St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, August 24, 2025

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Sergio Romo to Be Installed as Pastor of St. Gertrude in September

We are delighted to announce that Fr. Sergio Romo will be formally installed as Pastor of St. Gertrude Parish on Sunday, September 28, at the 10:30 am Mass, with Bishop John S. Siemianowski presiding. Everyone in the parish is warmly invited to attend.

The Installation Mass is a beautiful sign of stability and unity, marking the beginning of a new chapter of shared ministry. As pastor, Fr. Sergio will continue to lead our parish family in prayer, service, and mission, helping us live out our faith with joy and commitment.

After Mass, everyone is warmly invited to the Social Hall for our monthly hospitality gathering, Brewed at St. Gertrude, as we celebrate this special moment together.

"Brewed at St. Gertrude" Social Event Gathering is This Sunday

Please join us this Sunday, August 24, for another "Brewed at St. Gertrude" parish hospitality event after the 10:30 am mass.

Held in the Social Hall, all are welcome to come for pastries, beverages, and to enjoy each other’s company. 

St. Gertrude’s Commonweal Action Group to Meet This Sunday, August 24

St. Gertrude’s Commonweal Action will meet again on Sunday, August 24, in the Social Hall following the 10:30 am Mass and Brewed at St. Gertrude hospitality gathering. The meeting will last approximately 90 minutes.

At our July 20 meeting, we adopted the following mission statement: To be a passionate voice and face of Christianity that brings Catholic teaching on social justice and love of neighbor to the public square.

We have launched several projects—and we need the input and energy of many parishioners. Please join us!

Our current initiatives include:

• Drafting a letter in support of Catholic bishops who are opposing the administration’s unchristian policies on deportation and the cruel treatment of immigrants.

• Facilitating the attendance of our parishioners at rallies and other protests under a Commonweal Action of St. Gertrude’s banner.

We are also planning a forum featuring an expert speaker to discuss the impact of recent healthcare legislation in the United States.

All are welcome! 

Care for Real Collection Drive is This Weekend

Our collection drive for Care for Real is August 23-24 before and after masses to support our neighbors in need.

Care for Real reports that they have been seeing longer lines at distributions lately, but have met the demand for food every single time thanks to generous donors like you! .

Please visit https://careforreal.org/wishlist/ or visit their Facebook page to see what they are specifically looking for at this time. 

We are so grateful for your help supporting our neighbors who are struggling!  

Communion Services are now Mondays

Communion services are now held on Monday mornings at 7:30 am instead of Thursdays.

Thank you for understanding!

Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) on Friday Evenings

All are warmly invited to take part in our weekly 

Rosary group, held every Friday evening at 7:00 pm.

This bilingual gathering takes place in the Ministry Center dining room at 6214 N. Glenwood Ave.

Whether you're new to the Rosary or have prayed it for years, you're welcome to join us in this peaceful time of prayer and reflection.

Rectory Office Closed on Monday, September 1

The office will be closed on Monday, September 1 for Labor Day.

A communion service will be held at 7:30 am.

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership Planned for Saturday, September 6



St. Gertrude is a member of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a faith-based organization that brings together people of different ages, ethnicities/races and socioeconomic backgrounds across the Chicago area to transform racial, economic, social and environmental systemic structures through grassroots coalition building, community organizing and liberative formation. 

Their next monthly meeting is planned for Saturday, September 6 from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Ministry Center. 

Come together with other parishioners 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. All are welcome!  

Religious Ed Classes Begin on Sunday, September 7

Register your child for the 2025-2026 Religious Ed school year! Classes are held on Sundays from 9:15-10:15 am on the St. Gertrude campus. They will begin in two weeks, on September 7.

Here's how to sign up for classes:

1. Go to https://stgertrudechicago.org/religious-education-news and fill out a registration form.
2. Email it to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
3. Pay the fee for the 2025-2026 school year ($230 for one child and an additional $40 for each student from the same family.) Please note, children making their First Communion/Reconciliation or their Confirmation will also need to pay a $75 sacramental fee.

Looking for more information? A handbook and Religious Ed calendar is available in both English and Spanish. Questions can also be emailed to Eloy Escamilla. 

St. Gertrude’s Youth Group Heads to Lincoln Park Zoo

The St. Gertrude Youth Group is planning an outing to the Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday, September 13, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The group will travel together by CTA.

All students in grades 7 and up are invited to join. Email Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org with any questions.

The Lending Closet Is Going on Vacation!

Though we love being of service to our friends and neighbors in need of durable medical equipment, even Laurie needs a break every once in a while.

She will be out of the office on August 28 and September 2. The Lending Closet will reopen on Thursday, September 4.

We're hoping that you are enjoying all the delights and bounty of summer! Thank you, always, for your support of Heart to Heart and the Lending Closet.

Helping Hands Needed with our Brewed at St. Gertrude Social Gatherings

Brewed at St. Gertrude, our monthly hospitality following the 10:30am Mass, is gearing up for the coming year. Thrilled by the participation of so many parishioners in this gathering, we want to make it a regular event that continues into the near future. 

Would you like to join our ministry team? We seek additional volunteers who can help with one or more of the following: set up, serve, bring food, and/or clean up. Our dedicated crew has been making each hospitality welcoming each month, but could benefit from some more hands! 

Those who are interested in giving a little bit of their time each month are invited to meet following the next Brewed at St. Gertrude on August 24th in the Social Hall. Please feel free to reach out to Steven Patzke at stevenjcpatzke@gmail.com with interest or questions.

Growing in Faith

One of my great daily pleasures is filling our birdfeeder each morning with seeds and delicacies for the birds. Some hover at the feeder, strong enough to keep their spot; some flutter around, hoping for an opening at the little feeding stations; and some, like the mourning doves, stay on the ground or handrail, eating what flutters down. Truth be told, I always put another portion on the deck floorboards just for them—the ground feeders.

As it turns out, not only the birds come, but also squirrels, mice, and rats. At first, I was a little taken aback to see the rats and mice on the back porch. But then I thought, "Who am I to judge who gets to come and eat what I’ve put out?" They were hungry, and they came. And truth be told, they were all getting along, busy eating and not fussing with each other.

Yesterday morning, as I watched this little scene unfold, I was struck by how much it reminded me of this week’s Gospel reading: “And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Yes, I meant to put the food out for the “birds,” but others came as well—hungry, and perhaps grateful for the little meal set out for them—even the mice and rats! God’s love and grace are meant for every one of us, not just a select few. And isn’t that a blessing!

~ Maura Neafsey

Another Bountiful Harvest from Our Parish Garden

This week, our parish garden gave generously once again, offering a colorful and plentiful harvest. Bright tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tender greens, and fragrant herbs were gathered with care by our dedicated volunteers. Each vegetable, lovingly tended from seed to sprout, reflects the hard work and patience of our parish community.

What makes this harvest truly special is not just the bounty itself, but how it has been shared. The fresh produce has gone directly to Care for Real to be share with our neighbors in need.

In the simple act of planting, tending, and sharing, we are reminded that small seeds can grow into abundant blessings—especially when cultivated with love and shared freely.

Substitute Catechists Needed to Teach Religious Education This School Year

We are looking for catechists to be substitute teachers in our parish’s Religious Ed program and Kids Word! Catechists don't have to be professional teachers. Most are parents and parishioners who enjoy kids and are willing to help them grow in a personal relationship with God, participate in the sacraments, and 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. If you have any questions, please reach out to Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call 773.764.3621. 

Interested in Becoming Catholic?

The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly called 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 OCIA 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 OCIA are already Catholic but want a deeper understanding of their faith foundation.

The OCIA process does not ask those who have been baptized in another faith to give up their denominational experiences. Rather, the OCIA process seeks to add new colors and designs to their existing faith life tapestry. In addition to attending Mass, the OCIA process includes weekly gatherings of breaking open the Word of God, sharing our stories, and learning about our faith traditions.

Classes begin in September.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the OCIA process at St. Gertrude, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621. 

New Parishioners

• The Sturges family
• Oliva Flores and Michael Gabriel

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, August 23 at 5:00 pm - Joseph McMahon, Roman Reyes
• Sunday, August 24 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, August 24 at 10:30 am - Rose Karasti, Edie Sheridan

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, August 23 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, August 24 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, August 24 at 10:30 am - Carlos Barragan, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, August 25: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, August 26: 7:30 am - Apolonia Sia+
• Wednesday, August 27: 7:30 am - Jan Adams+
• Thursday, August 28: 7:30 am - Daniel McCarthy+
• Friday, August 29: 7:30 am - Donald Nyderek+
• Saturday, August 30: 7:30 am - Ricardo Martinez+; 5:00 pm - Daniel McCarthy+
• Sunday, August 31: 8:00 am - John Staggs+; 10:30 am - Julienne Fouche+

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.