St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, July 26, 2026

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Generation to Generation: Answer the Call

Dear St. Gertrude Friends and Family in Christ,

I give thanks to God for the many ways you embody love, generosity, and faithful leadership within our St. Gertrude Parish community. Because of parishioners like you, we continue to live out our mission to build God’s kingdom by celebrating the sacraments of life,

spreading the gospel, and serving others.

All parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago have been invited to participate in a new campaign, Generation to Generation: Answer the Call. This comprehensive campaign seeks to strengthen and spiritually renew parishes, support priests and assist vulnerable communities. Our parish’s participation in this campaign will soon be activated.

As we discern St Gertrude Parish’s strengths, needs, and future investments, we want to ground our project priorities in strengthening our foundation for engagement with the current and next generations of the parish. To that end, we are conducting a planning study as a preparatory step for a potential fundraising campaign that will improve comfort in and access to our spaces, enable increased hospitality, and welcome new members to join us in worship and evangelization.

Most importantly, this is an opportunity for us to listen and learn from you as parishioners.

We want as many parishioners to participate as possible and you will all be invited to share

your perspectives in the coming weeks. Please look out for more information here in our

bulletins and during weekend Mass.

As always, we strive to be a community, growing in faith, that welcomes all and brings

Christ’s love to others. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this effort and I ask for

your prayers that God will guide our discernment on how to best help our greater

community deepen their faith, spread the gospel, and continue to serve others.

God bless,

Fr. Sergio Romo

Join Us for the Rosary at St. Gerts 

Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) on Friday Evenings 

All are welcome to attend the bilingual weekly Rosary group held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm in the dining room of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary after 7:30 am Mass

Additionally, the Rosary is said every Monday through Friday in the church right after the 7:30 am Masses/Communion services. Please consider joining us in church—we would love to have you!

Care for Real Collection This Weekend; Next CFR Collection is 

August 1-2

Please support our neighbors in need by bringing nonperishable food and other essential items to our Care for Real Collection after all Masses on July 25–26. 

Our Care for Real collections takes place on the first and fourth weekend of each month, with our drive scheduled for August 1-2. We hope you’ll consider taking part again. 

For the most up-to-date list of needed items and links to Care for Real's social media pages, visit linktr.ee/cfrchicago. 

Thank you for your generosity! 

Wednesday Mornings: Resting in God’s Presence

Take time each Wednesday to pause, pray, and reflect. Our contemplative prayer group meets at 9:00 am in the Ministry Center Chapel (6214 N. Glenwood Ave.) for silent prayer, Scripture reflection, and spiritual reading.

Whether you're new to contemplative prayer or have years of experience, all are welcome.

For more information, contact Karen Spear at kspear@marian.edu.

August Book Club Info

Join the St. Gertrude Book Club on Tuesday, August 11, at 6:30 pm in the Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood Ave., as we discuss Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh.

New members are always welcome, and we would love to hear your perspectives! For more information, contact Lea Cloninger at 773.213.0509.

Friendship Club is Thursday, August 13

The St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood Ave. Gatherings begin at 11:30 am, and participants are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch.

Join us for fellowship, conversation, and friendship!

Conversation: What is My Relationship with God? August 18th – 7:00 to 8:30 pm

Please consider joining in a thoughtful, reflective conversation with others as we reflect upon God’s presence and, perhaps, God’s absence in our lives.

Am I satisfied with my relationship with God? Have there been times when that relationship has been a source of comfort and peace? Have there been times when God has seemed absent?

Am I always doing the talking/asking or do I take time to be still and quiet, to listen to what God is saying to me? What ways have I found to deepen my relationship with God?

Each of us has their own answer to these and to similar questions. Come and share your insights, your struggles, and your hopes as we listen and learn from one another.

We will gather in the courtyard between the church and Ministry Center on Tuesday, August 18 from 7:00pm – 8:30 pm. If you are able, please bring your own chair. (Rain location: Ministry Center Chapel)

~ Sponsored by the Adult Spirituality and Formation Committee

Religious Education Registration Opens in August

Registration for the 2026–2027 Religious Education program opens in August! We welcome children and families to grow in faith together through engaging classes, prayer, and community.

Classes meet on Sundays from 9:15–10:15 am on the St. Gertrude campus and begin in September.

Tuition for the 2026–2027 school year is $230 for the first child and $40 for each additional child from the same family. Families registering a child who was baptized at another church should provide a copy of the child's baptismal certificate.

Registration may be completed online or in person by appointment.

For questions, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Interested in Becoming Catholic or Completing Your Sacraments?

Registration for the 2026–2027 Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process will open in August.

OCIA (formerly known as RCIA) is the process through which adults learn about the Catholic faith and discern whether they are called to become members of the Catholic Church.

Many participants are people who have never been baptized or who were baptized in another Christian tradition and are interested in exploring the Catholic faith. Others are baptized Catholics who have not yet received the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation, or who simply want to deepen their understanding of their faith.

The OCIA journey is one of prayer, learning, reflection, and community. Through weekly gatherings, participants explore Scripture, share their faith stories, learn about Catholic beliefs and traditions, and participate in the life of the parish. Those who are ready to enter the Catholic Church receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Classes will begin in September.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about OCIA at St. Gertrude, contact Eloy Escamilla by calling the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or emailing eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Growing in Faith

Back in the 1950s, there was a TV series called The Millionaire. The idea was that, each week, a rich guy would give away $1 million to someone he’d never met. Then, the recipient had to decide what to do with the money, for better or worse.

In this weekend’s first reading, God makes a similar offer to Solomon in a dream: "Ask something of me and I will give it to you." God thinks the young king might ask for a long life or greater riches or triumph over his enemies. Instead, Solomon responds, “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act” to serve the people of his kingdom. So, he asks for “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” And God, impressed, grants his wish.

Another translation of “understanding heart” is “hearing heart.” With a hearing heart, Solomon will be a listener — listening to the promptings of God and listening to the people he serves as king. A hearing heart is the foundation of wisdom and compassion.

The beauty of a hearing heart is that we don’t have to wait for God to give it to us. We can just do it — just decide to have a heart that listens, just start listening.

If I listen closely and with openness, I can get to know the people I come in contact with, even those with whom I disagree. I can know them as companions on this road of life, as pilgrims with me in searching for God and what God is calling us to. Together, we can listen to each other and listen to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit is always nudging us into greater listening and community.

~ Patrick T. Reardon

2027 Mass Intentions Book Now Open

The 2027 Mass Intentions book is now open. If you would like to request a Mass intention for a loved one, please contact the Rectory office. If you would like to request a Mass intention for a loved one, please call, email (jcarrillo@stgertrudechicago.org), or come to the office (1420 W. Granville) during regular business hours.  

A suggested donation of $10 per Mass intention is requested. To provide as many families as possible the opportunity to schedule intentions, requests are limited to 10 Mass intentions per household each year.

Music for Mass This Summer

This graphic outlines the Mass parts we will be using throughout the summer to help everyone participate with confidence.

The opening, offertory, communion, and closing hymns will continue to be posted on the hymn board before Mass and announced as the liturgy begins. Thank you for joining in prayer and song as we worship together each week.

Liturgical Ministry Training This September

Share your gifts and become more involved in the celebration of the Mass by serving in one of our liturgical ministries.

Training for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers will be held on Monday, September 21, at 6:30 pm in the church. Youth and adults are invited to attend.

Altar Server training will take place on Monday, 

September 28, at 6:30 pm in the church. Students in 4th grade and older are welcome.

To learn more, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Rest in Peace

• Sheneill Renee Fitzpatrick, funeral Saturday, July 25 at 10:00 am *corrected spelling from last week

New Parishioners

• Manny Guevara
• Emily Williams
• Katherine Williams

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, July 25 at 5:00 pm - Joe Tomasello, Art Lyons
• Sunday, July 26 at 8:00 am - Carol Ann Munro, Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Edie Sheridan

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, July 25 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, July 26 at 8:00 am - Mary Clare Barker
• Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Altar Servers

• Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Wyatt Dany; acolyte: Angel Garcia

Upcoming Mass Intentions


Monday, July 27: 7:30 am - Communion Service

Tuesday, July 28: 7:30 am - Frederick Gusmanos+

Wednesday, July 29: 7:30 am - Roberto Cabrera+

Thursday, July 30: 7:30 am

Friday, July 31: 7:30 am - 7:30 am

Saturday, August 1: 5:00 pm - Mary Tunney+

Sunday, August 2: 8:00 am; 10:30 am

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.