St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, February 1 
and February 8, 2026

The Fourth and Fifth Sundays in Ordinary Time

News from St. Gertrude

St. Gertrude is on a journey to know, love, and serve Christ in our parish community. Together we must embrace Christ’s vision for missionary discipleship so our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith.

The very first step in this process involves assessing our greatest strengths and opportunities, and that is where the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) comes in! The DMI is an important survey tool that invites you to reflect on your discipleship journey here at St. Gerts. The Disciple Maker Index is designed to:

• Invite parishioners to reflect on their journey of discipleship.
• Enable parish leadership to make data-driven decisions. 
• Help parishioners grow in their faith.

The 10–15-minute survey can be accessed through an online link beginning on Wednesday, February 18 and will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide your perspective on our parish’s efforts to help you grow in relationship with Christ. All responses will be confidential, and the parish will only receive information about the community as a whole. We will share the link with you a bit closer to the launch of the survey. Paper surveys will also be available for those who do not have the ability to complete the survey online.

Together we must embrace Christ’s vision for missionary discipleship so our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith.

Thank you for helping with this important project and please continue to pray for this intention and for the growth and protection of our parish. 

Correction to Information Shared Last Week About Altar Server/Lector Training & Essay Contest (No Lector Training Tonight!)

Due to an editorial error, information regarding lector training, altar server training, and the student essay contest was incorrect.

Please note that there is no lector training tonight, Thursday, January 29, or altar server training on Thursday, February 5. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused, especially for those impacted by the incorrect information shared last week about lector training.  

Commonweal Action Healthcare Forum Planned for Sunday, February 1

Commonwealth Action of St. Gertrude’s Parish, Chicago will host a healthcare forum at noon on Sunday, February 1, following the 10:30 am mass. The event will be held in the Social Hall, located on the lower/basement level of 1401 W. Granville.

Speakers will include three local medical practitioners/ parishioners, as well as a representative from Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s office. They will discuss what you need to know regarding the Trump Administration’s changes to Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and Federal vaccination policies.

The program will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes and will include time for questions and discussion.

Coffee and snacks will be available from 11:45 am. (If you would like to contribute additional snacks to share, they will be most welcome.)  

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) Meeting Planned for Saturday, February 7

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, February 7, 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! 

Last Chance to Add Your Photo to our Parish Directory: Submit Your Image by February 7

Were you unable to have your photo taken but would still like to be included in the upcoming St. Gertrude Photo Directory? There is still time!

Parishioners may submit a photo by emailing it to stgertrudeparishcouncil@gmail.com. A $15 fee applies for this option, payable directly to St. Gertrude. Please drop off or mail a check to the rectory office at 1420 West Granville Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660. Please note parish photo directory in the memo line.

Photos will be accepted through February 7, 2026. Please email with any questions.

Next Collection Drive for Care for Real is is February 7-8

St. Gertrude has its monthly collection drive for our neighbors in need on February 7-8! In addition to info in the image, you can visit https://linktr.ee/cfrchicago for information about donating and links to their Facebook and Instagram pages to see what they are specifically looking for at this time. 

Please place nonperishable items in the bins at the back of church.

Our asylum seekers’ collection is the full first weekend of each month, and our general collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month, which this month is February 21-22.

We are so grateful for your help supporting Care for Real as they work to provide food and much-needed supplies to our neighbors who are struggling. 

Midwest Workers Association Super Bowl Tamale Benefit: Pick-Up Your Orders on Sunday, February 8

On Sunday, February 9, Midwest Workers Association (MWA) volunteers will return to deliver tamales after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am masses for their annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit. Saturday Mass attendees are asked to pick up their orders on Sunday morning.

The tamale benefit generates critical support for MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign, which includes door-to-door membership canvassing, utility bill advocacy to avert shutoffs and restore service, winter-watch phone outreach, and warm clothing distribution.

If you are interested in ordering tamales, please call their office at (773) 285-0485. Supporters may place orders by the half dozen for chicken in green sauce, cheese and jalapeño (vegetarian), or black bean and cactus (vegan). A suggested donation of $10 is requested for a half dozen tamales, or $20 for a dozen.

Groups of volunteers are urgently needed to help make tamales from February 2–7, as well as to participate in MWA’s membership canvassing and benefit advocacy sessions. Call their office for details.

Book Club is Tuesday, February 10

Join us for a discussion of 10:04 by Ben Lerner on Tuesday, February 10 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).

Women's Friendship Club is Thursday, February 12

St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of every month in the Ministry Center. The gathering begins at 11:30 am, attendees should bring their own (brown bag) lunch. Dessert is provided!

Their next gathering is Thursday, February 12. Consider yourself invited!

Rectory Office is Closed on February 16

Presidents Day is celebrated on Monday, February 16. Because of the long weekend, there will be no Religious Ed classes on February 15.

The Rectory office will be closed on Monday, February 16. A Communion service will be held at 7:30 am.

Save the Date – Sunday, February 22 – The Catholic Faith We Profess: Reflections on the Nicene Creed

On Sunday, February 22, in the Social Hall after Brewed at St. Gertrude’s (approximately 12:15 pm), Fr. Peter Bernardi, SJ, will lead a presentation and discussion on the Nicene Creed, which Catholics and other Christian communities have professed for 1,700 years. Fr. Peter will discuss why we continue to profess the Nicene Creed, what controversies moved the Council of Nicaea to promulgate the Creed, and how the Creed expresses and safeguards the basic beliefs of our Catholic faith.

Please plan on being present for an informative and engaging reflection on the Nicene Creed. All are welcome!

Presented by the Adult Spirituality and Formation Committee

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 for February 1

Thanks to St. Gertrude’s Adult Formation Committee and parishioner Jim Neafsy, some of us have recently begun an Ignatian Retreat. At the beginning of the book that is guiding our prayer, The Ignatian Adventure, author Kevin O’Brien, SJ includes a prayer by Thomas Merton. Two lines from that prayer read: “[My Lord God] I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.”

What pleases God? Many Scripture passages answer that question, and in today’s Gospel the most familiar ones are the Beatitudes. Jesus tells his followers: Be poor in spirit. Be meek. Be merciful. Be clean of heart. Be peacemakers.

I write this reflection in the aftermath of the killing of Renée Good in Minneapolis. I can tell myself that the world I live in is so much more horrible than it has ever been and that I don’t know what to do. Yet millennia ago, Jesus was sent to redeem such a world — a world of warring cultures, unjust institutions, extreme wealth and poverty, and scapegoats. He named, blessed, graced, pleasing to God — those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are persecuted falsely, and those who mourn. The Beatitudes make it pretty clear what is human and holy to God.

With Thomas Merton I pray, “I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire [to please you]. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.”

~ Rose Karasti

Growing in Faith for February 8

“The mystery of the poor is this: that they are Jesus, and what you do for them you do for Him.” ~ Dorothy Day

In another decade, I volunteered at the St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen still located in the Uptown neighborhood. This soup kitchen started in 1978, was a mutual endeavor of the Saint Francis Catholic Worker House and St. Thomas of Canterbury parishioners.

When the church doors were opened every Tuesday and Friday at 5:30 pm, guests were welcomed inside and quickly filled the warm church basement. No one waited in line. The tables were already set and guests chose their own seat. Volunteers walked briskly back and forth between the tables and the kitchen to serve each guest soup, bread, salad, beverages and dessert.

Many of the guests were homeless or living paycheck to paycheck facing food insecurity. No questions were asked, and everyone was welcome. Volunteers were also encouraged to find a seat at a table and join in conversation with dinner guests. We were a community, having conversations and forming relationships.

Working at the soup kitchen was a rich experience for me and I am still reaping blessings from those years. I always volunteered to scour the industrial sized pots and pans that were used to cook the soup. After the dishes were washed and the pots were clean enough, I headed home with a larger heart. That’s what happens when you share soup with Christ in a church basement.

Here is the link to the soup kitchen, located at the renamed parish Mary Mother of God

https://www.motherofgodchicago.org/outreach-ministries.html

“In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ.” ~ Pope Francis

~Carolyn Backis

Join Our Choir!

Do you enjoy singing? Are you still looking for a New Year’s resolution? Do you see yourself leading the congregation in song—or perhaps joining a choir that is fun, engaging, and sings in four parts?

I warmly encourage you to consider joining the St. Gertrude Music Program! Our choir rehearses regularly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm and sings weekly at the 10:30 am Mass. No prior choir experience is necessary; however, singers should be able to hold a melody. Whether you read music or learn by ear, you are welcome to join us.

If you are interested in serving as a Cantor and leading the congregation in song, an audition is required, and training will be provided.

If singing isn’t your thing but you play an instrument, I invite you to consider joining our ensemble—we are always happy to welcome additional instrumentalists.

Music is essential to the life of the Church, and this parish’s rich musical tradition is deeply near and dear to me. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please feel free to speak with me after Mass or email me at jhannau@stgertrudechicago.org.

~ Jonathan Hannau, Music Director

Volunteers Needed to Help with Live-Streaming Sunday Masses

We are looking for assistance with live-streaming our 10:30 am Sunday masses. The process is simple, you do not have to have a technical background, a special camera or phone, just a willingness to help. 

Contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for more information.

Catechists Needed

We are looking for catechists to help with 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. 

Walk with the Ignatian Spirituality Project - Chicago Winter Walk Planned for February 8

Join the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) at the Chicago Winter Walk on Sunday, February 8 at Humboldt Park at 9:15 am — a citywide event raising awareness and funds to end homelessness.

ISP walks alongside people rebuilding their lives after homelessness and addiction. Through retreats and spiritual companionship, participants encounter God’s love, find supportive community, and discover that their stories are sacred and their lives have purpose.

Together, we help provide the spiritual and relational foundation that makes lasting recovery possible.

Please register for the event at qrco.de/ww26-isp. Once registered, please go to your dashboard and click “Join, Create or Claim a Team,” then choose “Join a team.” Search for “Jesuit Friends and Family” and click “Join.”

Walk with us — in hope, in community, in God’s love.

Catholic LGBTQ+ Retreat Scheduled for March 6-8 in Racine, Wisconsin

"Walking Together, Walking With Christ" is a weekend-retreat which focuses on the roles of LGBTQ+ people in a synodal church. The facilitator is Brian Flanagan, Ph.D., the John Cardinal Cody Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola University Chicago. The program will be held from Friday to Sunday, March 6-8, 2026, at the Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, Wisconsin.

The retreat is sponsored by New Ways Ministry, a 49-year old Catholic group which promotes ministry, justice, and reconciliation with LGBTQ+ people. The program is designed for LGBTQ+ people, family members, friends, and pastoral ministers. All are welcome. 

For more information and to register, click here.

Rest in Peace

• Kathy Mega

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, January 31 at 5:00 pm - Joe Tomasello, Patrick Reardon
• Sunday, February 1 at 8:00 am - Mary Clare Barker, Jim Duros
• Sunday, February 1 at 10:30 am - Sarah Millar, Patrick Robinson
• Saturday, February 7 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Art Lyons
• Sunday, February 8 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac, Suzanne Teberg
• Sunday, February 8 at 10:30 am - Ellen Pierce, Anne-Marie St. G

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, January 31 at 5:00 pm - Mary Clare Barker
• Sunday, February 1 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, February 1 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Lisa Schneider, Michael Kowalsky
• Saturday, February 7 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, February 8 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, February 8 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Altar Servers

• Saturday, January 31 at 5:00 pm - cross bearer: Esteban Campuzano; acolyte: Sammy Kloster
• Sunday, February 1 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Oscar Lassus; acolytes: Javier Lassus, Mary Kate Cashman
• Saturday, February 7 at 5:00 pm - cross bearer: Sammy Kloster; acolytes: Danna Salinas, Esteban Campuzano
• Sunday, February 8 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Diarmuid McKeown; acolytes: Micah Boquiren, Camille Boquiren

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, February 2: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, February 3: 7:30 am - JoAnne Joyce+
• Wednesday, February 4: 7:30 am - People of God
• Thursday, February 5: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Friday, February 6: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners  
• Saturday, February 7: 5:00 pm - Isabelle Laczkowski+ and Ed De Wolf+
• Sunday, February 8: 8:00 am - John Hyland+; 10:30 am - Michael J. O'Donnell+; 10:30 am Gym - Loved ones of the Hasbrook and Guardino family

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• Monday, February 9: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, February 10: 7:30 am - Darlene Durso-Clark+
• Wednesday, February 11: 7:30 am - Kevin Walsh+
• Thursday, February 12: 7:30 am -Vincent O'Malley+
• Friday, February 13: 7:30 am - Eileen McGuire+
• Saturday, February 14: 5:00 pm - Fr. Brian Fisher+
• Sunday, February 15: 8:00 am - Geoffrey Penar+; 10:30 am - The O'Reilly family; 10:30 am Gym - 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.