Bulletin for Sunday, September 15, 2024
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Mass Times: Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am Mass in Church; 10:30 am Gym Mass (1401 West Granville Avenue); Monday-Friday: 7:30 am (Thursday is a Communion service); Saturday: 7:30 am & 5:00 pm.
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturday or by appointment.
Office Hours: The Rectory office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm. The office is closed on weekends.
Heart to Heart Contacts: Sr. Susan Quaintance, OSB/Director/872-296-2537; Laurie Hasbrook/Lending Closet/773-973-5464
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From Fr. Mike Gabriel
During this beautiful month of September, many of our faith formation programs resumed,
including Religious Education, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and RCIA.
We also have some excellent upcoming events! Next Thursday, September 19, Sr. Wendy Cotter will discuss “Jesus and the Women of the Gospel” and on Wednesday, September 25, Commonweal Conversation will host an evening with Michelle Nickerson, author of Spiritual Criminals.
There are other events coming up to help us and guide us through our journey. We value your participation in these programs, as well as your support, cooperation. and prayers that ultimately benefit our faith growth.
Faith formation is meant for all of us—from “cradle to grave.” I especially want to invite anyone who may be interested to come to the many events throughout the year, especially as we continue responding to the challenges that we face.
New beginnings have the great potential for growth and new life if we nurture the seeds of
faith through prayer, sacraments, and genuine effort. God gives the growth. Join me in prayer as we begin this new pastoral year growing in “wisdom, knowledge, and grace.” May God guide us, bless us, and give us what we need.
May you experience in Christ great joy, peace, and fulfillment!
In God’s love,
Fr. Mike
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Beacons of Hope: Pilgrimage Planned! Meeting Scheduled Monday, September 16 at 7:00 pm
The pope has declared this a Holy Year. I am asking the staff, Parish Council, and ministry leaders to keep the theme, Beacons of Hope, in mind as they plan their year out.
One of the traditional ways of celebrating the Holy Year is by taking a pilgrimage, a journey to a Holy Place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.
If anyone in the parish is interested in making a pilgrimage to Rome, there is an informational meeting on Monday, September 16 at 7:00 pm in the rectory front room, located at 1420 W. Granville Ave. This 100 kilometer walking pilgrimage would start in Viterbo, Italy and end in the city of Rome and be done during the month of March.
~ Fr. Mike
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Events & Activities at St. Gertrude
listed in chronological order
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Free Bibles and Religious Books Giveaways on September 14 & September 15
There will be a table with free Bible and other religious books at the back of church after the 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, September 14 and after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am Masses on Sunday, September 15.
A few parishioners have identified that they have more reading resources than they can use. It is a delight to share this inspirational writing with those who may be looking for options on ways to help nurture their spiritual growth. Books will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.
For questions or additional information, please contact Allen Stryczek at astryczek@sbcglobal.net.
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Religious Ed Classes Have Begun - Registration is Still Open!
Our 2024-2025 Religious Education classes have begun! In-person instruction is held from 9:15-10:15 am on Sundays.
Registration forms, the Religious Ed handbook, and service options for students preparing for confirmation, can be found at stgertrudechicago.org/religious-education-forms. Forms in Spanish are also available on our website. Please note that students must receive two years of preparation in order to make these sacraments.
The fees for the 2024-2025 school year are $210 for one child and an additional $30 for each student from the same family. Payments are accepted here.
An additional sacramental fee of $65 is required for children making their First Communion and First Reconciliation, or their Confirmation. That fee can be paid here.
Completed forms and any questions about the program should be emailed to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. Please register before the start date.
Interested in becoming a substitute catechist teacher? Contact Eloy Escamilla at the above email address.
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Kids Word at 10:30 am Masses
On Sundays during the 10:30 am Mass in church, children aged 4-7 years-old are invited to attend Kids Word to hear an age-appropriate Gospel message and do fun, scripture-based activities, such as coloring or crafts, in the Rectory.
Children are invited by the celebrant to come to the altar before the readings and will return to church before the petitions.
Email eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for details.
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Welcome Back to our Gym Mass!
This Sunday, September 15, the Gym Mass will return at its regular 10:30 am time! This more casual Mass is held at 1401 West Granville Avenue.
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Interested in Becoming Catholic?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process by which adults learn more about the Catholic Church. This free program begins in the fall and meets until Pentecost.
Many people who begin RCIA are non-Catholics seeking to become Catholic or at least to explore whether Catholicism might be a good home. Those who complete the process and decide to become Catholic are initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. Others who take RCIA are already Catholic but want a deeper understanding of their faith foundation.
The RCIA process does not ask those who have been baptized in another faith to give up their denominational experiences. Rather, the RCIA process seeks to add new colors and designs to their existing faith life tapestry. In addition to attending Mass, the RCIA process includes weekly gatherings of breaking open the Word of God, sharing our stories, and learning about our faith traditions.
Classes begin in September.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA process at St. Gertrude, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.
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"Jesus and the Women of the Gospels" Discussion on Thursday, September 19
The gospel stories and parables offer us details of Jesus’ encounters with women, sometimes as petitioners, but also as friends and disciples.
In each of these, something of the soul of Jesus is revealed to us, his disciples, today.
Please join me on Thursday, September 19 in the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville, from 7:00-9:00 pm.
~ Sister Wendy Cotter CSJ, Ph.D
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Youth Group Architectural Boat Cruise Outing on Saturday, September 21
Students in grades 7 and up are welcome to attend an architecture cruise on September 21 to hear about the history and architectural heritage of Chicago on this tour, which highlights landmarks such as the Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue Bridge, Wrigley Building, and Willis Tower.
The group will meet at St. Gertrude at 10:00 am and then take the train downtown. Please RSVP by September 14th.
Reach out to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for additional information and to RSVP.
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Two Upcoming Collections for Care for Real: September 21 and 22 and October 5 & 6
We have two upcoming collections for Care for Real planned.
Our monthly Food & Supply Drive for Care for Real is September 21 and 22. Please place nonperishable items in the bins at the back of church before and after mass times. Special needs this month include diapers in any sizes.
Our monthly collection for asylum seekers is October 5 and 6. Please place nonperishable items in the bins at the back of church. Items will be donated to Care for Real who is working hard to help these newly-arrived neighbors.
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.
Visit www.careforreal.org/wishlist to shop Care for Real's Amazon or Target wish lists to shop-to-donate today. Donations can also be dropped off between 12:00-3:00 pm every Monday-Saturday at the back entrance of 5339 N. Sheridan.
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Second Collection for Seminarian Education Fund Collection - September 21-22
The Annual Seminarian Appeal collection will take place the weekend of September 21-22, 2024. This is an important source of funding for our ministry of priestly formation in the Archdiocese of Chicago. This appeal supports not only Mundelein Seminary, but also our college seminarians who now study at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Your financial support helps cover the cost of their preparation, which includes tuition and fees, room and board and health insurance. Please know, too, that promoting priestly vocations is the work of the entire Church. You can help support vocations by praying for an increase in vocations, encouraging young men to consider the priesthood, praying for our seminarians, and supporting Mundelein Seminary. Please keep our seminarians in your prayers as they continue their journey toward the priesthood. On behalf of all seminarians, thank you for your generosity.
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Commonweal Dialogue to Host Book Discussion with Author and Parishioner Michelle Nickerson on Wednesday, September 25; Follow-Up Discussion Planned for October 11
Recently, longtime parishioner, co-chair of the parish council, Loyola professor, Fulbright Scholar, and historian Michelle Nickerson released a book titled, Spiritual Criminals: How the Camden 28 Put the Vietnam War on Trial. On September 25, the parish group, Commonweal Dialogue, will host a discussion with Michelle from 7:00-9:00 pm.
The book relates the harrowing real-life story of Catholics who burglarized draft boards to oppose the Vietnam War. Guided by the church’s social teachings, they broke the law to revive non-violence as an activist strategy for advancing peace at the end of the 1960s. In the process, these activists exposed illegal activity by the FBI, forcing a new era of Congressional and judicial oversight of government surveillance in the United States. We hope to have books on sale in the back of the church in the near future.
On Friday, October 11th at 6:30 pm, Commonweal Dialogue will continue the discussion of the book and its relevance for current political protests. This gathering of Commonweal will be held in the first-floor chapel of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Ave. Please RSVP for the October 11 gathering to to John Williams at oolikar@gmail.com or Denise DeBelle at ddebelle@gmail.com so we are sure to have plenty of pizza and wine!
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Celebrating 50 Years of St. Francis House
Since 1974, St. Francis House, located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4652 N Kenmore Ave., has been a home of hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement.
To mark their 50th anniversary, they are hosting a Catholic Worker National Gathering and Celebration at St. Gertrude parish from October 4-6, 2024!
For more information, please visit francishousechicago.org or email sfh.chicagocw@gmail.com, or just come by for dinner any Monday at 6:00 pm.
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Growing in Faith
Christianity is a radical endeavor. Jesus was a revolutionary, not of the violent sort, but a revolutionary of the heart and of the spirit. Just listen to his words of this
weekend’s gospel:
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."
We Americans live in a society that is focused on comfort. Advertising and social media and much public discourse is about being comfortable — and about being upset that someone is making us uncomfortable. It’s about my stuff and my taxes and my satisfaction. It’s about me. It is as if the world has been created to make us feel good.
Jesus, though, said it’s about us. That’s the heart of Christianity or, at least, it should be. I “lose my life” and I “save my life” if I turn away from self-centeredness and turn toward others. Our faith is a recognition that we are not alone, we are woven into a community. Where two or more are gathered, there God is.
Our faith is about being open to others — about being able to listen, really listen, to
who they are and to share, really share, who we are. This is the love of the gospels.
God is love.
It’s countercultural. It’s radical and revolutionary. It’s Christianity.
~ Patrick T. Reardon
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Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, & Altar Servers for Upcoming Masses | | |
Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, September 14 at 5:00 pm - Patrick Reardon, Susan McKean
- Sunday, September 15 at 8:00 am - Jay Cook, Mary Clare Barker
- Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 am - Stephen Modde, Anthony Myers
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Eucharistic Ministers
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Saturday, September 14 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
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Sunday, September 15 at 8:00 am - Brynn Thomas
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Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 am - Lisa Schneider, Steven Monti, Maria Ugarte
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Altar Servers
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Saturday, September 14 at 5:00 pm - Esteban Campuzano, cross bearer; Angel Garcia, acolyte
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Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 am - Mary Kate Cashman, cross bearer; Diarmuid McKeown and Kara Cunningham, acolytes
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Financial Report from Last Weekend
Sunday Collection Envelopes: $2,604.00
Loose Checks: $485.00
Loose Cash/Coins: $714.72
Online Donations: $11,475.33
Total Collected: $15,279.05
Budgeted: $ 10,000.00
Difference: $5,279.05
Year-to-date Collected FY 2025: $102,465.86
Year-to-date Budgeted FY 2025: $550,000.00
Difference: -$447,534.14
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Ways to Help Our Parish: Text to Give, GiveCentral, and PayPal
We have set up a "Text to Give" option through GiveCentral. Parishioners are welcome to text the word Donate to 1.773.741.9505 to make a donation via phone.
To access our PayPal link, please visit our parish website and donate from there. GiveCentral offers parishioners the option of one-time gifts or weekly contributions.
For more information on text to give or to sign up for online giving, please email Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
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Monday, September 16: 7:30 am - Sheila McGuire+
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Tuesday, September 17: 7:30 am - Bernadette O'Reilly
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Wednesday, September 18: 7:30 am - Ben Keefe+
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Thursday, September 19: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, September 20: 7:30 am - Antoinette G. Linke+
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Saturday, September 21: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm - Joe Shields+
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Sunday, September 22: 8:00 am - John Reilly; 10:30 am - Victor Reyes; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Billy Tobin+
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Please Keep the Following People in Your Prayers | |
- Victor Ayes
- Andrea Banicki
- Carlos Barragan
- Patrick Barton
- Zara Bradley
- Lilly Buie
- Hallie Burhoe
- The Buttitta family
- Maggie Callahan
- Maggie Callaway
- Aida Calvopina
- Terrence Carmichael
- Claire Conley
- David Denegas
- Denise DeBelle
- Ann Collins Dole
- Renee Elhoumaide
- Mr. and Mrs. Emin Euman
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Tim Giles
- Estelle Guardino
- Gina Heidkamp
- Rochelle Hernandez
- Maria Hertl
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- John Kahoun
- Marilyn Klein
- Carleen Lorys
- River Malik
- Matilde Manzardo
- Janet McCulley
- Nancy Michael
- Daniel Moore
- Hilda Mora
- Andy Mueller
- Donald Nyderek
- Dealina Peon
- Claude Poulsen
- Joan Ross
- Willy Spalla
- Floret Spalle
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Ron Whitfield
- Yyes Yoza
- Joel Pozzi Zio
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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. | | | | |