St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, February 25, 2024

Second Sunday of Lent

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Here we are at the second week of Lent. The sanctuary has three crosses in the middle of our worship space; these will remain there all the days of Lent as a reminder of both the suffering and salvation that has been won for us.

The cross is rich in symbolism, representing not just an instrument of torture and death, but also a beacon of hope, redemption, and love.

At its core, the cross embodies the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity. It serves as a reminder of the unfathomable love of God, who sent His only Son to suffer and die on behalf of every of every human heart.

In my private prayer, I started sitting with a cross on my lap. In those moments, I make every effort to clear my mind of my agenda and just allow the feel of the wood, the shape of the corpus to speak to me as I run my hands over the cross.

I will admit, I am not always successful as my mind gets cluttered with the thoughts of the day, the things that need to get accomplished or things that I forgot to do. But a

good bit of the time, the silence, the stillness and stirring of God’s spirit offers profound thoughts of God’s love for me. I urge you to try this homespun spiritual practice and see what fruit it might bear in your own life.

As we continue into this season of Lent, may the crosses that stands in this holy place, the cross that hangs on the wall of your home, the one attached to your rosary, or that runs through your fingers in you moments of quiet prayer be a reminder not only of the suffering and death, but especially the depth of God’s love and the lengths to which God is willing to go to reconcile you to God’s very self.

Know of my prayers for each of you during this holy season of Lent.

Lenten Activities

Fridays: Eucharistic Adoration and Two Stations of the Cross

Each Friday during Lent, there is Eucharistic Adoration from noon until 3:00 pm. Mark your calendars so that you can participate in Stations of the Cross each Friday. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and be reminded of God’s love for us and the sacrifice that was made to save us.

At 3:00 pm, we offer a traditional Way of the Cross. Another Stations of the Cross is held at 6:30 pm on Fridays with a social justice theme. On Good Friday, March 29, our Youth Group will lead a Living Stations of the Cross. 

Wednesday: Simple Suppers and a Lenten Bible Study: The Silence of God: Finding God in a Void

Every Wednesday during Lent, including this Wednesday, February 28, there is a special Lenten Retreat/Bible Study series, led by Father Paul. The title is The Silence of God: Finding God in a Void. There is both a morning session at 10:00 am and an evening session at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.

This Wednesday, there is a Simple Supper at 6:00 pm.

More information about both of these activities appears further down in the bulletin. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation Opportunities

If it has been a while since you have last celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, every Saturday from 4:00-4:45 pm, private confession is available. There is a communal parish reconciliation service on Sunday, March 17 at 1:00 pm; another for all the parishes in our deanery (Deanery 2B) is on Monday, March 25 (Monday of Holy Week) at 7:00 pm at the St. Ita campus of Mother of God Parish.

Almoners Lenten Ministry

Our parish's Almoners’ Program is taking place again. Each weekend, a second collection will be held, with funds used to distribute McDonald's Cards to those who are in need. At the end of each Mass, those wishing to participate in distributing cards to the needy will be invited to come forward, receive the cards, and be given a blessing as they go out in this charitable outreach. 

Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) on Friday Evenings

All are welcome to attend the weekly Rosary group held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm.

The bilingual gathering is held in the dining room of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.

Care for Real Food & Supply Drive This Weekend/Collection for Asylum Seekers is Next Weekend

This Lenten season, please consider sharing your gifts and donating to St. Gertrude's monthly food and supply drive for Care for Real, benefiting our neighbors in need.

We will accept donations this Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25 in the back of the Church.

Requested items include:



• Diapers (all sizes) *most urgent
• Baby wipes *most urgent
• Menstrual pads *most urgent
• Shampoo/conditioner
• New underwear (all genders and sizes) *most urgent
• Gloves (only, no scarves, other winter wear, etc.)
• Body wipes
• Bar soap
• Peanut butter/jelly
• Juice boxes
• Soft granola/protein bars

Next weekend, March 2-3, is our food and supply drive for asylum seekers. Items needed for migrants include: 

• Protein bars
• Ramen or other instant noodles 
• Snack size chips and crackers
• Juice boxes
• Fruit cups
• Menstrual pads *most urgent
• Gloves (only, no scarves, other winter wear, etc.)
• New underwear (all genders and sizes) *most urgent
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body wipes
• Bar soap

Thank you for helping our neighbors in need!

Confirmation Information: First Retreat is This Saturday, February 24

The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place next month. We ask that families of these students please note these important dates:

• Saturday, February 24 - There is a Confirmation Retreat planned in the Ministry Center from 9:00 am to noon.  
• Sunday, March 10 - After the 10:30 am Mass in Church, there is a rehearsal for Confirmation.
• Tuesday, March 12 - The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place at 7:00 pm in Church. Confirmation candidates are expected to attend a meeting with Bishop Bartosic at 6:30 pm in the Ministry Center. 
• Thursday, April 25 - There is a second Confirmation Retreat planned in the Ministry Center from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

Questions? Contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Lenten Simple Supper Planned for February 28

All are welcome to join us during Lent for Simple Suppers, offered weekly in the Ministry Center at 6:00 pm. On Wednesday, February 28, St. Gertrude’s Music Ministry will host the second Simple Supper.

Additional dates and hosts are:

• Wednesday, March 6 - the Men’s Basketball League
• Wednesday, March 13 - the Prayer Porch Ministry 
• Wednesday, March 20 - TBD
• Wednesday, March 27 - the Gym Mass

Thank you to those who joined us last week!

The Silence of God: Finding God in a Void: Lenten Retreat/Bible Study on Wednesday, February 28

Please join Fr. Paul Àdajà for a special Bible study during Lent! The sessions will be held twice on Wednesdays, at 10:00-11:00 am and again from 7:00-8:00 pm. Here are the dates, topics, and the readings: 

• February 28 - Habakkuk: Habakkuk 1:1-14; 3: 1-19
• March 6 - Elijah on Horeb: 1 Kings 19: 1-18
• March 13 - The Syrophoenician Woman: Mark 7: 24-30
• March 20 - Jesus on the Cross: Mark 14: 32-42; 15:33-41; Psalm 22

The programs will be held in the Ministry Center. The evening sessions will be live-streamed on our Facebook page, facebook.com/stgertrudechicago/. You do not need a Facebook account to watch the live-stream!

Questions? Email Fr. Paul at padaja@stgertrudechicago.org.

Lenten Rosaries for Immigration Reform 2024: 40 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Action for Immigration Reform on Wednesday During Lent

All are welcome to join in the 2024 Multilingual Lenten Campaign for Immigration Reform. The campaign provides the opportunity to share one’s faith through prayer, fasting and acts of mercy to raise awareness of the need for immigration reform.

Please register at https://bit.ly/lenten-rosary. For more information, please visit https://pvm.archchicago.org/immigration-lenten-campaign.

The group meets every Wednesday at 6:00 pm during Lent, through March 27 via Zoom (Meeting ID: 84967379237) or Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/pastoral.migratoria/.

Contact Mauro Pineda at mpineda@archchicago.org or 312.534.8103 or Huguet Gonzalez at mdgonzalez@archchicago.org, with any questions and/or if you would like to pray a decade in your native language.

2024 Newman Lecturer, Jason Blakely, presents "Atheist!: A Story of Conversion"

February 27, 2024, 7:00-8:30 PM CDT.

McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, LSC. 

The Saint John Henry Newman Lecture Series is named after the great 19th century English prelate who wrote very movingly about his intellectual journey toward Roman Catholicism in his spiritual autobiography, Apologia pro vita sua (1864). Newman's work helped later generations of Catholics and Catholic converts map out ways to understand the datum of religious faith in light of the contemporary issues facing modern life. Honoring this engagement with the Catholic tradition, CCIH invites scholars each spring to recount their own discovery (or rediscovery) of the Catholic intellectual heritage in light of their ongoing scholarship.

This year’s Newman Lecturer is Professor Jason Blakely from Pepperdine University. Dr. Blakely is a Political Philosopher and a leading scholar of contemporary "communitarian" and post-liberal thought, especially the work of philosophers Alasdair MacIntyre and Charles Taylor. His lecture is entitled, "Atheist!: A Story of Conversion." 



This event is free and open to the public.

Save the Date! NCA's Soiree is Next Saturday, March 2

The 2024 NCA Soiree will be held on Saturday, March 2 at Loyola University with food, drinks, dancing and a live auction. 



Tickets can be purchased at ncasoiree.com, where we're also selling tickets for the Grand Raffle. Three winners of the Grand Raffle will receive either $1,000, $2,000, or a $3,000 prize and the buyer does not need to be present at the event to win. 

PreCana Class Offered at St. Gertrude on Saturday, March 2 and Saturday, September 7

PreCana classes at St. Gertrude are primarily intended for couples getting married at St. Gertrude. Before registering, you must speak with Father Mike Gabriel about your planned wedding at St. Gertrude or receive consent to attend if you are getting married at a different parish.

These full day, in-person gatherings on Saturday, March 2 and Saturday, September 7 are dedicated to considering your life together as a married couple. Led by a facilitator couple from St. Gertrude, each session begins at 9:00 am and features presentations, prayers, and discussions with your partner and 5-10 other couples. Lunch and snacks are provided.

Couples can register for either session by calling the Rectory office at 773.764.3621or by filling out an online PreCana registration form at https://stgertrudechicago.org/marriage. If a sufficient number of couples do not sign up for a specific date, the session will be canceled and you will be provided with information to sign up somewhere else.

The cost of PreCana is covered by the church fee couples planning a wedding at St. Gertrude are charged. 

Next Book Club is Monday, March 11

Please join the book club in the Ministry Center on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 pm. We will discuss The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, and we would love new voices and opinions. There are 22 copies of the book available at the Chicago Public Library.

On Monday, April 8, our group will talk about The Man Who Broke out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freeland. The library has 26 copies of the book.

Contact Lea Cloninger at 773.973.2465 or Sue Benjamin at 773.551.8401 with questions.

Teens are Invited to Register for St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience

This summer, from July 22-26, parish teens are invited to take part in St. Gertrude's Youth Mission Experience! Teens in sixth grade through high school will volunteer with a different Chicagoland organization each day. This is an excellent opportunity to have fun and earn volunteer hours!

There is a $100 fee for the week. A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration. Please note that there are scholarships available!

All participants will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, and a sports drawstring backpack.

To reserve a spot or to get more information, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Growing in Faith

Abraham and Sarah, raising the son God gave them in their old age, probably protected Isaac carefully. God's irrational directive to sacrifice Isaac tested Abraham's obedience.

Tested, he found God to be compassionate.

I sense that we will likely never have a rational relationship with God. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord in Isaiah. Do we feel God's presence most when we are in the middle of chaos, tragedy, depression, and endless tears? My answer to that is a resounding, "YES!"

When my mother died I knew immediately that I had lost the most important person in my life. I felt as if I could not survive this huge loss. I swept my hands across her shoulders, telling her, “I love you” for the last time. Then I walked out of the hospital into the most beautiful snowfall I have ever seen. Weeks passed full of tears and insomnia. Then, when I was alone one day, I felt a soft wind and a hand touching my shoulder with a force beyond shadow, chilling and comforting me at the same time. I knew that I would never be able to rationally translate into this experience in mere words.

Does God's presence come through when we think we cannot make it through the circumstances that are handed to us? Yes, I believe it does!

~ Margy Skelly

NCA: Be a Part of Something Greater 



The best way to learn about Northside Catholic Academy and to see if it’s the right fit for your family is to walk through our halls and visit our classrooms. We encourage prospective parents to discover first-hand what makes NCA a Blue Ribbon School. We accept applications up to one year in advance.

Private admissions tours are available by 

appointment. Please contact Brad Gschwendtner at bgschwendtner@ncaschools.com or 773.743.6277 with any questions about our admissions process or to schedule a tour.

Rest in Peace

• Erika Maria Kast, daughter of Maggie Kast
• Karey Myers

New Parishioners

• Brandon, Myriam Elijah, Kiyomi, and Kyllian Dziubanek
• Byran & Cari Pyka

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, February 24 at 5:00 pm - Joseph McMahon, Roman Reyes
• Sunday, February 25 at 8:00 am -Jennifer Kiedaisch, Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 am - Eric Ameyaw, Joe Dunne

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, February 24 at 5:00 pm - Michelle Kuehlhorn
• Sunday, February 25 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 am - Maria Ugarte, Carlos Barragan, Lisa Schneider

Cantors

• Saturday, February 24 at 5:00 pm - Katherine V. & Malia H.
• Sunday, February 25 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Flynn
• Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 am - Rob Schroeder

Altar Servers

• Sunday, February 25 at 10:30 am - Carter Dant, cross bearer; Wyatt Dant, and Jayson Ameyaw, acolytes

Almoners Lenten Ministry



Each weekend during Lent, we will have a weekly second collection for the Almoner’s Program. The funds raised are used to purchase $10.00 McDonald gift cards which parishioners can pick up at the weekend Masses and shared with those in need.



Last weekend we collected $1,1108.75! Thank you for your generosity!

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Sunday, February 25: 8:00 am - Betty McKee+; 10:30 am in church - Robert Nelson+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - David Sierzega+
• Monday, February 26: 7:30 am - Feliza Velasquez+
• Tuesday, February 27: 7:30 am - Feliza Velasquez+
• Wednesday, February 28: 7:30 am - Feliza Velasquez+
• Thursday, February 29: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, March 1: 7:30 am - Feliza Velasquez+
• Saturday, March 2: 7:30 am - Feliza Velasquez+; 5:00 pm - Jo Ann Joyce+

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.