St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, November 12, 2023

Celebrating the Feast of St. Gertrude

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Happy Feast Day!

Sending to all of you my warmest greetings on the Feast of St. Gertrude. I want all of you to know that I pray daily for all of you and am honored to be serving here at St. Gertrude. I know St. Gertrude’s is also praying for us.

May we the people of St. Gertrude continue to be thoughtful of others, more compassionate and merciful, more forgiving, more responsible, and never take our blessings for granted.

As we continue the month of November, our focus is remembering those who have died and rest now in the peace of Christ. "The Christian meaning of death is revealed in the light of the Paschal Mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Christ in whom resides our only hope. The Christian who dies in Christ Jesus is 'away from the body and at home with the Lord' (2 Cor 5:8)."

Last Saturday evening, we had our Mass of Remembrance. We not only remembered those who died this past year, but all our beloved ones who have gone home. 

I know that, for some, talking about death is difficult. That may be because I have dealt with so many deaths over the almost 40 years I have been a priest, or because, growing up on the South Side, it felt like if we passed a funeral home, we stopped in, paying our respects to a family regardless of whether we knew them or not.

I also take great consolation in the words from the preface at a funeral. “Indeed, for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”

I think the very same thing as I look at the pictures on our altar of remembrance. As we gather at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist, As we gather at the altar to celebrate the Eucharist, I am inspired, thinking about how our beloved dead encircle us, looking over our shoulders. We are carrying their legacy of faith. As difficult as it is to talk about and deal with the death of a loved one, it is a reality of life help in that way as well.

As we celebrate this month of November remembering our beloved dead, we are given an opportunity to allow our faith to express our true understanding that we need not fear death, but instead recognize that “life is simply changed, not ended.” As a parish community, the more we can do to be with each other during these difficult and sometimes dark hours, the better we will all be as a family of faith.

Living with Grief Workshop

On that same note, the approaching holiday season can be difficult for people who have lost a loved one in the past year. If you are anxious about the holidays or know someone who might appreciate some support, there is a Living with Grief Workshop at the Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutics Services. This event might help you. It's Saturday, November 18 at 9:00 am and ideas for handling the holidays will be provided. More information about the event is available further down in this bulletin.

Giving Tree

Our parish's Giving Tree project begins this weekend. Share in the spirit of giving to others this Christmas season. Again, this year, Care for Real and Refugee Ministries are asking for mostly gift cards. Thanks to John McMahon for heading this up again for us this year.

A thought to ponder:

As a people of faith, we are called to build the “Kin-dom” of God by working together for the justice, peace and flourishing of all people and the whole of God’s creation.

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 eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or mail them to Eloy Escamilla, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660. 

Book Club is Monday, November 13

On Monday, November 13, the book club will discuss The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.

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

Save the date! Our December book club is planned for Monday, December 11. We'll be discussing The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell.

NCA Open House on November 16

Northside Catholic Academy is hosting an Open House on November 16th at the Primary Campus (grades Pre K - 4) located at 6216 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60660.

It is a chance to experience our award-winning academy with a student ambassador as your tour guide. You will be able to learn about our holistic educational approach and experience the commitment of our faculty and the connections they make with our students.

See you there!

Let's Talk About Neighborhood Migrant Response: Town Hall Meeting Planned for Thursday, November 16

Newstory Chicago has been working with organizations and community partners to explore the possibility of sponsoring a migrant family at our Granville location.

All members of the Edgewater community are invited to a 1.5 hour Town Hall discussion on Thursday, November 16 from 7:00- 8:30 pm at Newstory Chicago,1307 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660.

Please come hear our vision to partner with our neighborhood and join us in an open discussion and Q&A.

For more information, email info@newstorychicago.com.

Living with Grief Workshop on November 18

How do you anticipate and want to move through winter and the holidays in a way that honors both your grieving and your loved one? Where presently do you find strength, understanding, and encouragement as you experience the many feelings your loved one’s absence has awakened within you?

Join others who are also grieving the death of their spouse/partner, in a safe, understanding, non-judgmental space to connect and share stories, explore ways of living with and without your loved one, and to honor your loved one.

An in-person grief workshop is being offered by parishioner Jim Mandardo, Board Certified Hospital Chaplain and Intern Counselor. The program is Saturday, November 18 from 9:00 am to noon at the Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services, 1261 W. Loyola Ave. The entrance is two doors east of the corner, one block west of the Loyola Red Line stop.

The cost is $10 and is limited to 20 participants. Coffee, bagels, and fruit will be provided. Masks are optional.

Please RSVP to Jim Manzardo at 773.274.4600 or j.manzardo@griefcounselor.org.

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

On November 18th and 19th , there will be a second collection for CCHD at all of the masses. Additionally, we will welcome guest speaker Ed Jacobs, who is the former Director of Franciscan Outreach and a long-time volunteer for CCHD. Ed will speak about the important work and our participation in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. There are envelopes at the back of Church.

Upcoming Office Closures

The rectory office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, as well as Friday, November 24.

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

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

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 esoto@stgertrudechicago.org 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 esoto@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Care for Real Food & Supply Drive in Late November 

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. 

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Growing in Faith

Below is treasured homily of Pope Francis on Walking the Way of Peace: 

"And at this point I ask myself: Is it possible to walk the path of peace? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Invoking the help of God, under the maternal gaze of the Salus Populi Romani, Queen of Peace, I say: Yes, it is possible for everyone! From every corner of the world tonight, I would like to hear us cry out: Yes, it is possible for everyone! Or even better, I would like for each one of us, from the least to the greatest, including those called to govern nations, to respond: Yes, we want it! 

My Christian faith urges me to look to the Cross. How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the Cross if only for a moment! There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death.

This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions, and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: violence and war are never the way to peace!  Let everyone be moved to look into the depths of his or her conscience and listen to that word which says:  Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation.”

Thank You for Your Donations to Asylum Seekers

Thank you to the many parishioners who dropped off donations for asylum seekers last weekend! 

These donations will be sent to Care for Real, who is providing support to families sheltering at the Broadway Armory in addition to feeding neighbors in need. 

Our next collection date is in December. A list of needs will be shared in two weeks in the bulletin. 

Thank you for your generosity! 

Two Peoples, One Land: A Prayer for Peace



Two peoples, one land,

Three faiths, one root,

One earth, one mother,

One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,

One broken heart, One God.

We pray to You: Grant us a vision of unity.

May we see the many in the one and the one in the many.

May you, Life of All the Worlds, Source of All Amazing Differences help us to see clearly.

Guide us gently and firmly toward each other, toward peace.

- Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

Baptisms

• Maximilian Louis Pham 

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, November 11 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Roman Reyes
• Sunday, November 12 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott, David Sullivan
• Sunday, November 12 at 10:30 am - Anthony Myers, Eric Ameyaw

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, November 11 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, November 12 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Sunday, November 12 at 10:30 am - Troy McMillan, Ray Sousa, Carlos Barragan

Cantors and Musicians

• Saturday, November 11 at 5:00 pm - Eric Mason
• Sunday, November 12 at 8:00 am - Denise Goodman
• Sunday, November 12 at 10:30 am - Katherine Viviano

Altar Servers

• Sunday, November 12 at 10:30 am - Henry Villareal, cross bearer; Jayson Ameyaw, Xavier Lassus, Acolytes

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, November 13: 7:30 am - Hilda Moore+
• Tuesday, November 14: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Wednesday, November 15: 7:30 am - Lillian McCall+
• Thursday, November 16: 7:30 am - Communion service
• Friday, November 17: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
• Saturday, November 18: 7:30 am - Richard J. Kerwer, Sr.+; 5:00 pm - George Cenar, Sr.+
• Sunday, November 19: 8:00 am - People of God; 10:30 am in church - Patricia Meade+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Jay Einhorn+

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.