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 23, 2025

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

The Latest News at St. Gertrude

The Solemnity of Christ the King 

Today’s celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe celebrates Christ’s reign of love, mercy, and justice—a kingship unlike any earthly power.

This feast invites us to place our trust in Jesus as the center of our lives and to let His example shape how we serve, forgive, and care for one another.  

Thanksgiving 

Thanksgiving is Thursday, and our attention naturally turns to gatherings, cooking, and the familiar rhythms of the holiday. But before the week sweeps us forward, we invite you to take a moment to recognize gifts for which you are deeply grateful this year, including:

• Faith: Our faith anchors us when life is uncertain and lifts our hearts when joy fills our days. It shapes how we see the world, how we love, and how we persevere. Through prayer, the Eucharist, and the companionship of our St. Gertrude community, we are reminded that God walks with us.
• Family and friends: Those who love us—whether by birth, by choice, or by circumstance—are among God’s greatest blessings. They celebrate our joys, steady us during difficulties, and tell us the truth even when it’s hard to hear. This season encourages us to honor the people whose presence strengthens our faith and enriches our lives.
• Our parish community: Here we come together at Christ’s table, deepen our faith, help those in need, and stand together for justice. In times of celebration and challenge, this community helps us live out our call “to love, to serve, and to build a just world.”

Thanksgiving Day Mass

Gathering in church is one of the most meaningful ways we can express our thanks—especially on a day whose very name calls us to gratitude.

Please join us for Thanksgiving Day Mass at 10 am.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with peace, joy, and an abundance of God’s grace!

Catholic Campaign for Human Development: Working on the Margins

The Catholic Church has always taught us, through the words of Sacred Scripture and the witness of saints like Francis of Assisi, that the natural world is created by God, that it is good, and that humans have a special duty to care for creation so that it benefits not only themselves but also future generations. Today we live in a time where pollution, climate change, and poor agricultural practices harm creation and place us all in danger.

In 2015, Pope Francis responded to this environmental crisis by issuing the encyclical Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home), in which he emphasizes the connection between humanity and nature and calls for “the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development” (no. 13).

This spirit of cooperation, sustainability, and human dignity animates the work of organizations like La Cosecha Community Supported Agriculture, a cooperative farm network in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which makes locally grown, sustainable, and nutritious foods available to low-income people. With support from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), La Cosecha has expanded its outreach beyond Albuquerque to 11 rural New Mexico counties, increased year-round accessibility to healthy produce and other food products, and obtained a US Department of Agriculture Good Agricultural Practices food-safety certification for its cooperative farm partners.

CCHD-funded organizations show how we can care for the environment, address the needs of the poor, and support responsible and sustainable local businesses at the same time. When you participate in the CCHD collection, you help not only other communities but also your own, because 25% of your contribution remains in your diocese to create local solutions to poverty.

To learn more about the collection for the CCHD and the way CCHD upholds the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church, visit www.usccb.org/cchd.

This Weekend: Care for Real Collection is November 22 and 23: SNAP Benefits and Food Pantries 

Our Care for Real collection drive is November 22 and November 23 before and after masses. 

Please note, our food-insecure neighbors, and Care for Real, are in urgent need of support. As of the

bulletin’s publication date, the Trump Administration has not complied with court orders to provide full funding for November SNAP benefits.



Please visit https://linktr.ee/cfrchicago for information about donating and links to their Facebook and Instagram pages to see what they are specifically looking for at this time.  

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. 

ECRA Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - This Sunday, November 23 at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church

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 23 from 3:00 pm, hosted this year at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, located at 5649 N. Sheridan Rd. There will be a reception afterwards with light refreshments and baked goods.

If you are able, please bring canned goods or a cash donated to share with our local food pantry, Care for Real.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day Mass is at 10:00 am/Office Closed Thursday and Friday

We hope Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful one for you and your loved ones.

We are so grateful for our wonderful parishioners and neighbors who make our church, neighborhood and city a better place. And we thank those that are able to volunteer their time at St. Gertrude. We are so lucky to have you!

The rectory office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 and Friday, November 28. Mass on Thanksgiving will be held at 10:00 am and 7:30 am on Friday. 

Additionally, there are no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, November 29.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Loving God,

who created and sustains the universe,

who loved us all into being,

and who gives us every good thing,

we thank you for the blessings

that you bring into our lives.

We thank you for the gift of life itself,

which you gave us in our mothers' wombs.

We thank you for the fresh start of each new day,

which is a sign of your renewing and creative love.

And we thank you for our friends, our families,

our neighbors and our coworkers,

whose human love is an image of your divine care.

Increase our gratitude this Thanksgiving Day,

and help us to recognize all the good things

that we have, both large and small.

And magnify our desire to share

what we have with others,

so that they too may be

grateful to you, Loving God.

~ Father James Martin, SJ

Harvest of Hope: Archdiocese-wide Food Drive Begins Next Weekend-December 14

The Federal SNAP benefits that help 700,000 neighbors across the archdiocese put food on their tables have been drastically reduced.

Please help us ensure food pantries run by local parishes and Catholic Charities are fully stocked as we approach the holiday season.

Between November 29 and December 14, there will be a donation box labeled "Catholic Charities in the vestibule in the back of church. Please consider donating canned chicken, canned soup, canned tuna, and canned beef. 

Giving Tree Program to Begin Next Weekend, November 29-30

The Giving Tree Program will begin next weekend! Once again, we will be asking for gift cards rather than gifts and in increments of $20. This allows flexibility for individuals to get what they need.

These cards can be from Target, Jewel, Walmart, Aldi, Dunkin Donut, or even a Ventra card. Any way you can help is appreciated!

Information about the charities/parish ministries benefiting from this fundraising effort and the deadline will be shared next weekend.

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

Online Order and Paper Forms Now Available! In-Person Sales Begin Next Sunday After the 10:30 am Masses

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. 

In-Person Sales

Greenery will also be sold at the playlot on the west side of the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville Avenue, on November 30, December 7, December 14, and December 21 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Only cash and checks will be accepted for in-person purchases.

Place an Order Online

Click here to place an order online or scan the QR code. Please note, if you are interested in having your item/items delivered, please add the delivery fee to your order in GiveCentral—it’s a separate charge! 

Order Via a Paper Form

Download a traditional paper form here or pick up an order form in church. 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 Sunday, December 7 and Sunday, December 14 from noon - 4:00 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.

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

Tuesday, December 2 is Giving Tuesday

Next Tuesday, December 2, is Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. People all over the world celebrate the true reason behind this holiday season, showing generosity, compassion, and love to those less fortunate. 

St. Gertrude is a parish that is truly dedicated to helping others. Whether it be through reaching out to teens through our youth group, caring for our seniors with our Heart to Heart program, collecting food for Care for Real, or committing to sponsoring a refugee family, our community of faith shows love to others every single day. 

If you are inspired to take part in this day-long donation campaign, please consider supporting St. Gertrude and making a donation here.

Every donation will make a difference!

Thank you!

An Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life at St. Gertrude

An “Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life” will begin this coming January and end in June. The retreat follows the basic themes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, but will take

place in the midst of daily life rather than at a retreat center.

Participants commit to praying on themes from Scripture which will be selected for each day of the retreat. Small groups of retreatants will meet once a week to share their prayer experiences and receive guidance on the next week’s themes.

The director of the retreat will be Jim Neafsey, a parishioner at St. Gertrude’s who has

given Ignatian retreats for 50 years.

There will be a basic orientation to the retreat offered in December. Information

sessions will last 45 minutes. Information sessions will take place in the Ministry Center

on the following dates:

• Tuesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm
• Sunday, December 7 at 11:30 am (after Mass) 
• Saturday, December 13 at 9:00 am 

Each session will cover the same content, so you only need to come to one session.

They are intended to help clarify what the retreat entails and whether it fits with your

desires and pattern of life at this time. If you are interested, but cannot make any of

these meetings, please call or text Jim Neafsey at 773.580.5212.



This series is sponsored by the Adult Spirituality and Faith Formation Committee.

Advent at St. Gertrude: A Journey in Hope

“The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. It is not possible to keep it from coming because it will. That’s just how Advent works. What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you.

So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.”

~ Text © Jan Richardson from Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas. janrichardson.com. (used with permission)

As Jan Richardson reminds us, Advent calls us to slow down—to watch, wait, and open ourselves to the mystery that is already unfolding in our midst. It is a season of quiet anticipation and spiritual renewal, inviting us to notice what is coming to birth within us and within our community.

This Advent, the Adult Spirituality and Formation Committee invites you to join a special three-part series designed to deepen that journey of awareness and hope. Each session offers a unique way to encounter the sacred—through prayer, art, and reflection—as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

All sessions will take place from 7:00–8:30 pm in the Ministry Center Chapel. You are welcome to attend any or all.

Session one is Wednesday, December 3, titled Pondering in Our Hearts: Lectio Divina and the Virtue of Hope with Patricia Sullivan and Karen Spear.



Over the millennia, countless Christians have sought a closer relationship with God through

contemplative reading of Scripture and other sacred texts. Rather than reading for information, pondering the Word of God and words of God involves contemplative openness of mind and heart to what the Scripture or other texts have to reveal to us.

Karen Spear and Pat Sullivan, both experienced practitioners of Lectio Divina, or sacred reading, will introduce the practice, focusing on a meditation from Fr. Richard Rohr on the theological virtue of hope. In this session, we will walk through the four moments of Lectio Divina as we open ourselves to hear the wisdom of Fr. Richard about how we can have hope in a time of turmoil as we enter the Advent season.

Session two is Wednesday, December 10, A Pre-Instagram Birth: The Nativity of Jesus Told Through Art with Fr. Sergio Romo and session three is Wednesday, December 17: Encountering the Mystery of God’s Presence Through Sacred Art with Jim Neafsey.

Please consider being part of this Advent journey. While all are welcome to “drop in,” we ask that you let us know if you plan to attend so we can prepare sufficient seating.

To register, email Mary Ann O’Connor at maryann.oconnor@rcn.com and indicate which session or sessions you will attend.

Come, stay, and wait with us this Advent season. Something beautiful is on the horizon.

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) Meeting Planned for Saturday, December 6

St. Gertrude is a member of CSPL, the faith-based organization that organized the recent People’s Mass and Eucharistic Procession to the Broadview Detention Center.

Come together with other parishioners on Saturday, December 6 from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Ministry Center to build community and discuss how to help advance our parish's commitments to social justice, human concerns and faith formation through our participation in CSPL. Learn more about CSPL. 

All are welcome! 

Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Monday, December 8

We will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December 8. This is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Mass will be held at 7:30 am. The rectory office will be open.

Youth Group Event is Planned for Saturday, December 13

Attention students in 7th grade and up! Save the date! On December 13, we've planned an afternoon of Christmas card-making and crafts, with cards going to those who are sick and homebound in our parish.

We'll gather in the Ministry Center from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Snacks will be provided!

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

Parish Photo Directory: Sign Up to Get Your Family Portrait Taken!



It’s time for a new St. Gertrude photo directory!

Photography sessions will take place December 18–20. Every participating household will receive a complimentary 8x10 portrait and a free parish directory.

You’ll be able to view your photos immediately and have the option to purchase additional portraits—perfect for keepsakes or holiday gifts.

Appointments can be made after Mass or online at schedule.ucdir.com (Church code: IL 457, Password: photos).

Questions? Email Jen Reyes at stgertrudeparishcouncil@gmail.com.

7th & 8th Grade Students: Essay Contest Entries Due December 22

Students in the 7th and 8th grade are invited to take part in our annual essay contest. Participants should write an essay based on this prompt: What is the impact of Christianity on human rights?

Entries should be 500-550 words. Spelling and grammar count!

The top three winners will receive gift cards and have their essays published online and in the bulletin.

Entries must be submitted online or postmarked by Monday, December 22, 2025. Email essays (preferred method) to eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or mail them to Eloy Escamilla, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660. 

Growing in Faith

There are over 223,000 Catholic churches in the world. Each displays a cross. Has there ever been a king whose symbol is more widespread than Christ’s?

The cross is brutal, the bloody mockery of an oppressor. We should shield our children’s eyes from it. Has there ever been a king whose symbol is more disturbing than Christ’s?  

But there it is. The cross. The seat of Jesus’ kind of kingship. Not a golden throne, but an executioner’s tool.  

223,000 crosses cannot be ignored. The cross shows us where to stand. As Pope Leo writes in Dilexi Te, “When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation: to love the Lord where he is most disfigured.”  

We cannot walk the path to holiness without standing with the persecuted. This is not consolation for me. This sounds like trouble.

The cross shows us how to stand. We must be willing to pay the price. Like Jesus, we cannot hold anything back. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, there is no cheap grace. This is not consolation for me. I prefer my religion to be painless.

The cross calls the question. Again, Pope Leo, “The Church knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.” Am I in, or am I out? This is not consolation for me. I prefer to stand on the sidelines.



The cross is trouble. It challenges us about where and how we stand. It calls the question – are we with Jesus’ kind of kingship? Over a billion Catholics signed themselves with the cross today…, someone should have warned us.

~ John Horan

Recent Text (and Email) Phishing Scam 

Over the past two weeks, we’ve received numerous calls, emails, and messages from our website from parishioners alerting us that someone is texting and emailing them, impersonating staff, falsely claiming that they in need of monetary assistance.

We are so grateful so many of you let us know what was happening! Please know that we would never send a

general request for help via text or email. Any legitimate request for support would only come through our official parish email (news@stgertrudechicago.org) via the bulletin or an e-blast.

Be sure to double-check the sender's address on any email asking for help. These scams can be very convincing, and we all need to stay vigilant.

Thank you for your awareness and caution!

Thank You for Coming to our

Feast of St. Gertrude Celebration Last Sunday

Thank you to all parishioners who came out last weekend to mass and the Brewed at St. Gertrude social event! It was wonderful to gather together and celebrate our faith community on our parish’s feast day. 

Special thanks to the Brewed at St. Gertrude team for their hard work.

Photos courtesy of Steven Patzke.

Living with Grief Workshop on Saturday November 22

How do you anticipate and want to move through winter and the holidays in a way that honors both your grieving and your loved one? Where presently do you find strength, understanding, and encouragement as you experience the many feelings your loved one’s absence has awakened within you?

Join others who are also grieving the death of their loved one in a safe, understanding, non-judgmental space. Connect and share stories, explore ways of living with and without your loved one, and find ways to honor them.

An in-person grief workshop is being offered by parishioner Jim Mandardo, Board Certified Hospital Chaplain and licensed professional counselor (LPC). The program is Saturday, November 22 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am at the Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services, 1261 W. Loyola Ave.

The entrance is close to the Loyola Red Line stop. Street parking is available in the neighborhood and a $5 parking garage is available on Arthur.

The cost is $25 and is limited to 20 participants. Coffee, bagels, and fruit will be provided.

Please RSVP to Jim Manzardo at 773.274.4600 or j.manzardo@griefcounselor.org.

Playdates at NCA Every Monday and Friday Through December 19

Bring your little ones (ages 0-5) and join us for fun-filled playdate! Held at Northside Catholic Academy, 6216 N. Glenwood, on Monday and Friday mornings from 9:30 - 10:30 am through December 19, the hour is filled with activities for kids, a chance to meet neighborhood families, and learn more about NCA.

Please scan the QR code in the graphic to RSVP!

St. Scholastica Monastery: Three Advent Retreats Offered

Join us for three Advent evening retreats which will offer opportunities for inner reflection and sharing. We will practice lectio divina, visio divina, and walking meditation using chapter 1 of the Gospel of Luke.

Each retreat will be in the Oasis Room at St. Scholastica Monastery on the following Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm: December 2, December 9, and December 16.

Please RSVP to Sr. Virginia Jung at vjung@osbchicago.org or 773.764.2413 ext. 262.

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, November 22 at 5:00 pm - Roman Reyes, Joseph McMahon
• Sunday, November 23 at 8:00 am - Jay Cook, Jacalyn Meintz
• Sunday, November 23 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Ellen Pierce

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, November 22 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane
• Sunday, November 23 at 8:00 am - Josephine Delgado
• Sunday, November 23 at 10:30 am - Carlos Barragan, Patrick Robinson, Troy McMillan

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, November 24: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, November 25: 7:30 am - Ethna Nolan+
• Wednesday, November 26: 7:30 am - Florence and George Indelli+; Mark Schreiner+
• Thursday, November 27: 7:30 am - Michael J. Cronin+
• Friday, November 28: 7:30 am - Rafael Silva Ferreira de Souza
• Saturday, November 29: 7:30 am - Phyllis Raine+; 5:00 pm - Norman H. Linke+
• Sunday, November 30: 8:00 am - Mylene R. Velasquez+; 10:30 am - Isabelle and Michael Laczkowski+; 10:30 am Gym - 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.