St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, January 21, 2024

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Hopefully by the time you read this bulletin, you are starting to thaw out. I was pleasantly surprised how many of you were able to attend last Sunday. I need to also acknowledge the morning mass attendees. As I said on Monday, I would have taken my hat off for you, but it was too cold. Thank you for celebrating with us.

In our gospel this morning, Jesus begins his preaching by calling on people to repent and embrace the Good News. What does that mean for us? For the Gospel writer Mark, this means to believe in the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. We see this morning how the Ninevites responded to Jonah and how we should respond to the preaching of Jesus. We begin our responds like in our Gospel, by answering God’s call.  

This call is to love and to serve and to build a just world. Charitable giving has certainly been one way in which many have responding to God’s call. 

The generosity of parishioners has been most evident during the holiday season. We have been able to provide gift cards for Care for Real, the Refugee Ministry, asylum seekers, and the family we are hosting. Over $7,000 was brought in for all these ministries! This is on top of donations made to the parish for Christmas to help support other ministries. 

We have continued to receive gift cards to help many asylum seekers and some homeless persons with their needs. Yes, we are embracing our call to love and to serve and to build a just world!

First Reconciliation

Please pray for our children preparing for their First Reconciliation. Next Monday, January 29, they will celebrate their First Reconciliation. 

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.

No Gym Mass This Sunday, January 21

This weekend, there will be combined 10:30 am Mass in church.

There is no Gym Mass.

Parent Meeting for First Communion Students/Confirmation Candidates Planned for This Monday, January 22

On Monday, January 22, there is a mandatory meeting of both parents of students making their First Communion in 2024 and those making their Confirmation this year too.

Please meet in the church at 6:00 pm.

Contact Pastoral Associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org with questions.

Care for Real Food & Supply Drive is January 27-28

Our next donation drive will be before/after the masses in two weeks, on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28.

Care for Real has a big need for baby care and personal care supplies. Below are the most needed items for each category. 

Baby care:

• Size 3, 4, 5, and 6 diapers
• Baby wipes
• Pull ups (all sizes)

Personal care:

• Menstrual pads
• Body wipes
• Bar soap
• Body wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

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. 

NCA to Host an Open House Next Sunday!



Northside Catholic Academy will host an Open House on Sunday, January 28 during Catholic Schools Week at the NCA Primary School Campus at 6216 N. Glenwood Ave. from 10:30 am -2:30 pm. 

All parishioners and neighbors are welcome to attend! 

Reconciliation for First Communion Candidates - Monday, January 29

Please keep the young students of our parish in their prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation on Monday, January 29 at 6:30 pm in church.

Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have questions.

You're Invited to An Evening of Romance

Save the date! St. Gertrude's Marriage Ministry is planning a special evening for couples on Saturday, February 10. The night will celebrate, renew, and strengthen your sacred commitment to your life partner. 

All couples are welcome, but space is limited!

The night will start off with Mass, followed by cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dancing. Dim lighting, romantic decorations, and great food will set the mood for an evening for you and your partner to reconnect and socialize with other couples in the Social Hall.

The cost is $125 per couple and includes dinner, beer, and wine. Tickets are available at the rectory. Gift certificates are available!

For more information, contact mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org or spatterson@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Lenten Simple Supper Planned for Late February

Happy New Year! The Parish Pastoral Council will be hosting the first Simple Supper of Lent on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 pm in the Ministry Center. 

More info will be shared in the bulletin soon!

Save the Date! NCA's Soiree is 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. 

This Summer: St. Gertrude’s Youth Group Mission Experience

Attention teens in sixth grade through high school! This summer, from July 22-26, the parish youth group 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.

Heart to Heart Lending Closet Update

Several families in the Chicago area reached out to our Heart to Heart Lending Closet to borrow items needed for relatives visiting over the holidays. St. Gertrude parishioners' support of this vital ministry helped families make some very happy holiday memories! THANK YOU!

We recently received a heartful thank you from one of these families:

Thank you so much for the use of the transit chair during my mother's visit over the holidays! It allowed her to participate in family outing in a way she would not have been able to without it. 

(pictured: The Baker family at the Millennium Park Skating Rink)

We truly appreciate your support!

~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet Manager

Parishioner Survey: NCA Consolidation Questions

Dear Parishioners of Holy Child Jesus; Mary, Mother of God; St. Gertrude; and St. Jerome:

As you may know, the leadership of Northside Catholic Academy has decided to consolidate our school from two campuses to one. Beginning next school year, Northside Catholic Academy will be located on our Edgewater campus at St. Gertrude. We will, however, remain a regional school -- the Catholic school for our four parishes. You may read the consolidation notice on our website. 

We know that some of you have questions about the consolidation and what the future looks like for NCA. We are still working out many details; however, we want to hear your questions and provide answers to you as we are able. How we will communicate answers is yet to be decided and may vary parish by parish. 

Thank you for your interest in Northside Catholic Academy. Catholic education is critical to the mission of the Church, and your concern is appreciated by all of us at NCA.

Yours in Christ,

Terese Black

Principal, Northside Catholic Academy

Growing in Faith: Jesus’ Call to Discipleship Mark 1:14-20

In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus calling his first disciples, and how different he is from the other wisdom masters of the time! They were reluctant to even accept a disciple unless the person showed some advance in philosophy but Jesus goes out to choose disciples and he reads the heart.

Something else about Jesus sets him apart from others:  To be his disciple, means being his apostle too. “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of people!” It isn’t to be a little exclusive club of insiders. To answer Jesus call means readiness to reach out the good news of God’s love to everyone.

In Greek, the word ‘disciple’ means ‘a learner’, and  ‘apostle’ means, ‘one who is sent’. That’s the combination!! We will be ‘learners’ all our life and mandated by Jesus joyfully, to  bring his message wherever our life takes us . 

The late Father David Stanley S.J. a great New Testament scholar visited us in the novitiate one afternoon and gave a talk. I only remember his last words. He said “ We think we are so modern, we think we are so advanced. Well, Jesus is still striding down that beach, and we are running like everything trying to catch up to him!”

~ Sister Wendy Cotter c.s.j. Ph.D

New Parishioners

• Thomas & Linda Cook
• Paul & Marina Parise

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, January 20 at 5:00 pm - Roman Reyes, Millie Slane
• Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 am - David Sullivan, Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am - Troy McMillan, Anthony Myers

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, January 20 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am - Maria Ugarte, Tim Love, Carlos Barragan

Cantors

• Saturday, January 20 at 5:00 pm - Bernie O’Connor
• Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 am - Martin Downs
• Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am - Rob Schroeder

Altar Servers

• Sunday, January 21 at 10:30 am - Chimamanda Okoye, cross bearer; Dominic Rubino, and Munachimso Okoye, acolytes

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Sunday, January 21: 8:00 am - Laura Linke+; 10:30 am in church - Edith Ellero+
• Monday, January 22: 7:30 am - Gerardo Carpi
• Tuesday, January 23: 7:30 am - Pete Ballard+
• Wednesday, January 24: 7:30 am - Raymond Sousa+
• Thursday, January 25: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, January 26: 7:30 am - Pete Ballard+
• Saturday, January 27: 7:30 am - Raymond Sousa+; 5:00 pm - Margaret Baker+, Carol Ann Maranto+

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.