Bulletin for Sunday, January 15, 2023
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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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
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturday or by appointment.
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I also know there will be many challenges to our community as well. We must remember together we are called to dream God’s dreams and we are called to follow God where we need to be lead. Let us dream big dreams and let us pray for each other to make those dreams serve God and the well-being of our parish community, neighborhood, and city.
One minor challenge we are facing presently is the carpeting. Back when many of our churches and schools were being built, a very popular material called asbestos was used. It was fireproof and a very good insulator. However, we now know that if disturbed it can be one of the most dangerous materials around.
Right after Thanksgiving, the carpet arrived, and the crew began to install it, and it looked so nice. But as they started down the aisle, the crew was afraid that in certain areas, they would end up disturbing tiles which had asbestos in it. So, the work needed to be stopped.
Since this time, we have had tests and inspections and are trying to come up with some solutions. As solutions become available, I will share them. I thank you for your patience. In the meantime. In the larger scheme of things, this is a minor one.
To answer the first question, how does it feel once again to be walking the journey with all of you as Administrator/Pastor. Great!
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Growing in Faith
When John the Baptist pointed to Jesus – “Look, the Lamb of God…he is the one” – John was acknowledging that he could only carry the mission so far. He recognized Jesus as the one who would bring God’s dream for humanity to fulfillment. John understood himself as simply having come to prepare the way.
Today would have been Martin Luther King’s 94th birthday. You wonder what could have been had he been given the full allotment of years. In a speech the night before he was assassinated at age 39, he said, “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place.” He went on to say, “I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!”
Through his passion for justice and commitment to nonviolence, Dr. King, like John the Baptist, prepared the way. We, it seems, are still far from the Promised Land. But maybe it is not totally out of sight. It comes into view every time a barrier to equal rights is overcome, every time a prejudice is replaced by a truer appreciation of the bonds that unite us, every time we act to make God’s dream for humanity a little more realized.
We believe the Dream (the Kingdom of God, the Beloved Community) is more than just wishful thinking. It rests with us now to keep working to make it a reality.
~ Bob Raccuglia
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Upcoming Events
Listed in Chronological Order
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A Prayer from Dr. King/No Religious Ed Classes on Sunday, January 15/Rectory Office Closed on January 16
The words of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are as timely and to-the-point now as they have ever been. Below is one of his many beautiful prayers he wrote during his short life.
We thank you for your church, founded upon your Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon you. Help us to realize that humanity was created to shine like the stars and live on through all eternity. Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace. Help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God's children - Black, White, Red, Brown and Yellow - will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the reign of our Lord and of our God, we pray. Amen.
There are no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, January 15. Additionally, the Rectory office is closed on Monday, January 16.
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PreCana Class Offered at St. Gertrude on on Saturday, January 21
Are you an engaged couple planning on getting married at St. Gertrude? Couples that have established a connection with Fr. Mike (or another priest) are invited to attend St. Gertrude’s PreCana course on January 21, 2023.
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 January 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 April 15, 2023 and September 9, 2023.
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No Gym Mass Next Sunday, January 22
Next Sunday, January 22, there will be combined 10:30 am Mass in church. There is no Gym Mass.
Visit https://bit.ly/GymMass2022-2023 for the Gym Mass schedule for the school year.
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Youth Group Movie & Pizza Afternoon Planned for Sunday, January 22
The parish youth group is getting together next weekend! We plan to watch a movie and eat some pizza on Sunday, January 22 in the Ministry Center after the 10:30 am Mass.
The youth group is open to anyone in grade 7 and up!
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Parent Meeting for First Communion Students/Confirmation Candidates on Monday, January 23
On Monday, January 23, there is a mandatory meeting of both parents of students making their First Communion in 2023 and those making their Confirmation this year too.
Please meet in the church at 6:30 pm.
Contact Pastoral Associate Eloy Escamilla at
eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org with questions.
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Peace and Justice Meeting Planned for Monday, January 23
The next Peace & Justice Ministry meeting will be held on Monday, January 23 at 7:00 in the Ministry Center. Our agenda will be to plan events for 2023 - to look at past activities and generate some new ones.
New members will be gratefully welcomed. If you aren't sure if you'd like to be a part of this ministry, just come to this meeting and check it out!
If you have any questions, please email Father Mike Gabriel at mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Volunteers Needed for our Parish Cabaret Night on Saturday, January 28
We are in desperate need of volunteers to help make our Cabaret Night happen! The event is planned for Saturday, January 28 from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Gym.
Set Up: We need strong people to help set up the stage along the west wall of the Gym, as well as set up oblong
tables and chairs. Once the stage is set up, then we can set up the sound equipment - keyboard, speakers, mics, music stands, etc.
Bartenders: We will have two bartending stations with two people at each station. Ideally, it would be great if we got eight people to do this so each team would only have to work one hour. We plan on serving beer, wine, and bottled water only. (Coolers will be provided.) At the end of the night, we will have to put the unused liquor in the concession stand area. We can use the leftovers for the parish play at the end of March.
Decorating: Once the tables and chairs are set up, then we need to people to decorate the tables with paper cloths and bowls of nuts/snack food.
Clean Up: The music should be over by 9:00 pm or 9:15 pm at the latest. Then we need people to break everything down, put the tables and chairs away, probably mop or sweep the floor so it is presentable and clean for the 10:30 am Gym Mass the next morning.
Many hands will make light work! Please consider signing up to help make this Cabaret night possible by contacting Mary Clare Barker at mcbarker@stgertrudechicago.org.
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NCA Open House Planned for Sunday, January 29
Northside Catholic Academy will host an Open House on Sunday, January 29 during Catholic Schools Week at both campus locations.
The Open House will take place at the NCA Primary School Campus at 6216 N. Glenwood Ave. from 11:30 am -1:00 pm. The Open House will also take place at the NCA Middle School Campus at 7318 N. Oakley Ave. from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm.
All parishioners are welcome to attend!
For more information, please contact Jacob Utz at jutz@ncaschools.com or call 773.743.6277 ext. 201.
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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
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Save the Date! Black History Month Concert Planned for Saturday, February 11
As part of a celebration of Black History Month in February, St. Gertrude parish will host a recital on Saturday, February 11 at 7:00 pm in church. Titled Spirituals of Florence Price in Instrument and Song, the performances will feature the work of Chicago African-American and award-winning composer, Florence Price.
Coordinated by Mary Clare Barker, our Music Minister, the performance will feature Michael Hawes, tenor, who will sing several of Price’s spirituals, accompanied by Eugenia Jeong, (piano chairperson at University of Chicago). Jennifer Dunne, a parishioner and professional violinist, will perform Three Negro Spirituals for Violin and Piano.
Mary Clare will play the second movement from Ms. Price's Piano Sonata in E Minor and one of her last works, Dances in the Canebrakes.
We hope to see you there!
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Help Needed with Baptismal Classes
We are looking for a volunteer(s) for pre-baptismal talks.
A pre-baptismal talk is done once a month and is delivered to those who will be baptized in the Catholic Church, typically parents of babies and young children.
If interested, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrude.org for details.
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New YouTube Mini-Series on Marian Stained Glass Windows
St. Mary of the Woods parish, located on the far Northwest Side, invites Catholics to make 2023 the year to grow spiritually closer to our Blessed Mother with a new 9-part miniseries, The Marian Stained Glass Windows, on St. Mary of the Woods YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@smowcatholic.
Based off the various depictions of Mary in the “stained glass forest” by world renowned artist, Max Ingrand, the series was filmed in conjunction with many Catholic institutions throughout the Chicagoland area. They include St. Catherine Labouré in Glenview; St. John Cantius in Chicago; St. John Vianney in Northlake; St. Mary of Częstochowa in Cicero; National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown in Libertyville; Notre Dame College Prep in Niles; Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview; Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago; Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago; Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.
We hope the Marian Stained Glass Windows series will educate and inspire you to have a closer relationship with Mary!
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Rest in Peace/Memorial Arrangements
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Sheila McGuire, sister of Kathleen Dawson; Visitation and funeral planned for Saturday, January 21 at St. Gertrude, visitation will begin at 9:00 am, with Mass at 11:00 am.
- Phyllis Mahoney, wife of the late Donald, mother of John, Margaret, Joseph, Laurel, Kathryn, Anne, and Tim; Memorial Mass to be held at a later date.
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James Corbett, husband of Carol, father of James, Steve, Laurie, the late Kevin, John, Karen, Brian, Dennis, Jennifer, and Kenneth - Wake & funeral this Saturday, January 14; 9:00 am visitation; 11:00 am funeral Mass
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Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, January 14 at 5:00 pm - Patrick Reardon, Susan McKean
- Sunday, January 15 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott, Jacalyn Meier
- Sunday, January 15 at 10:30 am - Anthony Myers, Rafael Melendez
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Eucharistic Ministers
- Saturday, January 14 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
- Sunday, January 15 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
- Sunday, January 15 at 10:30 am - Victoria Healy, Michael Kowalsky, Sarah Millar
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Altar Servers
- Sunday, January 15 at 10:30 am - Cross Bearer - Henry Villareal; Acolytes - Grace Cashman, Ethan Craft
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Cantors and Musicians
- Saturday, January 14 at 5:00 pm - Paula Dempsey; Heidi Joosten - piano
- Sunday, January 15 at 8:00 am - Jim Manzardo; Heidi Joosten - piano
- Sunday, January 15 at 10:30 am - Dana Sullivan; Heidi Joosten - piano
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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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Upcoming Mass Intentions
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Monday, January 16: 7:30 am - Ernie Martin Ju
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Tuesday, January 17: 7:30 am - Ruben Villa-Ignacio †
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Wednesday, January 18: 7:30 am - St. Gertrude parishioners
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Thursday, January 19: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, January 20: 7:30 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members
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Saturday, January 21: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners; 5:00 pm - Laura Linke †
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Sunday, January 22: 8:00 am - Julie Lauricella Wons †/Gerardo Carpio †; 10:30am - Julie Lauricella Wons †/Harry Glotkowski †
(† 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, January 16: Heb 5:1-10/Mk 2:18-22
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Tuesday, January 17: Heb 2:5-12/Mk 1:21-28
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Wednesday, January 18: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17/Mk 3:1-6
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Thursday, January 19: Heb 7:25—8:6/Mk 3:7-12
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Friday, January 20: Heb 8:6-13/Mk 3:13-19
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Saturday, January 21: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14/Mk 3:20-21
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Sunday, January 22: Is 8:23—9:3/1 Cor 1:10-13, 17/Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17
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Please Keep the Following People in Your Prayers | |
- Zara Bradley
- Sharon Brown
- Lilly Buie
- Aida Calvopina
- KC Conway
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Gina Heidkamp
- Maria Hertl
- Mary Horan
- Bernice Kiedysz
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- Bernice Kiedysz
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Marilyn Klein
- Patricia Meade
- Karey Myers
- John Nardella
- Richard Seitz
- 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. | | | | |
