St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, November 17, 2024

Celebrating the Feast of St. Gertrude

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Happy Feast Day! This weekend, we are celebrating the Feast of St. Gertrude. In our earthly families, we usually celebrate special days like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations by gathering for a meal, sharing stories of the past, catching up on the present, and talking about the future.

The same could be said about our church family's celebrations. We gather for a meal, we share our history, we talk about the present, and look forward to the future. 

As we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Gertrude, let us truly celebrate as a richly blessed, unique and diverse community.

A brief history of St. Gertrude/Sacrament of the Sick 

St. Gertrude was born in Germany 1256 and became a Benedictine nun. Through her relationship to God through prayer, she became a mystic and a great theologian. 

As we gather this weekend, please be mindful of all those in need, especially those who receive the Sacrament of the Sick, which will be offered at all of the masses.

November is the Month of Remembrance

We continue to remember and pray for all our departed loved ones throughout this month of November. It is wisely stated that no one who is remembered with love ever really dies. Their memory, their good works, their impact on who we are lives on forever in our hearts, and their living spirit is united forever in the new life of heaven as they share fully in the Resurrection of Christ. May their souls rest in the peace of our Savior.

Please keep the family of Carol Shields in your prayers. She was the mother of Tracy Shields, our bulletin editor, and she passed away last week. 

Commonweal Dialogue Event Planned for Friday, November 15

All interested parishioners and friends are invited to the next Commonweal Dialogue Friday night conversation. Planned for Friday, November 15 from 6:30-8:30 pm, the topic is After the Election: Catholics, Political Parties, and the Way Forward. It will be held in the Ministry Center.

Wine and pizza will be served! Please rsvp to one of the co-chairs listed below so that we will have enough pizza.

All are welcome!

Denise DeBelle (ddebelle@gmail.com)

Verna Foster (vfoster@luc.edu)

John Williams (joolikar@gmail.com)

Catholic Campaign for Human Development: Working on the Margins - Second Collection This Weekend

On November 16th and 17th , there will be a second collection for CCHD at all of the masses. Additionally, we will welcome guest speaker Ed Jacobs, who is the former Director of Franciscan Outreach and a long-time volunteer for CCHD.

Ed will speak about the important work and our participation in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. There are envelopes at the back of Church.

Parish Blood Drive Planned for Sunday, November 17

The next blood drive at St. Gertrude Church is Sunday, November 17 from 8:00 am–1:00 pm. The Vitalant Bloodmobile will be located on Glenwood Avenue in front of the entrance to St. Gert's. 

Blood donors are greatly needed in our area to help local patients. Every blood donation can save up to 3 lives in our community!

Please prepare for your donation by eating well and hydrating before your appointment. Additionally, bring ID.

To schedule your donation, scan the QR code in the image, call Vitalant at 877.258.4825 or register online at vitalant.org and use code ORD00591. Walk-ins are welcome!

Parish Council Listening Sessions Scheduled

The parish pastoral council (PPC) would like to thank everyone that came out and participated at the town hall on October 27 and the pre-election prayer service on November 4.

We are currently in the process of a pastoral search. The PPC will be hosting listening sessions on the following dates/times:

• Sunday, November 17 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm in the Gym
• Tuesday, November 19 from 8:15-9:30 am in the Ministry Center

We ask that you reflect on the following questions:

• What three (or more?) qualities would you like to see in a new pastor?
• What are the top three (or more?) priorities you see for the new pastor.
• If there were one thing you would want the new pastor to know about St. Gertrude's, what would that be?

If you are unable to attend a session, please complete the survey found in the back of church or you can scan the QR code.

Weekly Caregiver-Toddler Playdates at NCA

Looking after your child/children or caring for a little one? You're invited to our weekly get-together for caregivers and toddlers! Held at Northside Catholic Academy, 6216 N. Glenwood, every Monday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 am, the hour is filled with a story, craft, and sing-a-long for kids, and adult interactions for the grown-ups.

RSVP to gmalfatti@ncaschools.com.

ECRA Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - Sunday, November 24 at Ebenezer Lutheran

The Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA) is an interfaith association of religious organizations who work toward fostering friendships and understanding of other faiths, nurture a thriving and just neighborhood, and create solutions to local problems.

ECRA hosts an annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service benefiting Care for Real that bring together Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, as well as our friends from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu faith.

All are invited to this year's service on Sunday, November 24 from 2:00-4:00 pm , hosted this year at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave.

Attendees are encouraged to share their bounty with the food insecure in our neighborhood. Visit https://careforreal.org/wishlist/ to see Care for Real's wish list! A reception will follow the service.

Upcoming Office Closures

The rectory office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, as well as Friday, November 29.

The Heart to Heart office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day too.

December Youth Group Event

Attention students in 7th grade and up! Save the date! On December 14, we've planned an afternoon of Christmas card-making and cookie decorating. We'll gather in the Ministry Center from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Please reach out to Eloy Escamilla at eecamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for more information.

Order Your Trees, Garland, and Wreaths from St. Gert’s Annual Greenery Sale! 

St. Gertrude is once again hosting our annual Christmas greenery sale, with a limited number of balsam pine trees, wreaths, and garland available for purchase. Our Christmas greenery sale is a great opportunity for parishioners to get ready for the holidays while supporting St. Gertrude ministries. 

Each 6’ Christmas tree is $55. Three different sized wreaths are available—the 18” wreath is $25, the 24” is $27, and the 36” is $35. Garland is also available for $40 per 5’ length. 

Order Online

Purchase greenery online at https://bit.ly/StGertsChristmasGreenery or by scanning the QR code.

Order via Paper Form

A paper order form is available for download at https://stgertrudechicago.org/christmas-greenery.

Forms and checks or cash can be dropped off at the Rectory office, 1420 W. Granville Ave or placed in the mail slot in the side (west) red door next to the Rectory side yard if the Rectory office is closed.

Checks should be made out to St. Gertrude. Please note "Greenery" in the memo line. 

Deliveries

Deliveries will be offered for a $6 fee. They will take place on Saturday, December 7 and Saturday, December 14 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. The greenery team will do their best to accommodate your preferred delivery date and will reach out to notify you when to expect your order. 

Please note, the boundaries for deliveries are north to Oakton, south to Irving Park, and east of the North Shore Channel.

In-Person Sales

Greenery will also be sold at the playlot on the west side of the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville Avenue, on the first four Sundays of December: the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Only cash and checks will be accepted for in-person purchases.

Questions? Contact St. Gertrude Business Manager Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.

Growing in Faith

“But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” ~ Daniel 12:3

This week I’ve been thinking about two men whose commitment to justice shone like the stars.

Thursday marked the 28th anniversary of Cardinal Bernardin’s death. We remember him for his powerful image of the seamless garment, an ethic that connects all issues that threaten human life. We recall his pastoral letter on peace; his Common Ground Initiative; the AIDS task force he established; his work on interfaith dialogue; the false accusation he overcame and forgave; and the honest and graceful way he faced his own death.  

Alexei Navalny rallied and inspired millions while suffering a near-fatal poisoning, an acid attack, arrests, beatings, and imprisonments for his work in exposing corruption in Russian politics and for leading opposition to the Putin Regime. He died in a penal colony in the Arctic Circle eight months ago. His widow, Yulia, just published his memoir Patriot, an amazing testament of courage. In his final message, Navalny credited his Christian faith as impelling and helping him endure.

Thinking about Bernardin and Navalny in this historic moment challenges and encourages me. These days, scoundrels and rogues in public life are occupying too much of my attention. It is demoralizing. As an antidote, I am drawing hope from those who illumine our way by their work for a more just world. Their example is like a shining star showing the way forward.

~ Bob Raccuglia 

Thank you for Supporting Care for Real

Thank you to the many parishioners who dropped off donations for Care for Real this weekend for asylum seekers and two weekends ago for our other neighbors in need!

We are so grateful for your help supporting them as they work to provide food and much-needed supplies to our neighbors who are struggling.   

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. 

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, November 16 at 5:00 pm - Roman Reyes
• Sunday, November 17 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Sunday, November 17 at 10:30 am - Sarah Millar, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Rest in Peace

• Gina Heidkamp
• Carol Shields

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, November 18: 7:30 am - Staci Thomas
• Tuesday, November 19: 7:30 am - Carol Shields+
• Wednesday, November 20: 7:30 am - Nancy Quinn Jaskowiak+
• Thursday, November 21: 7:30 am - Communion Service; Nathan Joseph+, Libby+ and Noreen Waters+
• Friday, November 22: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Saturday, November 23: 7:30 am - Sheila McGuire; 5:00 pm - Grace Cabrera
• Sunday, November 24: 8:00 am - Harlan Fissel+; 10:30 am - Isabell and Michael
• Laczkowski, Edward DeWolf+ ; 10:30 am Gym Mass - People of God

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.