Bulletin for Sunday, December 4, 2022
The Second Sunday of Advent
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Mass Times: Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am Mass in Church; 10:30 am Gym Mass; Monday-Friday: 7:30 am (Thursday is a Communion service);
Saturday: 7:30 am & 5:00 pm
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Wednesday, December 7 - 6:30 pm (Vigil), Thursday, December 8 - 7:30 am & 8:30 am.
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturday or by appointment. Advent Reconciliation - Sunday, December 11 at 1:00 pm
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From Fr. Rich
On this second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist makes his appearance. This great prophet announces what is coming in the person, Jesus, and warns all his listeners to repent and prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
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His message is the reflection of the message from Isaiah in today’s First Reading. Isaiah reminds us that the shoot that sprouts from the stump of Jesse makes clear that in the midst of failure and despair, God is still working, still restoring hope to a crushed people, still bringing about justice and peace when we turn to God and follow His ways.
Sometimes is it the most difficult voices to hear that we most need to listen to. John the Baptist did not sweeten his message! Even his clothing and how he lived spoke volumes about the state of affairs in which this people was living. It was a desperate time and required a challenging response.
Truth be told, every age, every year, can be such a desperate time. Sometimes it is our nation, our world, and sometimes it is our own personal lives that seem to be falling apart, in which we begin to recognize that we have drifted from God.
The feast of the Lord’s birth, for which we now prepare, is the reminder that God will go to any lengths to bring us his message of love. For that is what Isaiah was delivering. That is what John the Baptist was delivering. And on Christmas day, God born into human flesh is delivered to assure us forever and always that God’s love will remove all barriers, even to becoming one of us, so that we will know we are loved, forgiven and saved.
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Retirement Fund for Religious
Please take a moment to read the Cardinal’s letter in today’s bulletin about the Retirement Fund for Religious which will be taken up next weekend. This collection helps fund the retirement and health care for the women and men religious who served so faithfully with such little payment in our schools and parishes. Now they need our help to assist in covering their retirement, especially with health care costs.
Please be generous in next weekend’s second collection.
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Upcoming Events
Listed in Chronological Order
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Holiday Schedule at St. Gertrude Parish
Immaculate Conception
Wednesday, December 7
Thursday, December 8
Advent Reconciliation Service
Sunday, December 11th
4th Sunday of Advent/Fr. Rich's Retirement Mass (Sunday)
Saturday, December 17th
Sunday, December 18th
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8:00 am & 10:30 am* (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
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*Fr. Rich's retirement will be celebrated
Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24th
- 5:00 pm - For families with children (live-streamed)
- 8:00 pm - Vigil Mass - Adult choir & instruments (choral music from 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25th
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8:00 am & 10:30 am (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
New Year’s Eve, Saturday December 31st
New Year's Day, Sunday, January 1st
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8:00 am & 10:30 am (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
Saturday, January 7th
Sunday, January 8th
- 8:00 am & 10:30 am in church (live-streamed); 10:30 am Gym Mass
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St. Nick's Fest - Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4
St. Nick's Fest will take place next week at St. John XXIII Parish (St. Nicholas Church Campus), 806 Ridge Ave. , in Evanston.
The church grounds are transformed into a wonderland of Christmas trees, greenery, crafts, food, bakery goods, and more.
Visit their website for more details.
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RCIA Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance - Sunday, December 4
This Sunday, December 4 at the 10:30 am Mass, RCIA candidates Wildaline Serin, Tyler Fawbush, and Michael D. Joyce will celebrate the Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance.
The Rite welcomes the Candidates, those who have been baptized in another faith or baptized Catholic as a child but never catechized in the Catholic faith, into the process of full communion with the Church.
The Rite of Acceptance recognizes the Catechumen's decision to begin the process of becoming a member of the Catholic Church through Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
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Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Thursday, December 8
This Thursday, December 8th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses for the Holy Day are on Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30 pm, and on Thursday, December 8th at 7:30 am and 8:30 am.
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Edgewater Singers Holiday Concert - Saturday, December 10
The Edgewater Singers will host their annual holiday concert on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm. The performance, “Out of Darkness, Light”, is being held at St. Gertrude’s Church.
As always, the concert is free and appropriate for all ages.
We strongly encourage that the audience wear masks during the performance.
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Our Advent Reconciliation Service is Sunday, December 11
Next Sunday, December 11th, at 1:00 pm in church, we will celebrate our Advent Reconciliation. Please join us for this special service of scripture, hymns, and guided reflection, offering us some “quiet in the midst of the storm” as we celebrate the forgiveness of our sins in preparation for the celebration of Christmas.
Everyone is welcome. This service usually lasts about 45 minutes.
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Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting for the Loss of a Child Service - Sunday, December 11 at 6:45 pm
The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting service for the loss of a child will be hosted by Queen of All Saints parish (6280 N. Sauganash Avenue, Chicago) on Sunday, December 11th.
At 7:00 pm local time, family and friends around the globe unite in lighting candles for one hour to honor the memories of any child of any age who has died.
Our simple gathering begins at 6:45 pm and includes a short service, readings and music. All are welcome to participate in part or all of the service, which will also be livestreamed on the parish website at www.qasparish.org.
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Essay Contest for Students in 7th & 8th Grade - Deadline is Monday December 12
Students interested in the contests should write an essay explaining what is the most important contribution that Christians can make to society. Entries should be 500-600 words. Spelling and grammar count!
The top three winners will receive gift cards and have their essays published online and in the bulletin.
Entries must be submitted online or postmarked by Monday, December 12, 2022. Email
essays (preferred method) to eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or mail them to Eloy
Escamilla, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660.
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Donate to our Giving Tree Program Until Sunday, December 18
The Giving Trees are in the back of Church! As we have been doing since the pandemic, we will again be asking for gift cards, rather than gifts. This allows flexibility for individuals to get what they need. The benefactors of the Giving Tree collections will be Care for Real and the St. Gertrude Refugee and Immigrant Ministry.
Care for Real is asking for gift cards in $20.00 increments to Target, Jewel, and Walmart. They are also asking for Ventra passes. The Refugee Ministry is requesting $20 gift cards to Target. We are also asking for $10 McDonald’s gift cards to provide immediate meals for those who request them.
When you bring your gift cards to church, there are two boxes on a table in front of the Blessed Mother’s Shrine in the front of church. One of the boxes indicates it is for Care for Real, and one for The Parish Refugee Committee. Please place your gift cards into whichever outreach you are supporting. The McDonald’s gift cards can be placed in either box. The last chance to donate gift cards will be Sunday, December 18th at noon.
We hope that in this most joyous of seasons you will be able to support the Giving Tree program. Each gift card will allow others to be able to have a blessed and happy Christmas celebration.
If you have any questions please reach out to the Giving Tree Program coordinator Joe McMahon at jpmgmu@aol.com or at 708.525.5051.
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The Longest Night of the Year: Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil - Wednesday, December 21
Please join members of the Peace & Justice Ministry for on Wednesday, December 21, the first night of winter, the longest night of darkness, to remember those who have died while homeless.
They die alone - in tents, shelters, and on the streets. On this evening, we will mourn their passing.
The Vigil will be held at 7:00 pm in St. Gertrude's church.
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Christmas Eve Pageant at 5:00 pm Mass: Children & Adults Needed
As is our tradition during the Gospel at the Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Family Mass, the kids from
St. Gertrude parish will act out the Christmas story.
We are looking for children ages 5 and older to participate in this charming production, and adults to help organize the event. (If you have a young baby and are interested in performing as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, let us know!)
Please contact me at
eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you and/or your children are interested in being a part of this special Mass.
~ Eloy Escamilla
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Save the Date! Our Parish Cabaret Night Will be Held on Saturday, January 28
Our rescheduled Cabaret Night has a new date - Saturday, January 28. It will be held from 7:00-9:00 pm in the gym.
People wishing to perform or help with set up or breakdown should contact Mary Clare
Barker at mcbarker@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Letter from Cardinal Cupich: Second Collection for Retired Religious Next Weekend
Dear Friends in Christ,
On the Third Sunday of Advent, our parishes will be conducting the Retirement Fund for Religious collection, an annual appeal that benefits nearly 25,000 elderly sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Our senior religious are a treasure—both for their service to our Church and for the ways their prayer and witness enrich our faith. “Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bear fruit even in old age” (Ps 92:14-15).
As I reflect on the ministry of women and men religious—past and present—I am grateful for the ways they have shaped my own faith. I also value the tremendous service they have offered our Archdiocese. Perhaps you, too, recall an older religious who made a positive difference in your life.
Most senior religious worked many years for little pay, leaving their religious communities with a shortage of retirement savings. Rising health-care costs and decreased income compound the challenge to meet day-to-day needs for medications, nursing assistance, and other necessities. Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious provide financial support that helps religious communities care for aging members while ensuring younger ones can continue the good works of their elders.
I understand you are asked to support many worthy causes. I invite you to contribute
what you can at Masses the weekend of December 10-11. Most importantly, please pray for God’s continued blessing on all our women and men religious. Rest assured that they are praying for you.
Wishing you every blessing during this Holy Season of Advent. With kind regards I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
~Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
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St. Francis Catholic Worker House of Hospitality Invitation
St. Francis House is a home of hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement, located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4652 N. Kenmore Ave.
The community hosts open house dinners on Mondays at 6:00 pm.
For more information, please contact Renee Darline Roden at rr3329@columbia.edu.
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Growing in Faith
You’ve heard the phrase “the lion will lay down with the lamb,” haven’t you? It’s a mainstay of Christian teaching and Western culture, and it has to do with hope — hope for a time when conflict will end, when enemies will be friends, when fear will be banished.
It’s a condensed version of a section from this weekend’s first reading from Isaiah about a new leader who will serve the people with wisdom, understanding, strength and justice. Indeed, justice will be a band this leader wears around the waist, and faithfulness a belt. And the result will be, well, just plain beautiful:
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
Hard-edge professional politicians — those leaders of our modern world — dismiss such thinking as pie-in-the-sky. And they’re right. I don’t want my baby grandson Ulysses anywhere near a cobra’s den.
But they’re wrong, too. We can hope for a world of innocence, a life without violence or threat. We should hope for such a world. And not just hope. We should work for such a world by bringing love and openness and the ability to listen and a willingness to embrace to our interactions with every person we meet. Hope and work like Jesus.
~ Patrick T. Reardon
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Please Pick Up Your Remembrance Altar/Ofrenda Items
Thank you for sharing images and memories of your special someone with us during the month of November. If you have not yet picked up your photo or memento, please collect them from the Rectory office.
The Rectory office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, and Saturdays from 9:00 am-2:30 pm.
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Baptisms
- Oliver Cyril & Alexandra Maude Williams, children of Christopher and Alexandra Williams
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Rest in Peace
Joan Crowley
- Visitation Monday, December 5th, 9:30 am, St. Gertrude, Memorial Mass following the visitation.
Ronald Schlachter, husband of Ruth Sanchez-Schlachter, father of Robert Schlachter and Andrea Schlachter Macksood.
- Visitation Thursday, December 8th, 4:00-8:00 pm, Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Avenue, with a memory sharing service at 6:00 pm. Memorial Visitation Friday, December 9th, 9:00 am, St. Gertrude, Memorial Mass at 10:00 am.
Irene Mac, mother of George Mac
- Gravesite service at Rosehill Cemetery on Friday, December 16 at 10:00 am.
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Schedule for Altar Servers, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, & Cantors | |
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Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, December 3 at 5:00 pm -Kathleen Dawson, Patrick Reardon
- Sunday, December 4 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott, Hallie Burhoe
- Sunday, December 4 at 10:30 am - Stephen Modde, Anthony Myers
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Eucharistic Ministers
- Saturday, December 3 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane
- Sunday, December 4 at 8:00 am - Brian DeVarenne
- Sunday, December 4 at 10:30 am - Michael Kowalsky, Troy McMillan, Steve Monti
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Altar Servers
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Sunday, December 4 at 10:30 am - Cross Bearer - Carter Dant; Acolytes - Kate Dunning, Clare McCarthy
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Cantors and Musicians
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Saturday, December 3 at 5:00 pm - Amir Ghazaleh
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Sunday, December 4 at 8:00 am - Kate Hibbs Davis
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Sunday, December 4 at 10:30 am - Michael Callahan; Dana Sullivan-flute, Denise Goodman-clarinet
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Please Consider a Gift to the Church That Pays You Back
The spirit of giving is most evident during the Advent season. A Charitable Gift Annuity is a great way to make a gift to the Church and receive fixed payments for life—benefitting you today and our parish in the future. You can schedule payments according to your financial needs, and enjoy immediate and future tax benefits, including a federal income tax deduction for a portion of your gift, if you itemize. Also, a portion of each annuity payment will be tax-free (through life
expectancy). The funds remaining after your lifetime will support our parish or school – as
designated by you.
For more information, please contact Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org or visit giving.archchicago.org/cga.
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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, December 5: 7:30 am - Living & deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
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Tuesday, December 6: 7:30 am - Ben Bell †
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Wednesday, December 7: 7:30 am - Mary Ellen Mellon †; 6:30 pm - Feast of the Immaculate Conception Vigil
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Thursday, December 8: 7:30 am & 8:30 am - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
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Friday, December 9: 7:30 am - Living & deceased Torreano family members
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Saturday, December 10: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm – Richard Cenar, Sr. †
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Sunday, December 11: 8:00 am - Tom DiProva †; 10:30 am - Tim O’Toole †; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Almo Manzardo †
(+ 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 week for parishioners that prefer to look them up:
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Monday, December 5: Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26
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Tuesday, December 6: Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14
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Wednesday, December 7: Is 40:25-31/Mt 11:28-30
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Thursday, December 8: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38
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Friday, December 9: Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19
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Saturday, December 10: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/Mt 17:9a, 10-13
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Sunday, December 11: Is 35:1-6a, 10/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11
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Please Pray for our Parishioners and Friends
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- Pamela Sherrod Anderson
- Zara Bradley
- Sharon Brown
- Lilly Buie
- Aida Calvopina
- KC Conway
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Gina Heidkamp
- Maria Hertl
- Mary Horan
- Bernice Kiedysz
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- Marilyn Klein
- Steve Laslo
- Sheila McGuire
- Larry McCauley
- Karey Myers
- Richard Seitz
- Bernadette Stanis
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Yyes Yoza
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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. | | | | |
