St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, January 19, 2025

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Endurance Prayer of Martin Luther King

Most gracious and all wise God, before whose face the generations rise and fall;

Thou in whom we live, and move, and have our being.

We thank thee [for] all of thy good and gracious gifts, for life and for health;

for food and for raiment; for the beauties of nature and human nature.

We come before thee painfully aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings.

We realize that we stand surrounded with the mountains of love

and we deliberately dwell in the valley of hate.

We stand amid the forces of truth and deliberately lie.

We are forever offered the high road

and yet we choose to travel the low road.

For these sins O God forgive.

Break the spell of that which blinds our minds.

Purify our hearts that we may see thee.

O God in these turbulent days when fear and doubt are mounting high

give us broad visions, penetrating eyes, and power of endurance. and for a brother/sisterhood that transcends race or color.

In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen.

~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929 -1968, American pastor and civil rights activist

Never to Leave Us Alone: The Prayer Life of Martin Luther King Jr. 

Refugee and Immigration Ministry to Speak This Weekend at Masses

This Sunday, there will be an announcement from the Refugee and Immigration Ministry here at St. Gertrude. As many as 100 million people worldwide today have been forced to flee their homes because of violence, persecution, lack of education, poverty, or simply for the dream of a better life. St. Gertrude’s remains committed to helping others find a safe place to begin anew. There will be a second collection to assist in fulfilling this mission.

Midwest Workers Super Bowl Tamale Benefit - Orders Taken This Weekend

This Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Midwest Workers Association (MWA) will be taking orders of tamales after Mass for their annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit. MWA volunteers will return on Sunday, February 9 to deliver the tamales after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am masses. 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 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 and jalapeno (vegetarian), or black bean and cactus (vegan.) There is a suggested donation of $10 for a half dozen tamales or $20 for a dozen. 

Groups of volunteers are urgently needed to play a role in making tamales from February 3 through February 6, as well as participating in MWA’s membership canvasses and benefit advocacy sessions. Speak with an MWA volunteer next weekend about how you can play an ongoing role in MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign. 

No Religious Ed Classes on Sunday, January 19/Rectory Office Closed on January 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 20. There will be no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, January 19. 

The Rectory office will be closed on Monday, January 20. Mass will be held at 7:30 am.

Friday Morning Men’s Prayer and Scripture Discussion Group

The Friday Morning Men's Prayer and Scripture discussion group will have in-person gatherings on Fridays in January and February.

They are at the St. Gertrude Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood. We meet for social conversation at 7:45 am and begin prayer at 8:00 am. 

We read and share our insights into the Scripture readings for the coming Sunday. We want to better live the Gospel in our daily lives and we share what the readings mean to us, from our personal perspectives rather than a scholarly point of view. We finish with an “Our Father” at about 9:00 am. Some opt to linger longer as their schedule permits.

An option to meet via Zoom is also available. Here is the Zoom information for our weekly gathering:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84331230411?pwd=rnUN9lmPtxjVg6bdiQ5QnsbBlpcptc.1 

Meeting ID: 843 3123 0411; Passcode: pray

There are currently about 6-8 guys participating in a typical Friday morning gathering.  We hope several who are reading this will also find this to be appealing and give the group a try.  If you are interested and plan to come, it would be helpful – but not required – if you let Allen Stryczek know you are coming by sending him an email at astryczek@sbcglobal.net.  

Care for Real Collection is January 25-26

Our next collection drive for Care for Real is January 25-26. Care for Real is urgently seeking donations of diapers in sizes 2-6, baby wipes, juice boxes, thermal layers (all sizes) gently used coats (all sizes), hand warmers, lotions and hand soap, shampoo and body wash, adult incontinence under bed pads.

Our collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month, and our asylum seekers’ collection is the first weekend of each month.

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.  

Reconciliation for First Communion Candidates is Monday, January 27

Please keep the young students of our parish in their prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation on Monday, January 27 at 6:30 pm in church.

Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have questions.

Upcoming Trainings for Ministers of the Word (Lectors) and Altar Servers

Interested in being more involved in church? We are looking for Ministers of the Word to read at weekend masses. There will be a training on Thursday, January 30 at 6:30 pm in church.

Additionally, students are welcome to attend a training to become an altar server on Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 pm in church.

Questions? Please reach out to Eloy Escamilla after Sunday, January 26 at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

You're Invited to An Evening of Romance

Save the date! St. Gertrude's Marriage Ministry is planning a special evening for couples on Saturday, February 8. The night will celebrate, renew, and strengthen your sacred commitment to your life partner. 

The night will start off at 5:00 pm mass, followed by cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dancing from 6:00-10:00 pm. Dim lighting, romantic decorations, and great food will set the mood for an evening for you and your partner to reconnect and socialize with other couples in the Social Hall.

The cost is $125 per couple and includes dinner, beer, and wine. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/NightofRomancetickets. Only 25 tickets are available. In order to prevent cancellation of event, we need at least 15 couples to purchase tickets. 

For more information, contact mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org.

Help Wanted!

We are also looking for volunteers to help with bartending, serving, and dishwashing. Sign up at https://bit.ly/NightofRomanceVolunteers.

Teens are Invited to Register for St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience 

This summer, from June 23-27, parish teens are invited to take part in St. Gertrude's Youth Mission Experience! Teens in seventh grade through high school will volunteer with a different Chicagoland organization each day.

This is an excellent opportunity to have fun and earn volunteer hours! There is a $100 fee for the week. A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration. Please note that there are scholarships available! All participants will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, and a sports drawstring backpack.

To reserve a spot or for more information, contact pastoral associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Join Our Choir!

Happy 2025! As the new year begins, are you looking for other ways to contribute to the Mass that you know and love? Consider joining the choir to help us further make a joyful sound!

Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. All voices are welcome. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please email me at jhannau@stgertrudechicago.org.

Growing in Faith

The past two weeks have been full of rich, spirit-filled images of ordinary people accomplishing remarkable achievements. People have responded through both quiet, humane acts of kindness and superhuman feats—both now and in the past. These are stories of individuals who have listened to a spiritual call rather than a selfish urge. Our beautiful readings today abound with images of the many ways the gifts of the Spirit manifest in our lives and the lives of those around us.

The other day, I took the time to watch the eulogies honoring Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. If you missed it, I recommend checking out YouTube to watch the January 9 funeral recording. From beginning to end, it was a moving and extraordinary testament to a faith-driven life. If you have children who are old enough to understand, I encourage you to watch it with them. Carter’s funeral highlights an inspiring example of a life gifted and led by faith, and it also serves as a fascinating lesson in history.

I’ve also been reflecting on the aftermath of the horrific fires in Los Angeles. These incredible reports remind me of other recent accounts of people coming together to help their neighbors in different parts of the nation—after hurricanes, floods, and shootings. Closer to home, we can simply look around us at St. Gertrude’s church community and see the many people we know who help others through meaningful and profound acts of kindness.

The Holy Spirit is here—with us, in us, and working through us. Especially today, let us gratefully remember that.

~ Claire Conley

Prayer for a New Pastor

God of new beginnings, be with us, the people of St. Gertrude, as we await the appointment of our next Pastor. Enable us, in this time of waiting, to be a people of hope, trusting in the presence and power of the Spirit.

We thank you for the pastoral leadership of all who have been pastors of our faith community, for those who have ministered as members of pastoral staffs over the years, and for the gifts of the Spirit shared in countless ways by those whose lives have graced this sacred space. 

May the community of St. Gertrude continue to be a beacon of welcome, of hope, of reconciliation, of peace and justice for all who seek you.

Bless those priests who may be considering applying to be the next pastor of our faith 

community and of all who will be a part of the discernment and selection process. Bless the works of our hands. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Catechist Needed

Our Confirmation catechist recently needed to step down to address health issues. We are now in urgent need of a new Confirmation teacher.

If you can help, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025: Gathering in Hyde Park on Saturday, January 18

There will be a gathering to celebrate the 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 5:00-7:00 pm on Saturday, January 18 at Living Word Community Church, 5407 S. Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago.  

Christians in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity every year from January 18 to 25.  During this week, we are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for the unity of his followers stated in John 17:21, “Father, may they be one as You and I are one.”

The 2025 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is Do you believe this? (Jn 11:26)  This was the question that Jesus asked Martha, Lazarus' sister, after sharing with her "Your brother will rise again." Prayer and action will be effective if they are based on our firm trust in God and by living in a way that is consistent with our belief.

If you would like more information about this event in Hyde Park, please contact Allen Stryczek at astryczek@sbcglobal.net.

Ignatian Spirituality Project: Join Us for Chicago's Winter Walk on February 9

Mark your calendars for Chicago's inaugural Winter Walk on Sunday, February 9th at 10:00 am! 

Winter Walk is a community event to raise awareness and challenge stigma about homelessness in our city. The day includes a 2-mile walk around Humboldt Park, speakers sharing lived experiences of homelessness, refreshments (plenty of hot cocoa and coffee), and fellowship! 

One of our partner organizations, the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP), is a partnering organization for the walk, along with Franciscan Outreach, The Boulevard, and Chicago Help Initiative. All funds raised from the walk go directly back to these organizations. If you register to walk with ISP, all funds go directly to ISP! 

Check out the postcards at the back of the church for more information. Visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/winterwalk2025-chicago/ to register! 

Ways you can help: 

1. Join us at the walk! Let's come together as a team for a morning together and to support the cause! 

2. Invite friends, family, and members of your community group to walk with you! If they can't walk, invite them to support ISP walkers and donate! ISP's goal is to bring 100 people to walk with us. They can't do it without you! 

Rest in Peace

• Estelle Ann Guardino, mother of Sam Guardino (Laurie Hasbrook)

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, January 20: 7:30 am - Cheryl Stanton+
• Tuesday, January 21: 7:30 am - Laura Linke+
• Wednesday, January 22: 7:30 am - Gerardo Carpio
• Thursday, January 23: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, January 24: 7:30 am - Michael Mason+
• Saturday, January 25: 7:30 am - Valerie Patterson+; 5:00 pm - Paul Kelly+
• Sunday, January 26: 8:00 am - Joe McMahon; 10:30 am - Valerie Patterson+; 10:30 am Gym - Estelle Ann Guardino+

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.