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 9, 2025

The First Sunday of Lent

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

This past Wednesday, we began our Lenten journey with the symbol of ashes. Not that ashes are not important, but I sometimes worry they take on too great of an importance.

What matters far more is our weekly celebration of the Eucharist. Ash Wednesday is just a reminder of our need to repent—nothing magical or automatic. But there is no other day in the Church year that is not a day of obligation that people come to Church than Ash Wednesday.

I am just going to hope and pray that it is for far more important reasons than ashes and that the Eucharist is always the most important means of

experiencing the grace of conversion and spiritual growth.

Obviously, conversion is becoming more like Christ, and will not just happen automatically when Easter arrives. It takes committed and ongoing work aimed at growing in faith and the decision and effort to transform our lives.

One of my favorite philosophies of life is, “When nothing changes, nothing changes.” What a tragedy it would be, if when Easter comes, nothing really is different about our lives. I would think we should be able to see some signs of change even now.

There are many very helpful opportunities our parish offers during Lent. On Fridays, we pray the Stations of the Cross at 3:00 pm. Then at 6:00 pm, we offer Music Stillness, Solidarity, followed by another Stations of the Cross at 6:30 pm, which is excellent way of uniting with Christ through his cross to his resurrection. On Sundays after mass become an almoner, attend one of our 7:30 weekday masses, participate in our simple suppers and bible studies on Wednesday evenings, or come to our Saturday afternoon reconciliations.

The bottom line is this -- prayer doesn’t change things, prayer changes us. If you are serious about changing your life, make prayer a top priority.

Make your fasting meaningful. Remember, it’s not just substituting one great food for

another. Fasting really needs to be sacrificial, and it doesn't necessarily need to be food. And there are always opportunities for almsgiving because there are always people in need—near and far, and in so many ways.

I especially encourage you to make plans to celebrate the fullest expression of God’s redeeming love in the sacred liturgies of the Triduum— Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, especially the Easter Vigil.

People often question when Lent is officially over, and the answer is, just before we

begin our Holy Thursday celebration. Those “three days” are really one celebration, broken by time, but is THE most important celebration of the entire Church year. Please do everything you can to be a part of these liturgies.

Pilgrimage of Hope

On Tuesday of this week, eight of us will go on a Pilgrimage of Hope in Rome. Please pray for us as we will be praying for the people of St. Gertrude’s, and for the man who will be our new pastor.

Thank You Bishop Bartosic

Last week, the diocese ordained five new auxiliary bishops. With these new bishops, there have been some changes being made. Bishop Bartosic will be moving from our vicariate to Vicariate 6. Bishop John Siemianowski is the now the bishop of this vicariate.

I thank Bishop Mark for his support and assistance over the years to St. Gertrude’s.

The Season of Lent: Activities & Events

Daily Mass

• Daily Mass: 7:30 am - Monday-Saturday
• Sunday Mass: 8:00 am, 10:30 am Church, 10:30 am Gym Mass; 5:00 pm - Saturday (Sunday Vigil)

Stations of the Cross

Each Friday at 3:00 pm during Lent, we will offer a traditional Way of the Cross.

Another Stations of the Cross will be held at 6:30 pm on Fridays after our Lenten Meditation: Music, Stillness and Solidarity. These Stations of the Cross will have a social justice theme:

• March 7 - Walk the Stations with stories of immigrants
• March 14 - Walk the Stations about social justice
• March 21 - Walk the Stations with the LGBQT community 
• March 28 - Walk the Stations about social justice
• April 4 - Walk the Stations through the eyes of Mary

Lenten Season Mediation Series: Music, Stillness, Solidarity Begins This Friday                                     

We live in incredibly troubled times. Injustice after injustice and a stream of never ending tragedies show through social media algorithms designed to distract us. It is difficult to digest it all, let alone find a moment of stillness to reflect and potentially act on it.

You are invited to a new series titled “Music, Stillness, Solidarity” every Friday night from March 7 to April 11. From 6:00-6:30 pm, St. Gertrude's will be open 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. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation Opportunities

Every Saturday from 4:00-4:45 pm, private confession is available. There is a communal confession for all the parishes in our deanery (Deanery 2B) on Monday, April 14 (the Monday of Holy Week) at 7:00 pm at the St. Ita campus of Mother of God Parish.

Almoners Lenten Ministry

Our parish's Almoners’ Program will be held again. Each weekend, a second collection will be taken, with funds used to distribute McDonald's cards to those who are in need. At the end of each Mass, those wishing to participate in distributing cards to the needy will be invited to come forward, receive the cards, and be given a blessing as they go out in this charitable outreach. 

Little Black Books

A limited number of Little Black Books of Lenten Reflections have been kindly donated by a parishioner. These small books offer daily six-minute meditations on the Passion.

Lenten Simple Suppers & Scripture Study Begins Next Wednesday

Simple Supper and Bible Study are returning for Lent on Wednesdays. Beginning March 12, parishioners are invited to meet in the Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood Ave., at 6:00 pm for dinner, followed by bible study at 7:00 pm. Each week, a different parish group will host the event. The schedule is:

• March 12: Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)
• March 19: Northside Catholic Academy (NCA)
• March 26: Men's Basketball
• April 2: Music Ministry
• April 9: Commonweal Dialogue
• April 16: Porch Prayer Group

Book Club Gathering is Tuesday, March 11

The book club will discuss Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Tuesday, March 11. Please note: we now meet on the second Tuesday of the month! The gathering is at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.  

We would love new voices and opinions!

Contact Lea Cloninger at her new number, 773.213.0509, or Sue Benjamin at 773.551.8401 with questions.

Combined 10:30 am Mass in Church Next Sunday, March 16

There is no Gym Mass next Sunday, March 16. Please join us in church for the 10:30 am Mass in church.

Care for Real Collection is March 22-23

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.  

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. 

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.

Volunteers Needed!



Several months ago, we began the transition process of welcoming a new pastor. However, this transition involves much more than just one person—it represents a shift in the mission and direction of our parish.

As part of this process, we have been reflecting on who we are as the parish of St. Gertrude’s, what our mission is, and the role we play in our neighborhood and the broader world.

This transition also includes some very practical changes. The pastoral staff has been taking on increasing responsibilities, and they have been doing an excellent job. However, they cannot carry this weight alone—they need your help.

We need more volunteers to sustain the programs and ministries we currently offer and to continue moving forward, no matter who the pastor may be.

Here are a few immediate areas where your assistance is needed:

• Baptismal Preparation: We offer a monthly class for families having their babies baptized for the first time.
• Live Streaming: The 10:30 am Mass is live-streamed to bring the liturgy into the homes of those who cannot attend in person.
• Choir: The choir is looking for singers and musicians. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. All voices are welcome.
• Heart to Heart Ministry: This outreach program offers aid and support to older adults in need.
• Church Environment:/Decoration: As we approach Lent and Easter, there is need for assistance making the church look beautiful.

Please consider getting involved in one of these ministries. If you have any interest in any of these ministries, please reach out to Fr. Mike Gabriel at mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org

Growing in Faith: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit this Lent

“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan River.” In the early chapters of Luke’s Gospel, John the Baptist, John’s mother Elizabeth, and John’s father Zechariah, were also noted to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.” In his Acts of the Apostles sequel, Luke uses the phrase “Filled with the Holy Spirit” eight more times. This surely must be something very important to be repeated so often.

Well, being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is very important because it is an available blessing to all His believers who seek it. In 2 Kings 2, when Elijah is being taken up to heaven in a “chariot of fire”, his follower Elisha asks for a “double portion” of his Spirit. A couple of decades ago, I boldly asked God for a “triple portion of the Holy Spirit” – not really knowing what I was asking.

However, I definitely sought to know God greater by growing in the Holy Spirit. I soon noticed that my hunger for scripture continued to grow! I was also remembering and recalling more of what I read in the Bible.    

Lent 2025 is just beginning. I encourage you to be daring and ask to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.” There are many different manifestations of the Spirit to be used for the common good. See Isaiah 11 and 1 Corinthians 12 for two very good lists of gifts of the Spirit. God surely will not disappoint you in your request to be filled with the Spirit.

~ Allen Stryczek

NCA Monthly Caregiver-Toddler Playdate This Monday, March 10

Looking after your child/children or caring for a little one? You're invited to our next monthly get together for caregivers and toddlers! The gathering will be held on March 10, as well as April 7 and May 12 at Northside Catholic Academy, 6216 N. Glenwood, from 9:30-10:30 am.

Each hour is filled with story times, crafts, and free play for little ones. Caregivers must attend.

RSVP to gmalfatti@ncaschools.com. 

Loyola University's The Hank Center for The Catholic Intellectual Heritage Invites You to Envisioning a Livable Future on Tuesday, March 11

Join Loyola's University for a free online serial symposium in collaboration with John Carroll University marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si'. The event will be held via Zoom from 4:30-5:45 pm CST.

The topic is the Political Economy of Climate Change. A synopsis of the discussion is: How do we move from what Pope Francis has called an “economy that kills” both people and planet to an economy that is truly sustainable and just? What are the levers of such a system change, and what are the obstacles to it?

An additional session will be held on Wednesday, April 9. Registration is required for each session. Visit https://www.luc.edu/ccih/conferences/archive/laudatosiat10series.shtml for more information and to sign up.

New Parishioners

• Macksood family
• Pathma Subramanniyam & family

Rest in Peace

• Fr. James Stoeger, former priest at St. Gerts
• Abigail Phillips
• Ezaristo Centeno

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, March 8 at 5:00 pm - Patrick Reardon, Joseph McMahon
• Sunday, March 9 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, March 9 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Lily Benham

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, March 10: 7:30 am - Ezaristo Centeno+
• Tuesday, March 11: 7:30 am - Health of St. Gertrude's pilgrims
• Wednesday, March 12: 7:30 am - For those on the pilgrimage
• Thursday, March 13: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, March 14: 7:30 am - People of God
• Saturday, March 15: 7:30 am - Pope Francis; 5:00 pm - Fr. James Stoeger+
• Sunday, March 16: 8:00 am - For those on the pilgrimage +; 10:30 am - Angelo Antonio Vettese+

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.