20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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The Rectory office will temporarily close at 4:30 pm on weekdays. Weekend office hours may be limited. | |
From Fr. Rich
This week the faculty and staff return to Northside Catholic Academy and the students won’t be far behind! Hope you all had a great summer and are excited about the prospect for a great new school year! A special welcome to all our new faculty, staff members, and students!
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Monday, August 15
Monday, August 15th is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses for the Holy Day are on Monday at 7:30 am and 6:30 pm.
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20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s scripture readings once again touch upon the challenge of living faithful lives. The challenges to that life are many and frequent. In the Gospel, Jesus is weighed down by the burden of his mission because it brings division. That division is because families are not united in this kind of life, nor are communities, or nations. The challenge of succumbing to the other lures -- power and money and influence - tears us away from what Our Lord has invited us to become.
The epistle reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us to let go of whatever burdens and sins hinder us in this quest.
This week, how might I encourage others trying to live faithful lives? And how might I request relief from the burdens and sins that tempt me away from what I want to do in living a faithful life?
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Blood Drive Thank You
Many thanks to all those who donated blood, attempted to give blood, and supported the blood drive on July 31. This was our first blood drive since the pandemic, and we are very grateful to those who made it possible.
Special thanks to parishioners Pat Knowles and Karen Griebel for all of their work organizing and tending to all the details on our side, and to all the folks at Vitalant for their service!
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Hidden Mercy - A Conversation with the Author Happening in October
Everyone is invited to join a conversation with Michael O'Loughlin, author of Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear, on Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm.
This is a jointly sponsored event between St. Gertrude and The Hank Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola.
The event will be held in Loyola University’s
McCormick Lounge, located on the first floor of Coffey Hall, 1000 W. Sheridan Rd.
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Heart to Heart Update
Volunteers are the backbone of Heart to Heart. There are opportunities for volunteering to service the homebound seniors and disabled individuals in our Edgewater/Rogers Park areas like:
- Home visits, bringing Communion upon request;
- Driving a person to pick up groceries and other errands;
- Taking a shopping list, picking up and delivering groceries; and
- Dropping off individuals for doctor appointments.
If you cannot commit every week to a regular schedule, consider being a backup on call. How about doing phone visits from the ministry center or from your home? Heart to Heart is also looking for someone with geriatric social worker background that could help us make referrals when necessary.
If you desire to be a Minister of Care bringing communion to the homebound, there is training available near the end of September. We are committed to making the Archdiocese of Chicago VIRTUS training an easy requirement to fulfill.
If these volunteer activities are not a fit, consider signing up for the Ministry of Prayer. Each month you will receive a flyer, with petitions to include in your daily prayer from wherever you may be on a given day.
Together, being part of the body of Christ, our faith moves us to service those in need. Help Heart to Heart continue to support the elderly and disabled, so that they may stay in the comfort of their homes.
Contact Pat Sullivan at psullivan@stgertrudechicago.org or call 773.973.5464.
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Catechists Needed to Teach Religious Education This School Year
We are looking for catechists to teach in our parish’s Religious Ed program this Fall! Catechists are usually not professional teachers, just willing parents and parishioners who enjoy kids and want to help them grow in a personal relationship with God, participate in the sacraments, develop a mature conscience, and integrate faith in all areas of their lives.
Please consider offering your time and talents to help our young people learn about and grow in their faith.
Questions? Reach out to Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call 773.764.3621.
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Growing in Faith
We come to church today to refresh, renew, and share a respite from life's craziness. But what is Jesus' message in Luke today? Division! Don't we have enough division in our society already - pro-choice vs. pro-life, vaxxers vs. anti-vaxxers, Democrats vs. Republicans?
I needed to take a closer look at Jesus' message. Jesus spoke of setting the earth on fire! His message is clear: through him the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Love, has broken into our world. God's passionate, fiery love has burst into our midst and pursues us to accept the totality of that love. Acceptance of God's unconditional love is our act of faith! Once touched by this flame of love we willingly let God's love flow through us to others.
Paul reminds us to "keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and no one else" - not even our family members. Jesus is the way. His dedication to God's Kingdom of Love cost him his life. But that was not the end of the Kingdom mission; it was the beginning. Jesus released God's love through the Holy Spirit to all who accepted it.
Have you ever felt the flame of God's love? It is powerful, elusive, transformative, but at times may feel as if it diminishes in the midst of life's craziness. Thankfully we have the gift of the Eucharist. A free and renewing gift of mercy, support and love. We approach communion with open hearts and an Amen that declares God loves us with an unquenchable fire of love. Feel the flame!
~ Ken Brucks
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Parish Potluck Planned for Sunday, September 11
The St. Gertrude Parish Council invites you to join us for a potluck picnic on Sunday, September 11! We will gather at 11:30 am after Mass in the parish parking lot. The parish will provide fried chicken, but bring your own chair, beverage, and your favorite dish to share. Enjoy an afternoon of music, friends, and fun!
Please RSVP to https://bit.ly/ParishPotluck and sign up for a dish to bring.
Are you interested in participating in this gathering, but can't attend an in person event at this time? Please RSVP and in the comments write "Can’t attend in person" with your phone number. We will reach out to you about a virtual option.
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Misericordia Family Fest Planned for Sunday, September 11
Misericordia will host its 40th annual Family Fest on Sunday, September 11 from 11:00 am-6:00 pm!
The campus at 6300 N. Ridge will bring families, friends, and neighbors together for a fun day of sunshine, smiles, great food and entertainment! All proceeds support Misericordia’s programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Visit https://www.misericordia.com/store/fest-tickets/ or call 773.273.2768 for more information.
Volunteers are Needed!
This one-day event takes approximately 2,000 volunteers to pull it off and your help would be greatly appreciated. Volunteer shifts are generally broken down into 2 ½ -3 hours.
At this time, the state is requiring that all volunteers must be up-to-date with COVID vaccinations. The coordinator for each area will be checking vaccination records as volunteers arrive to their shifts. Please have a digital copy or hard copy of your vaccination record available on the day of the Fest.
For more details about volunteering opportunities, please contact Paul Schwartz at 773.273.4161 or email pauls@misericordia.com.
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Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass – September 18
Couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary from across the Archdiocese of Chicago are invited to gather together for the Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass that will be celebrated by Cardinal Cupich on Sunday, September 18 at 2:30 pm. The Mass will be held at Holy Name Cathedral.
Click here for information & to register
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October PreCana Class at St. Gertrude
If you are an engaged couple planning on getting married at St. Gertrude, or a
parishioner planning on getting married
anywhere else, attendance at a PreCana is part of the marriage preparation process for all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Our parish-based PreCana will be held on
Saturday, October 15.
Please call the Rectory office at 773.764.3621 to register or to request additional information.
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New Parish Email Marketing Platform - Join our Mailing List
The parish e-blast platform has switched from MailChimp to Constant Contact.
To join our email communications list (or if you unsubscribed in the past, and now wish to receive emails), text STGERTS to 22828. You'll be prompted to enter your email address and will receive our e-reflections and e-bulletins. Additionally, if you prefer to just receive the weekly bulletin, typically emailed on Thursday afternoons, send an email to news@stgertrudechicago.org and your email will be manually added to a separate, e-bulletin-only list.
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Upcoming Pastoral Parish Council (PPC) Meeting/Info about PPC Member
The next PPC meeting will be held on Thursday, August 25. Meetings are held in the Ministry Center from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm and are open to parishioners.
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Meet Sean Williams
I have been a St. Gertrude altar server, Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Parish Secretary, although I reckon I am most remembered for scoring the winning basket in the St. Gertrude's 5th grade boys' basketball sole victory in the '94 season! ;)
I am now delighted to be on the Parish Council. I work as an ER doctor.
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Interested in Becoming Catholic? | |
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The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process by which adults learn more about the Catholic Church. This free program begins in the fall and meets until Pentecost.
Many people who begin RCIA are non-Catholics seeking to become Catholic or at least to explore whether Catholicism might be a good home. Those who complete the process and decide to become Catholic are initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. Others who take RCIA are already Catholic but want a deeper understanding of their faith foundation.
The RCIA process does not ask those who have been baptized in another faith to give up their denominational experiences. Rather, the RCIA process seeks to add new colors and designs to their existing faith life tapestry. In addition to attending Mass, the RCIA process includes weekly gatherings of breaking open the Word of God, sharing our stories, and learning about our faith traditions.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA process at St. Gertrude, contact me at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621. The RCIA meeting schedule is available here: https://bit.ly/RCIACalendar.
~ Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate
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Help for Ukraine
If you would like to donate to help the Ukrainian people, please consider donating to Catholic Relief Services for emergency aid to the people in Ukraine.
Click here to donate to CRS
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Art & Environment Volunteers Needed
Want to get involved in something? We are looking for parishioners who are interested in being part of an Art and Environment Committee. The team's goal is to create an environment inside and outside the church that enhances prayer and worship according to the liturgical times and seasons.
A variety of talents are needed. Having a background in art and interior design, woodworking, lighting, sewing, and floral arrangements would be good, but not necessary!
The team meets as needed to plan and/or prepare. To get involved, contact Fr. Mike at mgabriel@stgertudechicago.org.
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Let the Shooting End—A Prayer for Peace
God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence.
Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation have caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety.
We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence towards peace. Help us to transform our own hearts, and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our difference.
Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation.
We ask this in the name of God who desires that we live together in peace. Amen.
~ The Sisters of Mercy
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Spots to Enroll Students at Northside Catholic Academy are Still Available
Northside Catholic Academy returns to school on Tuesday, August 23. We are still accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Schedule a tour and learn more about how NCA educates and nurtures our students intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually.
Contact Jacob Utz at jutz@ncaschools.com or call 773-743-6277.
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Priests’ Health and Retirement
Priests have dedicated their lives to the ministry of God’s children, serving our needs as Catholics without asking for anything in return. Now, it is our turn to show our love and care for their ever-faithful support.
Please consider including a legacy gift for Priests’ Health and Retirement to support the healthcare needs of our active priests, as well as the medical and housing needs of our retired priests.
For more information, please call Priests’ Health and Retirement at 708.449.8026. If you would like to make a gift, please visit prmaa.org.
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Schedule for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Cantors | |
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Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, August 13 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane
- Sunday, August 14 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
- Sunday, August 14 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez
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Eucharistic Ministers
- Saturday, August 13 at 5:00 pm - Kathleen Dawson
- Sunday, August 14 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott
- Sunday, August 14 at 10:30 am - Carlos Barragan, Victoria Healy, Bob Backis
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Cantors
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Saturday, August 13 at 5:00 pm - Denise Goodman
- Sunday, August 14 at 8:00 am - Kate Hibbs Davis
- Sunday, August 14 at 10:30 am - Michael Callahan
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Wanted: Ushers, Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers, and Ministers of the Word
We are in need of additional volunteers to assist at Masses, including ushers, greeters, Eucharistic ministers, and ministers of the word. If you are interested, please email Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Rest in Peace
- Ted (Thaddeus) Baran
- Tomas Bissonnette
- Gareth Foster, son of Verna & Stephen Foster
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New Parishioners
- The Arseneault Family
- The Hannon/Payos Family
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Ways to Help Our Parish: Amazon Smile, Text to Give, GiveCentral, PayPal, and Amazon Smile
Visit smile.amazon.com and select St. Gertrude Parish as your charity of choice. From then on, connect to Amazon through smile.amazon.com and St. Gertrude will automatically benefit as your charity of choice.
We have set up a "Text to Give" option through GiveCentral. Parishioners are welcome to text the word Donate to 1.773.741.9505 to make a donation via phone.
To access our PayPal link, please visit our parish website and donate from there. GiveCentral offers parishioners the option of one-time gifts or weekly contributions.
For more information on text to give or to sign up for online giving, please email Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Monday, August 15: 7:30 am - Catherine Scanlon & George Frey +
Tuesday, August 16: 7:30 am - Ethan Seitzer +
Wednesday, August 17: 7:30 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members
Thursday, August 18: 7:30 am - Communion Service – Norman H. Linke
Friday, August 19: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
Saturday, August 20: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners; 5:00 pm - Daniel Kuhn +
Sunday, August 21: 8:00 am - Florence I. Okoye (Thanksgiving for 70th birthday);
10:30 am - Judy O’Toole +
(+ indicates the person is deceased)
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Click HERE for the daily readings for Masses. Here is the list of readings for this for parishioners that prefer to look them up:
Monday, August 15: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/1 Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56
Tuesday, August 16: Ez 28:1-10/Mt 19:23-30
Wednesday, August 17: Ez 34:1-11/Mt 20:1-16
Thursday, August 18: Ez 36:23-28/Mt 22:1-14
Friday, August 19: Ez 37:1-14/Mt 22:34-40
Saturday, August 20: Ez 43:1-7ab/Mt 23:1-12
Sunday, August 21: Is 66:18-21/Heb 12:5-7, 11-13/Lk 13:22-30
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Please Pray for our Parishioners and Friends | |
- Pamela Sherrod Anderson
- Zara Bradley
- Sharon Brown
- Lilly Buie
- Maggie Callaway
- Aida Calvopina
- KC Conway
- Connie Cool
- Caloy Desembrana
- Ann Collins Dole
- Christine Frisoni
- Shirley Marie Gonzales
- Gina Heidkamp
- Maria Hertl
- Daniel Hidalgo
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- Bernice Kiedysz
- Marilyn Klein
- Roy Lipscomb
- Sheila McGuire
- Dean Mattoni
- Larry McCauley
- Molly Morris
- Karey Myers
- Richard Seitz
- Peggy Stoffel
- The Sullivan family
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Ken & Vyes Yoza
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