St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, January 18, 2026

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Each year, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday invites us to pause and remember the life and legacy of a man whose faith, courage, and moral clarity helped bend our nation toward justice. Rooted deeply in the Christian tradition, Dr. King believed that love, nonviolence, and solidarity with the marginalized were not abstract ideals, but demands of discipleship. His work reminds us that faith must be lived publicly, especially when confronting racism, poverty, and violence.

Dr. King often spoke of the “Beloved Community,” a vision of society rooted in justice, peace, and mutual care. This vision was not naïve optimism, but hard-earned hope—hope forged through sacrifice, persistence, and trust in God’s presence amid struggle. He called people of faith to reject indifference and to recognize that silence in the face of injustice allows harm to continue.

While we honor Dr. King’s words and leadership, his legacy challenges us to do more than remember. It asks us to examine our own hearts and communities, to confront inequities that persist today, and to ask how we are called to respond. As Dr. King reminded us, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

For this reason, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has become known as a Day of Service—a day not “off,” but a day “on.” It is an opportunity to turn remembrance into action by serving our neighbors, strengthening our community, and living out the Gospel call to love one another. Acts of service, whether large or small, honor Dr. King’s belief that everyone can be a force for positive change.

As people of faith, service is not optional; it is central to who we are. When we feed the hungry, accompany the lonely, advocate for justice, or care for those most in need, we continue the work Dr. King began and give witness to God’s reign among us.

There are many ways our parish lives out its call to serve both one another and the wider community. From our Heart to Heart program for seniors and our Medical Lending Closet, to the ministries that support our liturgy—Eucharistic Ministers, Ministers of the Word, and our choir—to outreach efforts such as the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), the Refugee and Immigrant Ministry, and those who care for our parish garden, each plays a vital role in building the Beloved Community. If you are interested in learning more about these or discerning where your gifts might be shared, we invite you to explore our parish ministries at https://stgertrudechicago.org/parish-ministries-1.

"Brewed at St. Gertrude" is This Sunday, January 18

Please join us on Sunday, January 18 for the first "Brewed at St. Gertrude" of 2026, our monthly parish hospitality event! 

These gatherings are held following the 10:30 am church and gym masses in the Social Hall and feature pastries, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.

All are welcome: new and long-time parishioners, families, and visitors! We would love for the entire parish to be there! 

Rectory Office Closed This Monday, January 19 for MLK Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 19. There will be no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, January 18. 

The Rectory office will be closed on Monday, January 19. Mass will be held at 7:30 am.

Support the Church in Latin America: Second Collection Scheduled for January 24-25

For over 50 years, Catholic dioceses in the United States have participated in the bishops’ special annual collection for the Church in Latin America as a sign of solidarity and unity with Catholics in Central and South America and the islands of the Caribbean. For many living in Latin America and the Caribbean, a rising secular culture, difficult rural terrain, and a shortage of ministers make it difficult for people to practice the faith.

Parishioner donations to this collection have supported pastoral ministries like evangelization and catechesis, family ministries, lay ministry training, and the education and formation of priests, deacons, and religious brothers and sisters.

A second collection for the Church in Latin America will take place this weekend, Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25. It is a chance to share the faith with our brothers and sisters in Latin America. You can give at Mass or online HERE.

Care for Real Collection is January 24-25

Our next Care for Real collection drive is January 24-25 before and after masses. 

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. 

Reconciliation for First Communion Candidates is Wednesday, January 28

Please keep the young students of our parish in their prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30 pm in church.

Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have questions.

Youth Group Bowling Outing

All youth in 7th grade and up are invited to join us for a fun bowling outing on Saturday, January 31. We will depart from St. Gertrude at 11:00 am.

Come enjoy a great day of fellowship, friendly competition, and fun with friends. The cost is $10 per person, and space is limited.

To reserve a spot or for more information, please email Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Commonweal Action Healthcare Forum Planned for Sunday, February 1

Commonwealth Action of St. Gertrude’s Parish, Chicago will host a healthcare forum at noon on Sunday, February 1, following the 10:30 am mass. The event will be held in the Social Hall, located on the lower/basement level of 1401 W. Granville.

Speakers will include three local medical practitioners/ parishioners, as well as a representative from Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s office. They will discuss what you need to know regarding the Trump Administration’s changes to Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and Federal vaccination policies.

The program will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes and will include time for questions and discussion.

Coffee and snacks will be available from 11:45 am. (If you would like to contribute additional snacks to share, they will be most welcome.)  

Midwest Workers Association Super Bowl Tamale Benefit - Tamales Orders Still Being Accepted!

Volunteers from the Midwest Workers Association (MWA) are still taking tamale orders for their annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit via phone!

Tamales will be delivered on Sunday, February 8, after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am Masses. Those who attend Saturday Mass are asked to come on Sunday to pick up their tamales.

This tamale benefit supports MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign, which provides critical assistance to families during the cold months. The campaign includes door-to-door membership canvassing, utility-bill advocacy to prevent shutoffs and restore service, winter-watch phone calls, warm-clothing distribution, emergency food support so families don’t have to choose between heating and eating, and use of MWA’s office as a warming station throughout the season.

To place an order, call their office at (773) 285-0485. Tamales are available by the half dozen in:

• Chicken in green sauce
• Cheese and jalapeño (vegetarian)
• Black bean and cactus (vegan)

There is a suggested donation of$10 per half dozen or $20 per dozen.

MWA also urgently needs volunteers to help make tamales from February 2–7, as well as to assist with membership canvassing and utility-benefit advocacy. Speak with an MWA volunteer at the above number to learn how you can be part of the Winter Survival Campaign.

Growing in Faith

The beginning of a new year is a time for resolutions. A birthday is also a time for resolutions. For me, today’s readings fall midway between the New Year and my January birthday—making them an ideal starting point for a recommitment to, well, my starting point: the vows made for me at Baptism.

The first reading gives me Resolution #1: be a light to the nations. While the image of a great torch comes to mind (such as the one carried by the Statue of Liberty), more often light merely provides enough illumination to see just the next step, the next patch of road. Being a light means being an example—making God known by how I live my life in the coming hour, the coming day, and the coming year.

The psalmist gives me Resolution #2: listen to God (“ears open”), and Resolution #3: speak up (“I announced your justice; I did not restrain my lips”). Corinthians gives me Resolution #4: to respond to our call to a great vocation, our “call to be holy.”

The Gospel brings me to Resolution #5: see. John the Baptist sees the Spirit come down and remain on another. But I’ve never noticed, looked about, and seen the Spirit descending on others—no doubt it has been happening all around me. How much I’ve been missing! We are connected—you and me, and John and Jesus—by the same Spirit, sanctified by the same Spirit. And we are commissioned, through our baptism, to do the same work.

If I take seriously my identity as a child of God, what better way to start the year than with the words, “Be it resolved….”

~ Madeleine Philbin

Choir Get-Together

The Choral Choir enjoyed a little celebration this past weekend, taking time to relax, laugh, and enjoy one another’s company. We are deeply grateful for their ministry and the joy their music brings to our parish each week.

Thank You Note From RefugeeOne

Below is a thank you sent to our parish from RefugeeOne for our gifts collected via our Giving Tree:

RefugeeOne sends deep gratitude to the St. Gertrude community for the generous donation of gift cards for refugee families in need! Refugees in Chicago are facing especially tough challenges right now, including SNAP cuts, travel bans prolonging family separation, and the anxiety of witnessing immigration raids. Your support is helping bridge the gap with food assistance for families in a tight spot—and that stability goes a long way in staying the course toward reaching their potential and finding belonging in their new home! Thank you so much.

Saturday Morning Mass Schedule Change 



Please note that there are no longer Saturday morning Masses. 



We thank you for your understanding and invite you to join us at our other regularly scheduled Mass times.

Volunteers Needed to Help with Live-Streaming Sunday Masses

We are looking for assistance with live-streaming our 10:30 am Sunday masses. The process is simple, you do not have to have a technical background, a special camera or phone, just a willingness to help. 

Contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for more information.

Walk with the Ignatian Spirituality Project - Chicago Winter Walk Planned for February 8

Join the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) at the Chicago Winter Walk on Sunday, February 8 at Humboldt Park at 9:15 am — a citywide event raising awareness and funds to end homelessness.

ISP walks alongside people rebuilding their lives after homelessness and addiction. Through retreats and spiritual companionship, participants encounter God’s love, find supportive community, and discover that their stories are sacred and their lives have purpose.

Together, we help provide the spiritual and relational foundation that makes lasting recovery possible.

Please register for the event at qrco.de/ww26-isp. Once registered, please go to your dashboard and click “Join, Create or Claim a Team,” then choose “Join a team.” Search for “Jesuit Friends and Family” and click “Join.”

Walk with us — in hope, in community, in God’s love.

Catholic LGBTQ+ Retreat Scheduled for March 6-8 in Racine, Wisconsin

"Walking Together, Walking With Christ" is a weekend-retreat which focuses on the roles of LGBTQ+ people in a synodal church. The facilitator is Brian Flanagan, Ph.D., the John Cardinal Cody Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola University Chicago. The program will be held from Friday to Sunday, March 6-8, 2026, at the Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, Wisconsin.

The retreat is sponsored by New Ways Ministry, a 49-year old Catholic group which promotes ministry, justice, and reconciliation with LGBTQ+ people. The program is designed for LGBTQ+ people, family members, friends, and pastoral ministers. All are welcome. 

For more information and to register, click here.

New Parishioners

• Diana Marquez
• Jewell John, Kim Nguyen, Elijah Jewell

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, January 17 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Martin Waide
• Sunday, January 18 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac, Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, January 18 at 10:30 am - Eric Ameyaw, Rose Karasti

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, January 17 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, January 18 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, January 18 at 10:30 am - Sarah Millar, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Altar Servers

• Saturday, January 17 at 5:00 pm - cross bearer: Bradley Phelps; acolyte: Angel Garcia, Owen Craft
• Sunday, January 18 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Jayson Ameyaw; acolytes: Carter Dant, Wyatt Dant

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, January 19: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Tuesday, January 20: 7:30 am - Paul Kelly+
• Wednesday, January 21: 7:30 am - Laura Linke+
• Thursday, January 22: 7:30 am - Gerardo Carpio+
• Friday, January 23: 7:30 am -  Michael Mason+
• Saturday, January 24: 5:00 pm - Harry Glotkowski+
• Sunday, January 25: 8:00 am -; 10:30 am - Isidro Espinoza+; 10:30 am Gym - Estelle Ann Guardino+

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.