Bulletin for Sunday, August 28
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Times: Sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 am; Monday-Friday - 7:30 am
(Thursdays are a Communion service); Saturdays - 7:30 am & 5:00 pm
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturdays or by appointment.
The office is closed on Labor Day. Mass will be held at 7:30 am.
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From Fr. Rich
I mentioned last week that sometimes when we are reading, we realize the author is explaining exactly what we think or believe. Another category of this is when we are reading something, and the author uses a phrase or a few words and suddenly we are the recipient of a whole new insight.
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This most recently happened to me while reading a David Brooks column (8.19.22) in the New York Times and he quotes Frederick Buechner, who was a Presbyterian minister who died last year. The quote is this: “Faith is homesickness.”
In those three words, Buechner captured so well the idea St. Augustine threw out centuries earlier, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O Lord.”
We all seem to come to an awareness sometime in our maturing process, that we are not complete. We rarely know what is missing or how we know that, but we have an innate sense we were meant for more than we currently are. Sometimes we refer to this as the great “inner hunger and thirst” for something else, something more.
While from this perspective we could well call this a good, even great thing, for some people it becomes distorted and rather than grapple with this profoundly spiritual question, some decide what they are hungry and thirsty for is more “stuff” -- money, power, influence, liquor/drugs, food, sex, etc.
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In other words, sometimes we replace the innate inner drive for God with something lesser, often something that is addictive. But these things always fail us because they cannot give peace to our souls. Some of them can only distract us form that longing or sedate us do we don’t feel its painful absence.
What so caught my attention in Buechner’s quote was both the awareness that this sense of incompleteness or “unfinishedness” comes from the deepest core of our humanity; as well as capturing the eternal truth that everything comes from God, and everything returns to God. And what is always driving that relationship and our sense of purpose and meaning is love.
So, while it is true our hearts will never rest until they rest in God, it is also true that whenever we are loving someone else, we will always be aware that we are, simultaneously, feeling more “at home”.
And while it may not completely satisfy our hunger and thirst, it has already pointed the way “back home" - where God is waiting for us.
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22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our English word ‘humility’ comes from the same root as “humus” or “earth”. Literally, the dirt upon which we stand and dig and build, etc. Unfortunately, it carries with it a stain of unworthiness or lowliness or cause for shame. Which were all added later. But its origin meant we were well-grounded, literally!
Today’s first reading and Gospel passage are all about humility in its original sense. Sirach’s guidance to a young person, and Jesus’ instruction to his host where he is dining are all about the same truth -- always be who you are -- and remember you are no different than anyone else. Even if your life circumstances and some other person’s circumstance may have brought you to two very different places.
Humility means we know in our blood and bones we are no different in value than the homeless person begging for change at the corner, or the billionaire making more in one day than most of the world’s inhabitants could possibly make in a lifetime of work. We know this is true because we also know that we did nothing to come into the world, and at some point, we are doing to die and be buried. Which, no matter how many ways we try to talk around it, comes down to the same truth -- be good to others. In our relationships it is vitally important to remember we all come from the same place and none of us we are getting out of here alive. So, what remains is how we love one another and treat each other.
One of the great joys of gardening is giving ourselves permission to “play in the dirt.” Long-time gardeners know that they can plant and fertilize and water and weed and take good care of the garden. But at the end of every day, they also know it is simply a miracle. We plant a seed and a plant springs forth. We nourish the plant with fertilizer and water and one day we have a beautiful flower or a vegetable. And when the season is over, we uproot the plant and mulch it because it isn’t finished working and now it will feed the ground for the next seed that is planted on some future day.
Gardening is a great teacher in the ways of humility. So is helping in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter or visiting the sick, etc. Whatever grounds us, whatever re-connects us to where we come from is a humble grace.
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Upcoming Events
Listed in Chronological Order
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Reading Group on Brideshead Revisited on Wednesday, August 31
Join St. Gregory’s Hall for a reading group on Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. The book explores the work of God’s grace as an “unseen hook” in the lives of an aristocratic Catholic family in inter-war England as seen through the eyes of protagonist Charles Ryder. Waugh, an adult convert to Catholicism, was considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
Book 3 and the Epilogue will be discussed on Wednesday, August 31.
Participants are asked to obtain their own copy of the book. To RSVP, fill out this form, email Mark Frazen at mfranzen@archchicago.org, or call the parish center at 773.561.3546.
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Labor Day is Monday, September 5
Join us for Mass on Labor Day at 7:30 am.
Please note, the Rectory office will be closed.
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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 is 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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Kids Word Returns on Sundays at 10:30 am Masses Beginning September 18
On Sundays during the 10:30 am Mass in church, children aged 4-7 years-old are invited to attend Kids Word to hear an age-appropriate Gospel message and do fun, scripture-based activities such as coloring or crafts in the Rectory.
Children will be invited by the celebrant to come to the altar before the readings and will return to church before the petitions.
Email eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for details.
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Catechists Needed to Teach Religious Education and Kids Word This School Year
We are looking for catechists to teach in our parish’s Religious Ed program this Fall and for our weekly Kids Word! 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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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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PreCana Class at St. Gertrude on Saturday, October 15
Are you an engaged couple planning on getting married at St. Gertrude? Couples that have established a connection with Fr. Rich (or another priest) are invited to attend St. Gertrude’s PreCana course on Saturday, October 15.
This full day, in-person gathering is dedicated to considering your life together as a married couple. Led by a facilitator couple from St. Gertrude, the session begins at 9:00 am and features presentations, prayers, and discussions with your partner and 5-10 other couples. Lunch and snacks are provided.
Couples can register for the October session by calling the Rectory office at 773.764.3621or by filling out an online form at https://stgertrudechicago.org/marriage.
The cost of PreCana is covered by the church fee couples planning a wedding at St. Gertrude are charged.
Additional PreCana classes at St. Gertrude will be offered on January 21, 2023, April 15, 2023, and September 9, 2023.
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Hidden Mercy - A Conversation with the Author Happening on October 18
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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Youth Group Outing to the Escape Room
On Saturday, August 20, youth group members and a few NCA students had a blast at the Escape Room and enjoyed downtown Chicago on a beautiful day!
Teens in 7th grade and older are invited to the next parish youth group gathering on Sunday, September 11.
For more information, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
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The Parish Garden's First Harvest!
St. Gertrude's parish garden had its first harvest! It included cucumbers, jalapeño peppers, basil, rosemary, parsley, and chives.
The vegetables and herbs grown from our garden will be shared with both Care for Real and the St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen!
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Growing in Faith
The readings this weekend consistently deliver the message of humility as a virtue: Don’t put yourself above others! Rather, “Humble yourself…and you will find favor with God,” Sirach writes from the Old Testament.
And Luke broadens the message when he writes of Jesus advising who someone should invite when holding a banquet. No family, friends, or ‘wealthy” people. But, rather, we are admonished to “Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Even though both Sirach and Luke mention the promise of being “repaid” by God if we act in a humble manner, maybe it’s not just about humility. Maybe even more, Jesus challenges us, as his followers, to be intentional about those we choose as friends. Are we populating our lives with people who think like us? Act like us?
I’ve thought about this a lot lately. My secular world shows up as quite tribal now - it’s easier to disenfranchise those who don’t hold my values and cut myself off from dealing with the “other”, especially regarding politics.
Jesus takes us to task here. Seems like admission to the “Jesus Club” comes when we intentionally open the door and actually seek out to welcome the “other”. Living an inclusive life isn’t for sissies. But it’s the life Jesus insists upon.
~ Claire Conley
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Live Stream Thank You
Thanks to Rita Elue, who has volunteered to assist Eloy Escamilla, our Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry, in the weekly live stream of the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday mornings. The live stream makes it possible for parishioners who cannot get to church to participate in the Sunday Mass.
If you are interested in becoming part of the live-stream community, visit https://www.facebook.com/stgertrudechicago or the parish website, stgertrudechicago.org.
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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 September 18 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/RCIACalendarUpdated.
~ 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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New Catholic Podcast
Have you ever had a question about Catholicism that you couldn’t find an easy answer to? Or a question about a teaching or tradition that seemed to have five different answers, none of them satisfactory? Or maybe you even had a question you felt you weren’t allowed to ask. The new podcast from U.S. Catholic, Glad You Asked, may be just what you are looking for.
Glad You Asked, hosted by editors Emily Sanna and Rebecca Bratten Weiss, explores some of the questions about Catholicism that don’t have obvious answers—questions that open doors to more in-depth discussion of Catholic history, tradition, and the development of teachings.
Whether you’re unfamiliar with Catholicism and simply interested in learning more about a major world religion, a convert trying to find your way around a new faith community, or a lifetime Catholic with a longing for thoughtful, empathetic, responsible conversation, the Glad You Asked podcast has something to keep your mind and your heart engaged.
You can subscribe to Glad You Asked on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or HERE to receive updates about new episodes.
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Legacy Planning
Please prayerfully consider remembering our parish when you update your estate plans.
These gifts help us to build a solid foundation for the Catholic formation of future generations.
Create or update your estate plans today by contacting your estate attorney and financial
advisor. For more information, please contact
Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org or 773.764.3621.
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Schedule for Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Cantors | |
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Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, August 27 at 5:00 pm - Jennifer Kiedaish
- Sunday, August 28 at 8:00 am - David Sullivan
- Sunday, August 28 at 10:30 am - Rose Karasti
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Eucharistic Ministers
- Saturday, August 27 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
- Sunday, August 28 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
- Sunday, August 28 at 10:30 am - Steve Monti, Victoria Healy, Bob Backis
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Cantors
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Saturday, August 27 at 5:00 pm - Amir Ghazaleh
- Sunday, August 28 at 8:00 am - Paula Dempsey
- Sunday, August 28 at 10:30 am - Rob Schroeder
- *Heidi Joosten to play piano at all Masses this weekend.
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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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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 29: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
Tuesday, August 30: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
Wednesday, August 31: 7:30 am - Peter & Mary Tunney +
Thursday, September 1: 7:30 am - Communion Service
Friday, September 2: 7:30 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members
Saturday, September 3: 7:30 am - Gareth Foster +; 5:00 pm - Ethan Seitzer +
Sunday, September 4: 8:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude; 10:30 am - Tomas Bissonnette +
(+ 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 29: 1 Cor 2:1-5 (431)/Mk 6:17-29
Tuesday, August 30: 1 Cor 2:10b-16/Lk 4:31-37
Wednesday, August 31: 1 Cor 3:1-9/Lk 4:38-44
Thursday, September 1: 1 Cor 3:18-23/Lk 5:1-11
Friday, September 2: 1 Cor 4:1-5/Lk 5:33-39
Saturday, September 3: 1 Cor 4:6b-15/Lk 6:1-5
Sunday, September 4: Wis 9:13-18b/Phlm 9-10, 12-17/Lk 14:25-33
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Please Pray for our Parishioners and Friends
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- 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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