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 5, 2023

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What talent we have hear at St. Gertrude! Applause also goes out to the many volunteers who set-up and took down chairs and tables, served as bartenders, sold tickets for refreshments, and provided security.

Annual Catholic Appeal

Next weekend is Commitment Sunday for the Annual Catholic Appeal. Each pledge makes a difference for each gift enables the Archdiocese to deliver needed ministries and services to answer the call of “Walking on the Road with Jesus”.

Refugee Ministry Weekend

This weekend is Refugee Ministry Weekend. This gives us all the opportunity for us to respond to the growing number of refugees seeking our support. There will be a simple soup lunch in the Social Hall following the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, with two speakers who are working directly with migrant workers. More information about this is available further down in the bulletin!

Midwest Workers Association Super Bowl Tamale Benefit

Also happening this weekend is also the Midwest Workers tamales sale at the back of the Church. Orders can be placed this weekend with deliveries happening next weekend after Mass.

Lenten Activities

With Lent is just around the corner (Ash Wednesday on February 22), the Peace and Justice Ministry has planned a few activities to assist us in our Lenten practices.

Lenten Study: The Crucible of Racism by Patrick Saint-Jean, SJ

The Lenten book study this year will continue the work begun last year on racism, which Pope Francis has likened to “a virus that lurks in waiting…only to emerge and show that our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive as people think.” 

We will be reading The Crucible of Racism, the second book by Patrick Saint-Jean, author of the book we shared together last year, The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice. In this book, Saint-Jean shows how Ignatian Spirituality and faithful hope can, in fact, change us, the Church, our nation, and the world. 

We have 50 copies of the book available for $20. Study groups will meet in the Ministry Center on Thursday mornings at 9:00 am and Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm beginning February 23 and ending March 30. Each meeting is one hour. Sign-up sheets are on the tables in the back of the church. For further information, contact me at mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org.

Almoners Lenten Ministry

Alms are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is one of the three disciplines of Lent, along with fasting and prayer. Almoners are those who distribute alms on behalf of the Church community.  

This year, we will have a weekly second collection for the Almoner’s Program. The funds raised from that collection will be used to purchase $10.00 McDonald gift cards which parishioners can then pick up at the weekend Masses and distribute to the poor and homeless encountered on the streets of our city.  

At the end of each Mass, those who wish to be Almoners will step forward to receive the gift cards and be commissioned with a special blessing to go forward and give them to those less fortunate.  

Remember that all of us are Almoners, charged with taking care of our brothers and sisters in need. If you cannot go out and distribute cards, please consider donating to the second collection each week. Perhaps you can do both - providing the alms and taking them out to those on the streets.

Stations of the Cross: Starting on February 24th

Every Friday during Lent, we will take time from our busy schedules to reflect on the suffering journey of Christ and others in the world. On Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm, we offer the traditional way of the Cross. At 6:30 pm, we will also have stations of the Cross joining Jesus’ journey recognizing the present struggles and crosses that challenge modern world.

Mystic Path in Song

On Wednesday, March 15th, we will be have a special evening in the Church. Titled

"The Mystic Path in Song", the evening will feature Gerry Digman. It will be a time of reflection on the spiritual journey of the great saints and the up and downs they faced in their own life.

Gerry will provide brief commentary for each of the eight stages of the Path, followed by songs that bring us to prayerful contemplation, deepening our understanding of the presence of God in the lives of the saints as well as in our own life.

The presentation will last about an hour.

Annual Catholic Appeal: Walking the Road with Jesus

This week begins the discernment process for pledges to the Catholic Appeal. This appeal supports the work our parish, our diocese, and the Catholic Church around the world. The weekend of February 11-12 will be the pledge drive.

Many families in our parish will be receiving the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Cardinal Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries, parishes and schools who receive funding from the Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. Please return your response as soon as possible. The Annual Catholic Appeal offers a wonderful opportunity to answer the call “Walking on the road with Jesus.” We encourage giving at all levels to support this initiative. In addition to providing for ministries and services throughout the archdiocese.

When we financially support the work of our parish, our archdiocese and the Catholic Church throughout the world, we experience a feeling of deep gratitude, especially when we contemplate God’s many gifts to us personally. By sharing our wealth through gifts to the 2023 Annual Catholic Appeal, we demonstrate our commitment to the Church and each other.

St. Blase Throat Blessing This Weekend

The Feast of St. Blase is celebrated on February 3. We will use the St. Blase Throat Blessing at the Masses this weekend, February 4-5, as the final blessing.

Refugee Ministry Weekend is Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5: Second Collection, Information Table, Free Lunch and Speaker Program Planned

Eight years ago, the humanitarian crisis of mass displacement of refugees was brought to the world’s consciousness with the Syrian civil war.

In response, the St. Gertrude faith community came together and stepped up! We established this ministry to work in partnership with Catholic Charities to support new arrivals. And still our work goes on.

We are witness to the continued inhumanity that displaces people in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Latin America, Syria, Africa, and Bangladesh where Rohingya live in large camps. On the Doctors Without Borders website, an article dated June 15, 2022 noted that there are now more than 100 million forcibly displaced persons around the world. You wonder what we can do in the face of such suffering. The answer…A LOT!!

Working with Catholic Charities, our role as a parish is three-fold: (1) we provide tangible support for the initial settling in, with a contribution of $5,000 to cover security deposit and rent for about three months; (2) we provide a Welcome Pack of all the household goods needed to start off in the apartment, including kitchen stuff and linens; and (3) when a parishioner feels that call we provide accompaniment, regular visits, and support for the initial few months. The goal, though not always reachable, is for families to be settled and self-sufficient within six months of arrival.

And what a difference you’ve made! We first came together in Fall of 2015. Since then we’ve sponsored a family roughly every six months, officially sponsoring 11 families so far and offering additional support to four others. We have seen kids grow up and thrive in school, parents get jobs and buy a home, and in some cases have seen deep friendships develop.

We have sponsored several Rohinya families, as well as families from Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Syria, and Guatemala. All of this is thanks to your prayers and generosity. You are the light of the world, bringing the kingdom of heaven to Edgewater.

We will be celebrating our ministry on February 4-5. There will be a second collection at all of the Masses, with information in the back of church, special prayers, and a very special program on Sunday, February 5.

We’ll have a free simple soup lunch in the Social Hall starting around 11:45 am and a program from 12:15-1:15 pm featuring two speakers: Emily Parker, the case management supervisor at Catholic Charities, and Sr. Wendy Cotter, who has been spending time at the southern border working directly with migrants.

Please join us, and, as always – thank you!

~ Denise Goodman

Peace & Justice Ministry Meeting This Monday

The next Peace & Justice Ministry meeting will be held on Monday, February 6 at 7:00 in the Ministry Center. Our agenda will be to work on events for Lent. 

All are gratefully welcomed!

St. Gertrude Super Bowl Tamale Benefit for Midwest Workers Association: Place Your Orders This Weekend

On Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5, Midwest Workers Association (MWA) will be taking orders of tamales after Mass for their annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit.

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

If you are interested in ordering tamales, please stop by their table at the main church entrance, or call their office at 773.285.0485. Supporters can place orders by the half dozen, for chicken in green sauce, cheese & jalapeno (vegetarian), or black bean & cactus (vegan). The homemade tamales are available for a suggested donation of $10 for a half dozen or $20 for a dozen.

Groups of volunteers are urgently needed to play a role in making tamales from February 6 through February 11, as well as participating on MWA’s membership canvasses and benefit advocacy sessions. Speak with an MWA volunteer about how you can play an ongoing role in MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign.

Hello from the Parish Pastoral Council: Upcoming Meeting on Thursday, February 16

As we embark on the new year, we realize there have been a number of transitions recently. The PPC thanks those who completed the listening surveys and attended listening sessions in the fall. Your input has been helpful and appreciated as we work with Fr. Mike and the Pastoral Staff moving forward.

A reminder that PPC meetings are open to the community. Our next meeting is on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us at stgertrudeparishcouncil@gmail.com.

We wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to growing in faith together,

Bob Backis, Michelle Nickerson, Jen Reyes, Ellen Buttitta, Denise Goodman, Tim Lacy, Tim Love, and Sean Williams

The NCA Soiree 2023

Northside Catholic Academy’s annual fundraising gala, the 2023 NCA Soirée, will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Ravenswood Event Center. This is NCA’s largest fundraising event, and helps to raise funds to support academic enhancements, facility improvements, and our Guardian Angel Scholarship program. There are a number of ways you can help support NCA in bringing quality Catholic education to students in our community.

TICKETS FOR THE NCA SOIRÉE ARE NOW ON SALE! All tickets (event, raffle, Choose Your Own Adventure, and Sponsor-a-Staff) can be purchased at ncasoiree.com. 

• Enter the Grand Raffle for a chance to win $3,000, $2,000, or $1,000! Raffle tickets are $20 or 6/$100, and you don’t need to be present to win.
• Enter the Choose Your Own Adventure Raffle for a chance to win your choice of one of 6 fabulous trips, including an Alaskan Cruise, Barcelona, Napa Valley, Mexico, and more. Tickets are $100—only 100 tickets will be sold.
• Save $50 by purchasing the “All In For 2!” Deal: includes 2 event tickets, 6 raffle tickets and 1 Choose Your Own Adventure ticket.
• Can’t attend the event? Consider sponsoring a ticket for one of NCA’s amazing faculty and staff! 

OUR ONLINE AUCTION IS OPEN! The online auction takes place until February 12th. We have lots of great items to bid on—theater and sports tickets, gift cards to local restaurants and businesses, museum passes, and more! Visit ncasoiree.com starting January 29th to view items and place your bids.

LOOKING FOR SPONSORS! Do you know of an individual or business interested in sponsoring this year’s NCA Soirée? We have sponsor levels ranging from $150-$2500+. Contact Jackie Blake, jahoffma@hotmail.com, or Leigh Holzman, lholzman@ncaweb.org for more information.



Thank you for your continued support of NCA!!

Student Essay Winners

Congratulations to the three winners of our student essay contest - Gus Berlinghof, Evan Dumstorff, and Dominic Millar! 



The essay prompt challenged students to write about the most important contribution that Christians can make to society. The contest was open to all seventh and eight-grade students. 

Gus, Evan, and Dominic will receive gift cards as a prize. All three impressive and insightful essays can be read on our parish website. 

Thank you to all who participated and to our judges!  

Growing in Faith

Light shows up in our readings this weekend, but also all around us! Last week was a beloved, ancient church feast: Candlemas. Celebrating the Presentation of the Lord, it was considered a Christmas feast not “technically” in the Christmas season. It’s the last liturgical feast when Jesus is an infant, positioned 40 days after Christmas. 

Later (6th century) Candlemas evolved into a Feast of Light & Hope with traditions that included lighting candles & fires as symbols of more sunlight returning to our days. It was also symbolic of Jesus, the son, now born to bring light into our world. And, of course, the traditional processions of candles prepare us for the ultimate feast of light and hope: Easter.  

In today’s readings, light again figures prominently: especially Isaiah, the Psalm and Matthew. The Lord in Isaiah says: “Here I am!” exhorting Israel to abstain from oppression and falsehoods. Instead, he urges care for the afflicted and the hungry! He promises “…then the light shall rise for you in the darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” In Matthew, Jesus echoes this Isaiah passage by saying that our light must shine before all, glorifying God, through good deeds to others.

Let’s honor today with lights! And also with compassion as we acknowledge the darkness we see in our world. At home, let’s bring forth candles as a symbol that we must be the light for others, through our care and love for all of those who now struggle. 

~ Claire Conley 

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, February 6: 7:30 am - Glenn Martin †
• Tuesday, February 7: 7:30 am - Richard & Erna Kerwer †  
• Wednesday, February 8: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
• Thursday, February 9: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, February 10: 7:30 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members
• Saturday, February 4: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm - Hal Mann † 
• Sunday, February 11: 8:00 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members; 10:30 am - Betty Taylor †



(† indicates the person is deceased) 

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:

• Monday, February 6: Gn 1:1-19/Mk 6:53-56
• Tuesday, February 7: Gn 1:20—2:4a/Mk 7:1-13
• Wednesday, February 8: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17/Mk 7:14-23
• Thursday, February 9: Gn 2:18-25/Mk 7:24-30
• Friday, February 10: Gn 3:1-8/Mk 7:31-37
• Saturday, February 11: Gn 3:9-24/Mk 8:1-10
• Sunday, February 12: Sir 15:15-20/1 Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37

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.