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 23, 2025

The Third Sunday of Lent

Confirmation Class of 2025

Congratulations to Our Newly Confirmed Teens! 

We are so proud of our newly Confirmed teens from NCA and our Religious Ed program! May they continue to grow in God's love.  

Valentino Aguilar

Lily All

Daniel Brennan

Ayleen Carrasco

Owen Craft

Declan Cunningham

Yaretzi I. Diaz

Charlotte A. Domingues

Spencer Dumas

Joseph R. Dunne Jr.

Andrea Esquivel

Eleanor Esquivel

Eleanor Esquivel

Cody Fitzgerald

Gideon Keating

Masi Khosho

Elias A. Montesdeoca

Jonathan A. Montesdeoca

Amelia Morrow

Samuel V. Nyantakyi

Chimamanda Okoye

Chukwunonso Okoye

Dino Pasic

Cristian Peñaloza

Richard Peñaloza

Aislyn Y. Perez

Vadhir A. Quintero

Jose Ramirez

Melvin Rosales

Danna Salinas

Edie L. Sheridan

Maxwell J. Sloniak

Ryan Ulmer

Matteo A. Vettese

Evelyn Voukides

Molly Walker

Caitlyn Wiczynski

Pictured: NCA students with Bishop Bartosic.

Care for Real Collection is This Weekend

Our next collection drive for Care for Real is March 22-23.

Care for Real is urgently seeking donations of hand and toe warmers, gently used coats (all sizes), new socks and underwear, diapers in sizes 4-6, shampoo, hand soap, and adult incontinence briefs.

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.  

"Brewed at St. Gertrude" Gathering This Sunday, March 23

Please join us this Sunday, March 23rd, for a parish hospitality event, "Brewed at St. Gertrude!" Following the 10:30 am church and gym masses, come to the Social Hall for pastries, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.

All are welcome: new and long-time parishioners, families, and visitors! We would love for the entire parish to be there! 

Almoners Lenten Ministry - Second Collections/Card Distribution on Sundays

Each weekend during Lent, we have a weekly second collection for the Almoner’s Program. The funds raised are used to purchase $10.00 McDonald gift cards which parishioners can pick up at the weekend Masses and share with those in need.

Last weekend we collected $1,105.00! Thank you for your generosity! 

Lenten Simple Supper & Scripture Study Planned for Wednesday, March 26 

All are welcome to join us during Lent for Simple Suppers, offered weekly in the Ministry Center at 6:00 pm for dinner, followed by bible study at 7:00 pm. Each week, a different parish group will host the event. On Wednesday, March 26, the Men’s Basketball League will host the second Simple Supper.

Additional dates and hosts are:

• April 2: Music Ministry
• April 9: Commonweal Dialogue
• April 16: Porch Prayer Group

Thank you to those who joined us these past two weeks!

Friday Afternoons: Two Stations of the Cross and Lenten Season Mediation Series: Music, Stillness, Solidarity

On 3:00 pm on Friday afternoons during Lent, we offer a traditional Way of the Cross.

From 6:00-6:30 pm, “Music, Stillness, Solidarity” is held, serving as a safe space where ALL are welcome to come, sit, pray, and meditate as we navigate these realities as a community. Contemplative music will be played through the duration of the time to help guide and promote reflection on the day. 

Another Stations of the Cross is held at 6:30 pm on Fridays with a social justice theme. On Friday, March 21, walk the stations with the LGBQT community and on Friday, March 28, walk the stations with a special social justice theme.

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

All are welcome to attend the weekly Rosary group held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm.

The bilingual gathering is held in the dining room of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.

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

Parish teens are invited to take part in St. Gertrude's Youth Mission experience this summer from June 23-27. 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. 

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 and 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.

The Parish Pastoral Council is Looking for New Members!

The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is renewing its search for new members. If you are interested in learning more about the PPC or are interested in joining, please complete this INTEREST FORM. 

Questions or comments for the PPC can be sent to stgertrudeparishcouncil@gmail.com.

Growing in Faith



Today’s readings start with the story of Moses’ and the Jews’ exit from Egypt. God provides daily miracles for the Jews on their journey through the desert: Fire by night, cloud by day, and manna raining down each morning to feed them. And, though they are in the hands of God, sin still comes to them.

Sin goes all the way back to Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Sodom and Gomorrah, and more. Human nature is to sin. But then God gives us Jesus who tells us a story about a fig tree that doesn’t produce fruit. The landowner says, “Cut it down.” But the gardener wants to nurture it. What is this fruit? In the story, we are the fig tree and the fruit is what we put out into the world: our energy, work, passion – and ourselves.

Lent is a time of reflection to look inward. Can we see our own fruit and is it good? Jesus uses this example again when he warns the disciples to go out and preach but be careful of the wolves in sheep’s clothing. When the disciples ask, "How will we know?" Jesus answers, “You will know by their fruits.”

What are you putting out into the world? If you look at yourself and you’re not happy with what you see, no worries. Jesus is the gardener who tills the dirt and pulls the weeds. He is our God of second chances!

And then, like Moses, we are all called to do God’s work of healing and loving one another just as we are loved and healed by Him

~ Mary Pat Hartung

New Parishioners

• Kathleen Mallett, Andrew Connor, Maureen Connor Mallett
• Susan and Lou Mongillo

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, March 22 at 5:00 pm - Roman Reyes, Patrick Reardon
• Sunday, March 23 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe, Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, March 23 at 10:30 am - Patrick Robinson, Rose Karasti

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, March 24: 7:30 am - Adolph Gabriel
• Tuesday, March 25: 7:30 am - Maria Silva+
• Wednesday, March 26: 7:30 am - People of God
• Thursday, March 27: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, March 28: 7:30 am - Bob Radycki+
• Saturday, March 29: 7:30 am - Health of Pope Francis; 5:00 pm - Caprice Boylan+
• Sunday, March 30: 8:00 am - Jack Taylor+; 10:30 am - Bernadine Lowy+; 10:30 am - Estelle 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.