St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, September 29, 2024

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

At all of last weekend's masses, I announced my plan to request and early retirement and step down as pastor of St. Gertrude Parish. This decision affects everyone. I hope that I conveyed that this transition cannot be done alone. The pastoral staff, the parish council, the placement board, and you are needed.

Your support, encouragement, wisdom and prayers are needed. I have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you, if for no other reason than it is therapeutic for me. 

When I was making the announcement, I was trying to read the crowd, like when preaching, seeing what is working and what is not. I sensed, and from what some of you shared with me after the mass and emails I have received, you got what I was saying, not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

Transition is not just about all the parish's strengths and dreams for a vibrant future. It takes courage and honesty to discern where we are all wounded, broken, and in need of healing. These elements need to also be present in this transition period, however painful and scary it may seem. This is not a one-person job. We need to do this as a community, relying on God.

Another thought I found myself with was a profound sense of gratitude to you, for your support, your faith, and expressions of love you have given to one another and to me. 

So let us make use of the time we have to acknowledge our strength, faith, woundedness, and brokenness and seek to heal and dream of the many possibilities that that we can achieve together. 

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis wrote a Canticle of Creatures, a tribute to God’s living things. Think of all the furry, feathered, and finned friends we have in the world. Pets are true companions in many households. The bond between a person and their pet is like no other relationship, because communication between the two are most basic. Eye to eye, person to their pet, two creatures of love.

We will have a special blessing of animals next Sunday, October 6 after the 10:30 am masses on the steps of the church. 

Fr. Mike Bradley to Run the Chicago Marathon Again! Well folks, he is doing it again! Fr. Mike Bradley will be running another marathon on October 13th. See further down in the bulletin for more information. Please keep Fr. Mike in your intentions. Also, if you would like to donate, all proceeds will go to Heart to Heart Ministry.

Catholic Workers Gathering

Next weekend, St. Gertrude's will host the 50^th anniversary of St. Francis House, an Uptown house of hospitality aligned with the Catholic Worker movement. This national gathering will include a panel discussion and lots of celebration. 

The Catholic Worker movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, began in 1933 with the goal of living in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at catholicworker.org.

Chicago Marathon Announcement from Fr. Mike Bradley

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on October 13th, and along with 50,000 other participants, several Saint Gertrude parishioners and I are prepping for the 26.2 miles.

I've had a couple medical setbacks during recent times. However, because of the prayers of many people, I'm able to lace up my shoes and run my 22nd Chicago Marathon. This will be my 52nd marathon overall.   

I’m asking you to consider making a donation to Heart-to-Heart, our parish’s outreach to the senior citizens and shut-ins of the Edgewater community, regardless of religious affiliation. Heart-to-Heart operates a lending closet with household medical equipment for those in need, and our volunteers provide rides to the doctor and other errands for those who have limited access. Your support for Heart-to-Heart is a real blessing, and your prayers will enable me to reach the finish line on October 13th.

Please send me your prayer intentions at mbradley2222@yahoo.com, and I will pray for your prayer requests as I run/walk the 26.2 miles of the marathon.

With heartfelt appreciation of your prayers and support,

~ Father Mike Bradley

Celebrating 50 Years of St. Francis House: National Gathering at St. Gertrude October 4-6

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.

Collection for Asylum Seekers is October 5 and 6

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.

Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:

Ready to eat meals:

• Canned meals (pop-tops only) like chunky soup, pasta, chili
• Soft granola bars
• Protein bars
• Cheese & cracker packs (shelf stable)
• Juice boxes
• Protein shakes (shelf stable)
• Snack size chips and crackers
• Applesauce & fruit cups
• Peanut butter/jelly

Baby Care:

• Baby wipes
• Size 4, 5, and 6 diapers
• Pull Ups (all sizes)

Personal Care:

• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Toothbrushes
• Body wipes

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.

Additionally, you can 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. 

Pet Blessing Planned for Sunday, October 6

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is Friday, October 4. As we do each year, there will be Blessing of the Pets on Sunday, October 6, held after the 10:30 am Mass.  

Please join us with your furry (or scaly!) loved ones! 

Next Book Club Gathering is Tuesday, October 9 (New Meeting Day!)

The book club will discuss The Lake House by Kate Morton on Tuesday, October 9. 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.

Women's Friendship Club Gathering is October 10

St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of every month in the Ministry Center.

The gathering begins at 11:30 am; attendees should bring their own (brown bag) lunch. Dessert is provided!

Commonweal Dialogue to Host Follow-Up Book Discussion with Author and Parishioner Michelle Nickerson on October 11 

Last week, longtime parishioner, Loyola professor, Fulbright Scholar, and historian Michelle Nickerson spoke about her new book, Spiritual Criminals: How the Camden 28 Put the Vietnam War on Trial.

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!

Parish Town Hall Planned for Sunday, October 27

The Parish Pastoral Council asks that you reserve the date for a Call to Action Town Hall on October 27.

This meeting will be held immediately following the 10:30 am masses and discuss how to operationalize the strategic plan. 

Upcoming Youth Group Events

Attention students in 7th graders and up! Save the date! On Saturday November 2, you are invited to join us as the youth group visits the National Museum of Mexican Art.

On this field trip, you will be able to visit exhibitions capturing the wide range of Mexican cultural expressions and art forms, from ancient to modern and on both sides of the U.S. - Mexican border. This is a very exciting cultural experience amidst of the Day of the Dead Celebration!

Additionally, on December 14, we've planned an afternoon of Christmas card-making and cookie baking and on January 11, we'll go ice skating.

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

Registration is Still Open for our Religious Ed Classes

While our 2024-2025 Religious Education classes have begun, we are still accepting applications for students to attend our program! 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.

Kids Word Available 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.

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.

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. 

Growing in Faith

Wow! Did you hear James - the Son of Thunder - in our second reading?! He is as angry as a red-faced Bernie Sanders about the treatment of workers in his day - those who are exploited, persecuted and living in poverty. The rich withhold wages, mistrust, and disrespect their workers. They relish their power, their wealth and status, but James warns, "Your wealth…will devour your flesh like a fire!”

Here we are today where there is more income and wealth than ever before. In our country three people own more wealth than the bottom half of American society! (Data from Forbes) Thirty-eight million of our neighbors live in poverty; twenty million live in deep poverty. James is calling us to respond, to act, to care, to recognize the divine spark of our Creator in every person.

We need to merge our Catholic values with our actions. As a young man I was inspired reading Pope Leo XIII's strong directive "On Capital and Labor" that still applies today.  The encyclical teaches that workers have the right to just wages, rest, fair treatment, along with the right to unionize and strike. Everyone has a right to private property; the government has the right of distributive justice, and protecting individual rights. The Church's role? To teach social principles and ensure class harmony. (We have some work to do!)

In this election year, the Letter of James and our Catholic roots inspire us to consider Church teachings: to love our neighbor by respecting their dignity, to live in solidarity with God's creation, and to work for the common good.

~ Ken Brucks 

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, September 28 at 5:00 pm - Mary Cook
• Sunday, September 29 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, September 29 at 10:30 am - Lisa Schneider, Rafael Melendez, Maria Ugarte

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Sunday, September 29: 8:00 am - For all those who are messengers of God's love; 10:30 am - People of God; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Mary Monaghan+
• Monday, September 30: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Tuesday, October 1: 7:30 am - Sheila McGuire+
• Wednesday, October 2: 7:30 am - People of God
• Thursday, October 3: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, October 4: 7:30 am - Rodney Colin Manuel+ and Evanzuela Manuel+
• Saturday, October 5: 7:30 am - Rodney Colin Manuel+ and Evanzuela Manuel+; 5:00 pm - Rosario Vatungbakal
• Sunday, October 6: 8:00 am - Joseph and Michael Laczkowski+; Jean Laczkowski; 10:30 am - Adora Santos and family; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Billy Tobin+

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.