Bulletin for Sunday, November 27, 2022
The First Sunday of Advent
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Mass Times: Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am Mass in Church; 10:30 am Gym Mass; Monday-Friday: 7:30 am (Thursday is a Communion service);
Saturday: 7:30 am & 5:00 pm
Mass is at 10:00 am on Thanksgiving Day.
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturday or by appointment.
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St. Gertrude's Thanksgiving Day Mass/Office Hours/ No Religious Ed This Weekend
Our parish Thanksgiving celebration will be at the 10:00 am Mass on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24. It will be live-streamed on our parish's Facebook page.
As part of our Thanksgiving celebration, the recipients of the Parish Service Awards will be recognized.
Please note, the Rectory office will be closed on
Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 25.
There are no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, November 27.
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From Fr. Rich
“Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace forever.”
We are waiting for nothing less than the fulfillment of the prophecy we hear in the Advent Psalm. Justice and peace established and lasting forever! Our stance, or better yet, our stances, are to work for justice and peace as if it all depends upon us, but to be patient with its arrival because it all really depends upon God!
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In other words -- as is true every Advent -- we are invited into a stance of being patient. Which stand in direct contradiction to everything we expect from our modern, industrialized, mechanized society. We have grown up assured we will be able to get things we want much more quickly. After all, Amazon isn’t making all that money because we are kept waiting!
But God’s way is not our way. And we learn only after lots of frustration, that God’s time is not our time.
In every Advent we are always about three different times: the salvation by our God which happened in real time two thousand years ago; the salvation we experience right now in this present moment; and the universal salvation that will happen when Christ comes again to gather all things unto himself.
As we prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s birth at Christmas, what might each of us do that combines both our participation in this saving miracle, even as we practice patience for the day when all will be made whole?
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Is the pandemic over?
In a word, the answer to that question is, “No.” However, we have moved into a different attitude towards covid and how we can function in society. So, most people are no longer wearing masks, etc. Part of this transition into this “new normal” is also about how we practice our faith.
In today’s bulletin is the letter from the Cardinal wherein he announces that the dispensation he granted when covid first appeared, which allowed us all to not gather for Sunday Eucharist if we felt our health and safety could be compromised, is being lifted.
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Now he invites us to return to the pre-pandemic policy of attending Mass every Sunday.
On our part, we will keep providing the live-stream 10:30 am Sunday Mass as long as we are able, and parishioners find it helpful -- especially those unable to get to church for any number of health or safety reasons.
This weekend, in cooperation with the Cardinal’s letter, we will be renewing baptismal promises and our Profession of Faith after the homily and that rite will conclude with the blessing of the baptismal water.
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Thanks
I want to again thank Ed Jacobs for making the pitch for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) at our Masses last weekend. Ed has done this a number of year as a witness to the good that donations to the CCHD collection have made possible.
Thanks to Ed for his testimony, and to all those who contributed!
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Parish Service Awards
At the Thanksgiving Day Mass, the Parish Service Awards will be presented to parishioners who have been outstanding in their generosity of service to the community. Here are the recipients of this year’s St. Gertrude Parish Service Awards:
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Parish Life: Diane Barnhart, Sr. Joellen McCarthy, B.V.M., Barb Daly
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Education: Jennifer & Roman Reyes, Emily Monnelly & Matt Brett
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Human Concerns: Deborah Kern, Nancy Kuhn, Jean Laczkowski
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Prayer and Worship: Paula Dempsey, Amir Ghazaleh
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Lifetime Service: Laurie Hasbrook
Congratulations to all the recipients and all those who continue to be so generous with their time and talent and energy here at St. Gertrude parish!
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Upcoming Events
Listed in Chronological Order
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St. Nick's Fest - Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4
St. Nick's Fest will take place next week at St. John XXIII Parish (St. Nicholas Church Campus), 806 Ridge Ave. , in Evanston.
The church grounds are transformed into a wonderland of Christmas trees, greenery, crafts, food, bakery goods, and more.
The Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday offers a great opportunity to purchase beautiful, unique gifts for adults and children. Over 50 crafters will have wares in two buildings, selling beautiful gift items: jewelry, knitwear, wooden bowls, pottery, and much more. All crafts are local and homemade.
Delicious Mexican food and hot drinks will be available for shoppers.
A forest of 500 trees will arrive for Saturday and Sunday’s Christmas Tree and Greenery Sale! These Frasers, Balsams, and Scotch Pines are fresh and fragrant, cut only days before they arrive. Trees and Greenery can be ordered ahead online or purchased directly on the church grounds.
Visit their website for more details.
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Volunteers Needed for Christmas Greenery Deliveries
One benefit parishioners enjoy about the greenery sale is the delivery service. This service will continue, but in order to be successful, we need volunteers.
Help is needed on Saturday, December 3, Sunday, December 4, Saturday, December 10, and Sunday, December 11 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.
If you are available to volunteer your time, email Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Holiday Schedule at St. Gertrude Parish
Immaculate Conception
Wednesday, December 7
Thursday, December 8
Advent Reconciliation Service
Sunday, December 11th
4th Sunday of Advent/Fr. Rich's Retirement Mass (Sunday)
Saturday, December 17th
Sunday, December 18th
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8:00 am & 10:30 am* (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
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*Fr. Rich's retirement will be celebrated
Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24th
- 5:00 pm - For families with children (live-streamed)
- 8:00 pm - Vigil Mass - Adult choir & instruments (choral music from 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25th
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8:00 am & 10:30 am (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
New Year’s Eve, Saturday December 31st
New Year's Day, Sunday, January 1st
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8:00 am & 10:30 am (live-streamed); No Gym Mass
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
Saturday, January 7th
Sunday, January 8th
- 8:00 am & 10:30 am in church (live-streamed); 10:30 am Gym Mass
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Edgewater Singers Holiday Concert - Saturday, December 10
The Edgewater Singers will host their annual holiday concert on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 pm. The performance, “Out of Darkness, Light”, is being held at St. Gertrude’s Church.
As always, the concert is free and appropriate for all ages.
We strongly encourage that the audience wear masks during the performance.
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Our Advent Reconciliation Service is Sunday, December 11
Our annual Advent Reconciliation Service will be on Sunday, December 11 at 1:00 pm in church. This is a reflective service, offering songs, scripture readings and a guided examination of conscience. It usually lasts about 45 minutes.
During the holiday season, it is a great opportunity to spend some quiet time in church, to reunite with the Lord, have our sins forgiven and be ready for the celebration of Our Lord’s birth.
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Essay Contest for Students in 7th & 8th Grade - Deadline is Monday December 12
Students interested in the contests should write an essay explaining what is the most important contribution that Christians can make to society. Entries should be 500-600 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 12, 2022. Email
essays (preferred method) to eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or mail them to Eloy
Escamilla, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660.
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Donate to our Giving Tree Program Until Sunday, December 18
The Giving Trees are in the back of Church! As we have been doing since the pandemic, we will again be asking for gift cards, rather than gifts. This allows flexibility for individuals to get what they need. The benefactors of the Giving Tree collections will be Care for Real and the St. Gertrude Refugee and Immigrant Ministry.
Care for Real is asking for gift cards in $20.00 increments to Target, Jewel, and Walmart. They are also asking for Ventra passes. The Refugee Ministry is requesting $20 gift cards to Target. We are also asking for $10 McDonald’s gift cards to provide immediate meals for those who request them.
When you bring your gift cards to church, there are two boxes on a table in front of the Blessed Mother’s Shrine in the front of church. One of the boxes indicates it is for Care for Real, and one for The Parish Refugee Committee. Please place your gift cards into whichever outreach you are supporting. The McDonald’s gift cards can be placed in either box. The last chance to donate gift cards will be Sunday, December 18th at noon.
We hope that in this most joyous of seasons you will be able to support the Giving Tree program. Each gift card will allow others to be able to have a blessed and happy Christmas celebration.
If you have any questions please reach out to the Giving Tree Program coordinator Joe McMahon at jpmgmu@aol.com or at 708.525.5051.
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The Longest Night of the Year: Homeless Persons Memorial Vigil - Wednesday, December 21
Please join members of the Peace & Justice Ministry for on Wednesday, December 21, the first night of winter, the longest night of darkness, to remember those who have died while homeless.
They die alone - in tents, shelters, and on the streets. On this evening, we will mourn their passing.
The Vigil will be held at 7:00 pm in St. Gertrude's church.
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Christmas Eve Pageant at 5:00 pm Mass: Children & Adults Needed
As is our tradition during the Gospel at the Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Family Mass, the kids from
St. Gertrude parish will act out the Christmas story.
We are looking for children ages 5 and older to participate in this charming production, and adults to help organize the event. (If you have a young baby and are interested in performing as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, let us know!)
Please contact me at
eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you and/or your children are interested in being a part of this special Mass.
~ Eloy Escamilla
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Save the Date! Our Parish Cabaret Night Will be Held on Saturday, January 28
Our rescheduled Cabaret Night has a new date - Saturday, January 28. It will be held from 7:00-9:00 pm in the gym.
People wishing to perform or help with set up or breakdown should contact Mary Clare
Barker at mcbarker@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Thank you for Helping with our Food Drive Organized by Parish Teens
Thank you to our parish teens and those who donated to our food drive last weekend for Care for Real! Confirmation candidates and members of our parish youth group sorted and packed up so much food, including peanut butter, nuts, tuna, canned chicken and fruits, as well as soups.
Care for Real staff were so thankful to receive our donations. Thank you for your generosity!
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Little Blue Books
The Little Blue Book - Advent and Christmas Season are available in the back of church.
These booklets provide a six-minute reflection each day. The readings are a great way to slow down, focus, and dedicate some time to God during this holy season.
There is a suggested donation of $1.
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Letter from Cardinal Cupich
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In so many ways—large and small—the pandemic has upended our lives together. Families and, in a special way, young people, have faced distressing struggles. The pandemic made our connections with one another challenging and difficult. Exactly in that moment when we truly needed supportive relationships with one another, we found ourselves separated. Sadly, this included the relationships and connections that we have in and through the Church.
We did our best to move forward and many parishes offered online Sunday Masses, and went even further and established prayer lines and reached out to those in need. The TV Mass that I celebrated helped to keep us connected as a community of faith in Chicagoland. So many of you have told me how healing and comforting those Masses have been.
In the meanwhile, we are in a new moment. With vaccinations and boosters, restrictions on public gatherings have eased up. Many people feel more comfortable returning to Church. Yet, we know there are some elderly and immuno-comprised persons who are still not ready to return. And they should not return. These vulnerable brothers and sisters have an excusing cause for being absent and for this reason I will continue the TV Mass on ABC for the present time. But for the rest of us, I have decided, in consultation with my advisors, to lift the general dispensation from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass as we begin a new Church year on the First Sunday of Advent, November 26-27.
My hope is that the First Sunday of Advent will provide us with a fresh start to take up again our life together as a community of faith that gathers to worship God. I have asked our pastors to begin the Masses on November 26-27 with the traditional lighting of the Advent wreath. After the homily your pastor will lead the community in a renewal of baptismal promises, acknowledging that we owe our obligation to participate in Sunday Mass to God but also to each other. Our common profession of faith and of our desire to turn away from sin, will be concluded by a sprinkling rite with the waters of baptism.
Let this occasion of our renewal of faith and life, which we all so much want, provide us with a fresh start as we recommit ourselves to worship God and to be supportive of each other week after week as we gather around the Table of the Lord to be nourished and renewed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
~Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
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St. Francis Catholic Worker House of Hospitality Invitation
St. Francis House is a home of hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement, located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4652 N. Kenmore Ave.
All are invited to attend a house Mass and dinner on Tuesday, November 29 for Dorothy Day's Feast Day.
Additionally, the community hosts open house dinners on Mondays at 6:00 pm.
For more information, please contact Renee Darline Roden at rr3329@columbia.edu.
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Thank You to our Heart to Heart Volunteers
This Thanksgiving, we want to share our deep appreciation to the volunteers that serve Heart to Heart.
From driving our seniors to Mass, the store, or to medical appointments to calling to check in or offering prayers for their well-being, their generosity of spirit is so kind and loving. Our volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.
We are also so grateful to everyone who has donated medical equipment to the Lending Closet. It is amazing how many individuals and families we can lend a helping hand to with the loan of medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, toilet risers, shower chairs, etc.
Thank you!
~ Pat Sullivan & Laurie Hasbrook
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Growing in Faith
This season we offer you suggestions to enrich your Advent & Christmas preparation, as an alternative to the unreflective craziness that can sometimes overtake us.
~ Happy Holidays from your GIF Bulletin Committee
From Sr. Wendy Cotter:
Ignatian Spirituality Website: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/advent/
Fabulous resource for free weekly Advent videos and so much more!
From Nancy Bujnowski:
An Illuminated Retreat by Jan Richardson (Author and Artist of beloved Advent book: Night Vision) Online from 11/27-12/27: 3 sessions each week featuring meditations, art, and music. Cost: $90 (www.janrichardson.com)
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From Bob Raccuglia:
Give Us This Day (www.giveusthisday.org), a wonderful print & online resource for daily prayer. Great editors & writers! Each monthly issue includes: Daily inspirations, Insightful scripture reflections & Simple daily morning & evening prayers. 1-yr. sub:$47
From Pat Reardon:
Read The Book of Job, preferably my favorite translation: (The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes by Robert Alter). Job is the story of someone who is good, honest & fair, and whose faith is tested to the utmost when his life is shaken by tragedy after tragedy. What happens to him isn't fair, after all. But, through all his pain and carping, Job keeps the faith.
From Madeleine Philbin:
A Catholic Family Advent: Prayers and Activities, Susan Hines-Brigger. (Great!)
Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent, Richard Rohr (Wonderful!)
From Claire Conley:
Watch again (and again) the classic film: It’s a Wonderful Life. It gets us every time and truly captures the spirit of Advent and Christmas.
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Please Pick Up Your Remembrance Altar/Ofrenda Items
Thank you for sharing images and memories of your special someone with us during the month of November. If you have not yet picked up your photo or memento, please collect them from the altar after Masses this weekend. Next week, they can be picked up in the Rectory office.
The Rectory office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, and Saturdays from 9:00 am-2:30 pm.
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Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Do you have income that is subject to Illinois state taxes? Would you like to REDUCE your state taxes or see a BIGGER refund?
If so, we would like to share an opportunity with you that will help reduce the amount you pay in Illinois state taxes while also providing scholarship funds for students at Northside Catholic Academy.
To learn more, please click here to review a letter from NCA Principal Christine Huzenis about the tax credit
scholarship program at bit.ly/NCAPrincipalLetter, as well as other TCS information at bit.ly/NCAFlyers.
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Baptisms
- Brynn Kay and Emilia Parker Arseneault, children of Adam Arseneault & Kathleen Brennan Arseneault
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Rest in Peace
- Michael Groark
- Marian Stanley, mother of Barb Stanley
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Schedule for Altar Servers, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, & Cantors | |
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Ministers of the Word
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Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 pm - Jennifer Kiedaisch, Millie Slane
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Sunday, November 27 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac, Rob Sierzega
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Sunday, November 27 at 10:30 am - Steven Monti, Tim Love
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Eucharistic Ministers
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Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 pm - Mary Cook
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Sunday, November 27 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
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Sunday, November 27 at 10:30 am - Michelle Kuelhorn, Troy McMillan, Carlos Barragan
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Altar Servers
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Sunday, November 27 at 10:30 am - Cross Bearer - Henry Jacobson; Acolytes - Carter Dant, Mariyam Agdubai
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Cantors
- Saturday, November 26 at 5:00 pm - Paula Dempsey
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Sunday, November 27 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
- Sunday, November 27 at 10:30 am - Matt Heimer
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Bring Christ to the World Through Your Legacy
Your legacy is a reflection of your values and must be cultivated through thoughtful planning.
If you want your assets to be given to the people and charities you care deeply about after your passing, then it’s important for you to establish a formal estate plan. Your estate includes everything you own, regardless of size.
Please consult an attorney and financial advisor when creating your estate plan. For more
information, please contact Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrude.org.
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Ways to Help Our Parish: Amazon Smile, Text to Give, GiveCentral, PayPal, and Amazon Smile
Visit smile.amazon.com and select St. Gertrude Parish as your charity of choice. From then on, connect to Amazon through smile.amazon.com and St. Gertrude will automatically benefit as your charity of choice.
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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Monday, November 28: 7:30 am - Living & deceased Torreano family members
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Tuesday, November 29: 7:30 am - Norman H. Linke †
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Wednesday, November 30: 7:30 am - Richard Ruiz
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Thursday, December 1: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, December 2: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
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Saturday, December 3: 7:30 am - Living & deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners; 5:00 pm – Donato Tolentino & Dionisio Maros †
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Sunday, December 4: 8:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude parishioners; 10:30 am - Adora Santos; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Jeanne Hasbrook †
(+ indicates the person is deceased)
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Click HERE for the daily readings for Masses. Here is the list of readings for this week for parishioners that prefer to look them up:
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Monday, November 28: Is 4:2-6/Mt 8:5-11
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Tuesday, November 29: Is 11:1-10/Lk 10:21-24
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Wednesday, November 30: Rom 10:9-18/Mt 4:18-22 (
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Thursday, December 1: Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21, 24-27
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Friday, December 2: Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31
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Saturday, December 3: Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Mt 9:35—10:1, 5a, 6-8
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Sunday, December 4: Is 11:1-10/Rom 15:4-9/Mt 3:1-12
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Please Pray for our Parishioners and Friends
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- Pamela Sherrod Anderson
- Zara Bradley
- Sharon Brown
- Lilly Buie
- Aida Calvopina
- KC Conway
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Gina Heidkamp
- Maria Hertl
- Mary Horan
- Bernice Kiedysz
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- Marilyn Klein
- Steve Laslo
- Sheila McGuire
- Larry McCauley
- Karey Myers
- Ron Schlacter
- Richard Seitz
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Yyes Yoza
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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. | | | | |
