St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, March 12, 2023

Third Sunday in Lent

They are the story of the development of faith and way of life to which we commit ourselves. I mention this because starting today, and the next few Sundays of Lent that lie ahead of us, we will have a special opportunity to dig deeply into this story. 



Beginning this weekend, we will hear: 1) the story of the Samaritan woman at the well; 2) the healing of the man born blind; 3) the raising of Lazarus. These readings will be followed by the proclamation of the Passion of the Lord on Palm/Passion Sunday. These stories have been told on the Sundays of Lent from the beginning for centuries. We continue to tell their story. And these stories are all long stories. 

Part of the challenge of these Sundays will be the willingness to listen to these longer stories and to hear God speaking to us — even if it takes a little longer than usual. These stories touch on the core message of this Lenten season, and on core themes of our salvation: Christ as the source of living water, Christ as the true light of the world, enabling us to see, Christ as the one who is the very source of life itself, even life eternal. And the path to salvation in Christ is the journey to the cross, and beyond. Yes, we’ve heard these stories before.

It would be possible, I guess, to summarize the high points, and we’d all remember the story. But that would be unfortunate. Remember this: When we proclaim this good news, and take time to ponder ‘these beautiful things’, it is Christ himself who is speaking to us. By attentively hearing these stories again, we offer Christ the opportunity to speak to our hearts. It is the same Christ who offers us living water, who opens our eyes to his glory, who gains for us the gift of life everlasting. They are stories worth telling, again and again, because they are truly our story. 

The Mystic Path in Song Event This Wednesday

The Mystic Path in Song on March 15^th is another opportunity in hearing other saints’ stories and their ups and downs. And in praying and contemplating, we deepen our understanding of God in our lives. More info about this event is further down in the bulletin.

Lenten Reconciliation Service

Next Sunday, March 19 at 1:00 pm will be our Lenten Reconciliation Service. Please join us in celebrating the forgiveness of our sins which was gained for us through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord.

Update on Carpet and Asbestos - Church Building Closed March 20-28

As you heard last Sunday, the beginning of stage one will begin on March 20^th and end on March 28^th. During this time as the tile that has been covered with carpet will be taken up and disposed of. It is a big undertaking and a expensive one as well. The church will need to be closed from March 20 to the 28. Weekday and Sunday Masses will be taking place in the Social Center. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Holy Week & Easter Schedule

Palm Sunday, Sunday, April 2

• 5:00 pm (Saturday, April 1 - Sunday Vigil)
• 8:00 am
• 10:30 am Procession (Combined Mass in Church - no Gym Mass)

Holy Thursday, April 6

• No morning Mass
• 7:00 pm - Mass of the Lord's Supper

Good Friday, April 7

• No morning Mass
• 3:00 pm - Living Stations of the Cross
• 7:00 pm - Veneration of the Cross
• The Rectory office is closed.

Holy Saturday, April 8

• No morning Mass
• 11:00 am - Blessing of Easter baskets
• 7:00 pm - Easter Vigil Mass
• The Rectory office is closed.

Easter Sunday, April 9

• 8:00 am
• 10:30 am in church
• 10:30 am Gym Mass

Easter Monday, April 10

• The Rectory office is closed.

What are the Scrutinies?

This Sunday, we begin the “Scrutinies”. These are special rites for the women and men who have been meeting weekly to explore their faith and their movement into the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday.

On the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent each year, we call these candidates and catechumens forward and invite them to reflect upon their past lives and commit themselves to repentance as they continue this spiritual journey to a new life. We celebrate these rites publicly in order for all of us, already baptized, confirmed Catholics, to reflect upon our own lives and how we have or have not lived up to the promises made at our own baptisms.

And, like these searchers, we also are invited to reject whatever has been sinful in our lives, leading us away from the Lord. We ask God’s help to cleanse us of our sins and follow the true path of Our Lord’s Gospel.

Eucharistic Revival: Vicariate Prayer Events 2023

The Archdiocese of Chicago is at a pivotal moment of structural and spiritual renewal, and that is a cause for great hope. We take up this effort at a moment in which the United States bishops have launched a Eucharistic Revival. This convergence reminds us that true renewal of the Church always involves recovering the importance of the Eucharistic celebration as the source and summit of our life as Catholics. From the Eucharistic celebration flows all the Church’s prayers, activities and ministries. Pope Francis recently wrote that “the Christian faith is either an encounter with Him alive or it does not exist.”

Join us around the archdiocese to unite in prayer for renewal and revival as we deepen the union with Christ and each other which we experience at Mass, by coming together for celebrations of exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament led by our auxiliary bishops in each vicariate.

• Vicariate I: March 21 at 7:00 pm, St. Emily in Mt Prospect 
• Vicariate II: March 22 at 7:00 pm, Holy Child Jesus, 2324 W. Chase Ave.
• Vicariate III: Held on March 7  
• Vicariate IV: March 16 at 6:30 pm, Queen of All Nations in Hillside 
• Vicariate V: March 10 at 7:00 pm, Sacred Heart Palos in Palos Hills
• Vicariate VI: Held on March 5 

Prayer Walk Around Cook County Jail on Palm Sunday, April 2

The Archdiocese of Chicago, Kolbe House Jail Ministry, is inviting Chicago-area Catholics to gather outside the Cook County Jail on Palm Sunday, April 2, for a 2-mile prayer walk, offering us an opportunity to show solidarity with people affected by incarceration.

After a Palm Sunday reading, participants will sing gentle “hosannas” as they make their way around the outside of the facility, passing brick and concrete walls, chain link fencing, and razor wire.

The prayers at each stop include intentions for the victims of violence, for mercy toward those who have caused grave harm, and for the families of those who are incarcerated. They will include intentions for healing from trauma, for breaking the bonds of addiction and mental illness, eradicating racism, recognizing the harm caused by the legal system, and for “a reimagining of our church and our community - to be one where no one is excluded or deemed unworthy.

More details, along with directions and parking instructions, will be shared in an upcoming bulletin.

Growing in Faith: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

When Jewish listeners heard this story, Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman would have been shocking, because he broke the rules of avoiding anything, anyone, Samaritan. This five hundred year old enmity was steadily reinforced since anyone traveling from Judea to Galilee had to cross through Samaria.. 

Besides that, Jesus broke the social propriety rules too, by initiating a conversation with woman alone and not of his family.

And what about her? She broke the rules on her side too when she answered Jesus and even entered into that conversation with him, a conversation in which Jesus would reveal to her that he indeed was the Messiah for whom Jews and Samaritans were waiting. He would do away with the divisions over worship centers: “God is Spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

Jesus’ outreach to her resulted in the Samaritans of the town believing Jesus, and astonishingly, inviting him to stay with them, which he did for two whole days.

This Gospel calls out to us to respond to each person freely, abandoning old prejudices built on old historic hurts, old fights, old insults, old judgements, and instead to begin afresh. As Jesus will tell his disciples: ”Raise your eyes, the fields are ripe for the harvest! 

 ~ Sister Wendy Cotter, CSJ, Ph.D

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, March 13: 7:30 am - Living and deceased Torreano family members
• Tuesday, March 14: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Wednesday, March 15: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
• Thursday, March 16: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, March 17: 7:30 am - John & Lillian McCall †
• Saturday, March 18: 7:30 am - Cheryl Veccie †; 5:00 pm - Sheila McGuire †
• Sunday, March 19: 8:00 am - Jose Salinas; 10:30 am - Ronald Schachter †



(† 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, March 13: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab/Lk 4:24-30
• Tuesday, March 14: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35 
• Wednesday, March 15: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19
• Thursday, March 16: Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23
• Friday, March 17: Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34
• Saturday, March 18: Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14 
• Sunday, March 19: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

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.