter Dant; acolytes: Wyatt Dant, Danna Salinas   
• Sunday, March 29 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Jayson Ameyaw; acolytes: Adaobi Okoli, Viviana Love

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, March 30: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, March 31: 7:30 am - Sheridan Gorman+
• Wednesday, April 1: 7:30 am - Carolyn Carlson+
• Holy Thursday, April 2: 7:00 pm - Mass of the Last Supper
• Good Friday, April 3: 7:00 pm - Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Veneration of the Cross
• Holy Saturday, April 4: 8:00 pm - Easter Vigil
• Easter Sunday, April 5: 8:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertruded; 10:30 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude; 10:35 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude

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.