St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

[email protected]

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, November 19, 2023

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Altar of Remembrance Items

As we continue to remember those who have died, we ask that pictures displayed on our altar of remembrance be taken back as we soon will be approaching our Advent season. Also, there are still candles of those who died this past year. If your loved one passed away this year, please come to the Altar of Remembrance and bring it home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish all of you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! We are most grateful to all of the people of St. Gertrude’s. On Thanksgiving Day, we will have a mass at 9:00 am; there will be no communion service at 7:30 am. The rectory will be closed on Thanksgiving and on Friday. There will be mass on Friday at 7:30 am.

Synod of Synodality

During the month of October, the Church had a Synod of Synodality. When I first heard of this, not only did I have a hard time pronouncing it, but I also had a hard time wrapping my head around what the word Synodality meant. Synodality is a way of walking together in a shared search for God in scripture, prayer, common life, and mission. The synod consisted of a contemplative dialogue, communal discernment, and compassionate listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit as the representatives worked to hear each other well.

Heidi Schlumpf, a member of our parish and a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, was there reporting. I asked Heidi if she could give us any insight of hope for our church. First, she said, the synod framework was one that could and should be used in churches and schools everywhere. She mentioned one of the most significant parts of this synod was that for first time, lay people were seated at round table with clergy and theologians. Each table submitted documents reflecting on the voices who were sitting at the tables.  

Want to learn more? On Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, at 7:00 pm in the Social Hall, we will have a discussion on the Synod of Synodality. This will be done in an interview format. All are invited. I suggest you read the Vatican News Synod Report!

Catholic Campaign for Human Development: Working on the Margins - Second Collection on Sunday, November 18-19

For more than 50 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has supported organizations that combat poverty and improve the lives of people in communities across the United States.

Not only do CCHD-funded organizations advocate with civic, business, and community religious leaders to improve access to affordable housing, job and educational opportunities, and rights for immigrants—they also respond quickly to urgent needs when communities experience emergencies.

An effective response to natural disasters begins with effective planning before disasters occur. In New Orleans and surrounding areas in southern Louisiana, CCHD is helping Together New Orleans develop a project called Community Lighthouse, which will equip 85 congregations and community organizations with commercial scale solar power and backup battery storage. This effort will form a network of response centers ready to serve communities in a hurricane or other natural disaster once the solar power equipment is completely installed.

By using solar power and backup batteries, the response centers can continue operating in the event of power loss—but they will also be using clean, renewable energy rather than fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and pollution.

When you support CCHD, you help local communities across the country innovate and work together to solve their own unique challenges. Twenty-five percent of your contribution stays in your diocese to support the organizations addressing your community’s needs for housing, jobs, and educational opportunities—and for keeping the lights on during a storm.

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/collection.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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 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!

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

St. Gertrude's Thanksgiving Day

Mass/Office Hours

The rectory office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 23 and Friday, November 24. 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 26.

Other dates the office will be closed are Friday, December 8 (Immaculate Conception), Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26.

Thank You to our Heart to Heart Volunteers 

As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to share our deep appreciation to the volunteers that serve Heart to Heart.

From driving our older adults to Mass or the store or medical appointments to calling to check in to offering prayers for those in the parish in special need, 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 assist with the loan of medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, toilet risers, shower chairs, etc.  

~ Sr. Susan Quaintance, OSB and Laurie Hasbrook

Giving Tuesday is Next Week

Next Tuesday, November 28 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!

7th & 8th Grade Students Invited to Participate in our Essay Contest

Students in the 7th and 8th grade are invited to take part in our annual essay contest. Participants should write an essay in response to this question: What is your role as a Christian Catholic to obtain world peace?

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 18, 2023. Email essays (preferred method) to [email protected] or mail them to Eloy Escamilla, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660. 

St. Gertrude's Giving Tree Program

The Giving Trees are in the back of Church. 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.

There are two boxes at the front of church, by the statue of Mary. One will be for Care for Real and one for the Refugee Ministry. Please place your gift cards into whichever organization you would like to support. The McDonald’s gift cards can be placed in either box. The last chance to donate gift cards will be Sunday, December 17 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 [email protected] or at 708.525.5051.

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 or be part of the event. 

Contact me at [email protected] if you and/or your children are interested in being a part of this special Mass. Thank you!

~ Eloy Escamilla

Order From St. Gertrude’s Annual Greenery Sale!

St. Gertrude will once again host 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 $272, and the 36” is $35. Garland is also available for $40 per 5’ length. 

Order Online

Buyers can purchase greenery online at https://bit.ly/StGertsChristmasGreenery or by scanning the QR code.

Order via Paper Form

A paper order form is available for download at https://stgertrudechicago.org/christmas-greenery or in the print bulletin.

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. Orders can also be sent to NCA to the attention of Eduardo Soto.

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 Saturday, December 2 and Saturday, December 9 from 9:00 am-11:00 am, and Thursday, December 7 and Thursday, December 14 from 6:00-8:00 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.

In-Person Sales Start Next Weekend

Greenery will also be sold at the playlot on the west side of the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville Avenue on Sunday, November 26, Sunday, December 3, Sunday, December 10, and Sunday, December 17 from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Only cash and checks will be accepted for in-person purchases.

Questions? Contact St. Gertrude Business Manager Eduardo Soto at [email protected] or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.

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 2, Thursday, December 7, Saturday, December 7, and Thursday, December 14 from 9:00-11:00 am on weekends and 6:00-8:00 pm on weeknights.

If you are available to volunteer your time, email Eduardo Soto at [email protected]. 

Care for Real Food & Supply Drive in Next Weekend 

Our next donation drive will be before/after the masses on Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26. Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:

• Baby wipes
• Diapers sized 4-6
• Pull-ups
• All toiletries
• Menstrual pads
• Ready-to-eat items like granola bars, tuna or chicken salad cracker packs, individual milk boxes

Additionally, you can go to Care for Real's website, https://careforreal.org/wishlist, to make a donation, drop off items at 5341 N. Sheridan Road from 12:00-3:00 pm Monday-Friday. 

RCIA Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance - Sunday, December 3rd



On Sunday, December 3rd at the 10:30 am Mass, our church will celebrate the Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance for RCIA members:

• Jenna Marie Rawski
• Adrean Alexis Herrera
• Ilse Alejandra Vielma
• Victoria Anne Braucher Bussey
• Salwa Fadhil

Through the Rite, the church welcomes those who have been baptized in another faith or baptized Catholic as a child but never catechized in the Catholic faith, into the process of full communion with the Church.

The Rite of Acceptance recognizes the Catechumen's decision to begin the process of becoming a member of the Catholic Church through Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

We will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, December 8.

Mass will be held on Thursday, December 7 at 6:30 pm, and on Friday, December 8 at 7:30 am, 8:30 am, and 6:30 pm. 

Growing in Faith

My father once gave me some help to pay my first month’s rent after I got my first job. It was his investment in me.

The help was not just in the form of money. He gave me other talents, too – love, support; he filled my tires with air and put some cookies in my car for the long road trip to Chicago. He took a risk filled with hope that I would not squander the opportunity to make good on his investment in my future.

My father passed away during the pandemic, and now I am preparing for retirement. When I read the parable of the talents, I thought about the master who entrusted his servants with all he had as well as the freedom to conduct his business as they saw fit.

I remembered that gift from my father, and I think about all the gifts – the talents I have been given – money and talent, and so many other gifts I take for granted – the ability to breathe, digest food, see and feel things, freedom, the ability to think and speak, walk, run, laugh and sing – my joy when I give love and my joy when I receive love.

A song by Paul Simon, “Your Forgiveness,” is a reminder of anther talent: “two billion heartbeats (for the average human) and then we’re out.” Life begins and ends. What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift back to God. Our gift from God is abundance. We are called to give back abundantly by being grateful and then paying our gifts forward.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

~Mary Herbin-Horan

Prayer for the Middle East: Bring Justice and Peace

God of all creation, bring justice and peace to our world. Teach us to be peacemakers. Guide us in our pursuit of justice and the common good. Inspire us to welcome all, forgive all, and love all. Direct us as we walk in the shadow of Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Inspire us to perceive the world through your eyes, that we might find hope and joy each day, supportive of each other, for the sake of your Kingdom.

- Author Unknown

Baptisms

• Abraham Garcia
• Gabriel Salvator
• James Fields IV
• Declan McDonough
• Timothy Kemper
• Eilidh Walsh

New Parishioners

• Hugh and Sara Larkin

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 pm - Jennifer Kiedaisch, Kathleen Dawson
• Sunday, November 19 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe, Jay Cook
• Sunday, November 19 at 10:30 am - Tim Love, Steven Monti

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 pm - Michelle Kuehlhorn
• Sunday, November 19 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, November 19 at 10:30 am - Michael Kowalsky, Bob Backis, Patrick Robinson

Cantors and Musicians

• Saturday, November 18 at 5:00 pm - Bernie O'Connor
• Sunday, November 19 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
• Sunday, November 19 at 10:30 am - Rob Schroeder

Altar Servers

• Sunday, November 19 at 10:30 am - Henry Villareal, Munachimso Okoye; Wyatt Dant, Mary Kate Cashman, Acolytes

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, November 20: 7:30 am - Nancy Quinn Jaskowiak+
• Tuesday, November 21: 7:30 am - Nathan Joseph+ Libby+ , Noreen Waters+
• Wednesday, November 22: 7:30 am - Grace Cabrera+
• Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23: 10:00 am - St. Gertrude parishioners
• Friday, November 24: 7:30 am - Richard J. Kerwer, Sr.+
• Saturday, November 25: 7:30 am - Ethan Nolan+; 5:00 pm - James McKee+
• Sunday, November 26: 8:00 am - Rita and James Hosna+; 10:30 am in church - Isabelle and Michael Laczkowski+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Kevin Burke+

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or email [email protected]. Names will remain on the list for three weeks. After that time, please renew the name using same contact information.