St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Solemnity of All Saints

November 1, 2026

All Souls Day

Each November, our parish takes time to remember and pray for those who have died, including members of our parish community and the loved ones of our parishioners.

On All Souls Day, Monday, November 2, we will celebrate a special Mass at 6:30 pm. We will remember in prayer all those whose names are inscribed in the Book of the Dead, as well as all parishioners and loved ones who have died in the past year, from November 2025 to the present.

Joseph Battaglia

Michael Browne

Aida Calvopina

Carolyn Carlson

Marcela (Leila) Carpio

Gerald Clark

Mary Cook

Michael J. Cronin

Alice Czech

Kathleen Murphy DeNicolo

Lorene Devin

Mariella Dorn

Sheneill Renee Fitzpatrick

Fr. Dominic Grassi

Christina Hartung

Marie Isaily

Ed Kelly

Sr. Margaret A. McGinn, BVM

Kathy Mega

Vanessa Anderson Norton

Linda Roeske

Anne Marie St. Germaine

Ricky Sandoval

John Francis Scanlon

Eileen Schrager

Charlotte Sullivan

Elizabeth Casieri Tuohy

Altar of Remembrance/Book of the Dead 

During November, we invite you to honor the memory of loved ones who have died by placing a photo on our Altar of Remembrance, located in front of the St. Thérèse Shrine at the front of the church. Photos may be brought in throughout the month and should be picked up over Thanksgiving weekend. Please write your phone number on the back of each photo.

The Book of the Dead will be available at the shrine for anyone who wishes to inscribe the names of deceased loved ones.

May this shared act of remembrance bring comfort and remind us of the enduring bonds of love that unite us.

No Gym Mass This Weekend

There is no Gym Mass this Sunday, please join us in church at 10:30 am for a combined Mass. The rest of the month's schedule is:

• November 8: There is a Gym Mass
• November 15 - Combined 10:30 am Mass in church
• November 22 and November 29 - There are Gym Masses

The Gym Mass schedule is determined week by week as we work to secure additional priest coverage. Please check the weekly e-bulletin or our website for the most current schedule.

National Vocation Awareness Week

National Vocation Awareness Week will be celebrated in our country November 1-7, 2026. Please ask our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of vocation.

Find out about upcoming vocations events, ways to discover God’s will, and more at vocations.archchicago.org.

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership Monthly Meeting is Saturday, November 7

St. Gertrude is a member of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a Chicago-based organization that helps people deepen their understanding of faith and empowers them to take bold action to improve lives and communities. CSPL has led internationally recognized efforts to minister to migrants detained at the Broadview Detention Center.

Join fellow parishioners for St. Gertrude’s next Commonweal team meeting on Saturday, November 7, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center. Together, we’ll build relationships and explore ways to advance our parish’s commitments to social justice, human concerns, and faith formation through our participation in CSPL. All are welcome!

Share What You Can: Care for Real Collection Planned for Next Weekend

Our community has an ongoing opportunity to put compassion into action. On November 7-8, please bring nonperishable food and other essential items to the Care for Real Collection before or after any Mass at St. Gertrude.



Throughout the year, St. Gertrude partners with Care for Real by holding collections on the first and fourth weekends of each month. These regular collections allow us to respond to changing needs in our neighborhood and ensure that families and individuals have access to basic necessities.

Not sure what to bring? For Care for Real’s current wish list and links to its social media pages, visit linktr.ee/cfrchicago.

Thank you for sharing what you can. Every donation, large or small, is a reminder to our neighbors that they are cared for and not alone.

You're Invited: A Listening Session on Catholic Teaching, Practice, Tradition on Sunday, November 8



A number of members of our parish community have expressed interest in coming together to discuss and deepen their understanding of what it means to be a member of the Catholic community and of Catholic Practice, Tradition, and Teaching.

The Adult Spirituality and Formation Committee is hosting a Listening Session on Sunday, November 8, at 11:30 am in the Ministry Center to discuss how we might best meet this interest. Join fellow parishioners in a session where we can share our interest and suggestions. This is a welcoming opportunity to hear one another as we look toward developing experiences which will allow us, in community, to reflect on and grow in our understanding of who we are as members of the Catholic Church.

Book Club Gathering on Tuesday, November 10

Join us for a discussion of Nemesis by Philip Roth on Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 pm at the Ministry Center, 6214 W. Glenwood. New participants are always welcome!

For questions, contact Lea Cloninger (773.213.0509) or Sue Benjamin (773.551.8401).

Friendship Club is Thursday, November 12

The St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood Ave. Gatherings begin at 11:30 am, and participants are invited to bring a brown-bag lunch.

Join us for fellowship, conversation, and friendship!

The Feast of St. Gertrude is November 15

Join us on Sunday, November 15, as we celebrate the Feast of St. Gertrude! Like any family gathering, this special day is an opportunity to share food, connect with one another, and look with hope toward the future.

Cub Scouts Pancake Breakfast

We’ll begin the morning with a Cub Scouts Pancake Breakfast hosted by Pack 3822 in the Social Hall from 9 am to noon. Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee while supporting our Cub Scouts! Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children and seniors, and $20 for families. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. All proceeds benefit Pack 3822. For tickets or questions, contact Nathan Dant at bsapack3822@gmail.com. Please note, there is no Brewed at St. Gertrude this month.

Combined Mass in Church

We’ll celebrate Mass at 8 am and gather again at 10:30 am for a combined parish Mass in the church. Please note that there will be no Gym Mass that Sunday.

We look forward to celebrating the wonderful community that makes St. Gertrude such a special place to call home!

What’s so Great about St. Gertrude the Great - And What Can She Teach Us About Deepening Our Lives of Prayer and Service To Others?

As part of our parish celebration of the feast day of our patron saint, St. Gertrude the Great, the Adult Spirituality and Faith Committee is sponsoring a presentation by Jim Neafsey, focusing on the life and spirituality of St. Gertrude.

This hour-long session will begin with a brief look at when and where St. Gertrude lived and why she is the only woman in the history of the church (so far!) to have been given the title “Great” for her deep spirituality and learning.

The session will also explore spiritual practices Gertrude used to deepen her intimate friendship with Christ and on how we can adapt these and other practices to our own daily lives.

When: Sunday, November 22, 2026

Where: St. Gertrude Social Hall

Time: After 10:30 Mass(es) – 11:45 am

We – and St. Gertrude – hope to see you there!

Growing in Faith: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar And to God, What Belongs to God

There’s an authoritarian ruler over Israel and dueling factions in the populace. Pharisees, teachers and followers of the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition, and Herodians, Jews with some political power and favor loyal to Roman rule, battle for the citizenry’s minds and hearts. Then comes along another candidate, Jesus. He preaches a kingdom of radical love and inclusion, justice and mercy. His message is getting quite a bit of traction in the country and this is a big concern to those who wish to keep their power and influence. So, they join forces, selling their souls to discredit Jesus. Their strategy? First, tell him what we think he wants to hear and then sink him with the “lose-lose” question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”

Yet, Jesus, guided by his Highest Authority, uses it as a critical teaching moment. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” It’s a “win-win” answer. Yes, be responsible citizens of your country, AND be responsible citizens of the Kingdom of God. An emperor may be on your coins, but God must govern your soul.

Our national elections are upon us and our media sources are dominated by candidates who tell us what they think we want to hear to secure our favor. As citizens of the U.S. one of our most important responsibilities is voting. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, this responsibility should not be taken lightly. How can my vote foster the Kingdom of God? If you need a little guidance, take a look on our parish website at the St. Gertrude Commonweal Action Group’s two-pager offering considerations based on Church Teachings.

Rose Karasti

*This reflection was scheduled to appear in the October 18 bulletin; however, due to an editorial error, it is being published this weekend.

Commonweal Magnifica Humanitas Event



PAbout 60 parishioners gathered at St. Gertrude on October 23 for a forum hosted by Commonweal featuring Professor Joseph Vukov of Loyola University Chicago’s Department of Philosophy. Professor Vukov led a discussion of Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, exploring its reflections on humanity and artificial intelligence.

Upcoming Changes to Our Parish Bulletin

We are excited to announce some upcoming changes to the St. Gertrude parish bulletin. In the coming weeks, we will be transitioning to a new printing company, LPI.

As part of this transition, the back page of our bulletin will feature advertisements from local businesses. This will help offset the cost of printing and allow us to continue providing a quality weekly bulletin to our parish community.

If you own or operate a local business, we invite you to consider advertising in our bulletin. It’s a wonderful way to support St. Gertrude while connecting your business with members of our parish community.

Interested in learning more? Please email news@stgertrudechicago.org, and we will put you in contact with LPI for additional information.

We are grateful to our parishioners and local businesses for supporting St. Gertrude and helping make our bulletin possible each week.

Why do Catholics Care about Saints?

One of the statements of faith we make when we pray the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed is that we believe in “the communion of saints.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that this communion (another word for community) includes all the faithful on earth, the souls in Purgatory, and the blessed women, men, and children who are in heaven. This teaching is grounded in our belief that, through Baptism, we are united with Christ and to one another with bonds that are stronger even than death. 

And so from the time of the early Church, Christians have turned to other believers for prayers and assistance, including those who have gone before us, confident that God hears the prayers of all of His children. While we ask the saints (and one another) for prayers and support, we remember that the saints join us in prayer. But it is God who blesses and sanctifies us. 

When we think of the saints in heaven, we have to remember that we can turn to them for intercession and assistance because they were faulted, limited human beings, just like us. This means that they are able to understand our struggles, doubts, fears, joys, and hopes. But as we learn their stories, we can also begin to recognize that they stand out in the history of the Church because they persevered in their commitment to follow Christ. Whether they were ordained, vowed religious, martyrs, husbands, wives, or even children, they show us that holiness is possible. We can not only follow their example but also benefit from their prayerful support. 

Our devotion to the saints and gratitude for their witness, prayers, and protection should also be an inspiration for us, especially when we become aware of the needs of others or when others ask us to pray for them. We are called to share the blessings we receive. This is also part of our own journey of growing in holiness.

Early Bulletin Deadline for Thanksgiving

Our printer will be closed over Thanksgiving weekend, so we have an earlier-than-usual deadline for upcoming bulletins. All submissions for both the November 22 and November 29 bulletins must be received by Friday, November 13.

Thank you for planning ahead and submitting your announcements on time!

ECRA Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Scheduled for Sunday November 22

Join the Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA) for its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 22, at 3 pm at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan. This year’s theme, “Gratitude, Pluralism, and Democracy,” celebrates our diverse Edgewater community through music, readings, and fellowship among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian neighbors.

Donations of food and cash will be accepted for Care for Real. Registration is required. Register online or call 773-234-0630.

New Parishioners

• Kent Cervantes
• Emily Decker-Bass and Jordan Decker-Bass

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 pm - Jennifer Kiedaisch, Patrick T. Reardon
• Sunday, November 1 at 8:00 am - Rob Sierzega, Vivienne Odibo
• Sunday, November 1 at 10:30 am - Anthony Myers, Adonai Agdubai 

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 pm - Kathleen Wall
• Sunday, November 1 at 8:00 am - Joseph Rodriguez
• Sunday, November 1 at 10:30 am -Carrie Cunningham, Tim Love, Troy McMillan

Altar Servers

• Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 pm - cross bearer: Carter Dant; acolytes: Wyatt Dant, Owen Craft
• Sunday, November 1 at 8:00 am - cross bearer: Nick Winters
• Sunday, November 1 at 10:30 am - cross bearer: Viviana Love; acolytes: Camille Boquiren, Micah Boquiren

Upcoming Mass Intentions


Monday, November 2: 7:30 am - Communion Service; 6:30 pm - All Souls Mass

Tuesday, November 3: 7:30 am - Sergio Romo Sr.+

Wednesday, November 4: 7:30 am

Thursday, November 5: 7:30 am

Friday, November 6: 7:30 am

Saturday, November 7: 5:00 pm - Hal Mann+

Sunday, November 8: 8:00 am; 10:30 am - Kathleen Murphy DeNicolo+; Gym Mass

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.