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 18, 2024

First Sunday of Lent

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

Ever wonder why we start this season of Lent with the experience of Jesus being tempted in the desert? Jesus is revealing to some of his close followers that everyone, even himself, can be vulnerable to the deceits of Satan.

Why would Jesus go into the desert for a forty-day retreat just after he has been baptized? It is the same reason why anyone goes on retreat: to refocus on who they are, where they are going and how to get there. 

Often our perspective about life gets blurred by all the noise and hyperactivity of life. Jesus needed time to understand the revelation of his identity given by the voices of his Father at his baptism: "You are my beloved, my favor rests on you."

Use these next forty days as a retreat. Take time to be more reflective and prayerful and hear what God said to you on the day of your baptism, “You are my beloved”!

St. Gertrude’s is offering many opportunities for us to do just that, to reflect. Please join us in the many ways that can make this one of our best Lents.

Night of Romance

Special thanks to Jen & Roman, Emily & Matt, and Chip & Gordon for planning this wonderful evening. Also, thanks to Mary Clare for the cocktail music and to all of the servers.

Everyone worked together to host a great first annual Night of Romance.

Lenten Activities

Fridays: Eucharistic Adoration and Two Stations of the Cross

Each Friday during Lent, there will be 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 will offer a traditional Way of the Cross. Another Stations of the Cross will be 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. 

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

We have planned a special Lenten Retreat/Bible Study series, led by Father Paul. The title is The Silence of God: Finding God in a Void. It will held on Wednesdays during Lent, beginning February 21. There is a morning session at 10:00 am and another one at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.

Just before this Lenten program will be Simple Suppers, which will start 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; 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 will be held 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.

No Religious Ed Classes on Sunday, February 18/Rectory Closed on February 19

Presidents Day is celebrated on Monday, February 19. Due to the long weekend, there will be no Religious Ed classes that weekend.

Additionally, the Rectory office will be closed on Monday, February 19.

Lenten Simple Suppers Planned for Late February

The Parish Pastoral Council will host the first Simple Supper of Lent on Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 pm in the Ministry Center. 

On Wednesday, February 28, St. Gertrude’s Music Ministry will host the second Simple Supper. It will also be at 6:00 pm in the Ministry Center.

The Silence of God: Finding God in a Void: Lenten Retreat/Bible Study Program Begins February 21

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 21 - Job: Job 1:1-22; 38:1-11; 42:1-6
• 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.

Confirmation Information: First Retreat is 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. 

Youth Group Bowling Outing on February 25

Our parish youth group is going bowling! All teens in 7th grade through high school are welcome to join us on Sunday, February 25 at 12:30 pm. There is free transportation available. The cost is $10 per student.

Please RSVP to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org by Tuesday, February 20.

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 and all are welcome.

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. 

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. 

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.

Congratulations to Carol Ann Munro & Hallie Burhoe!

Last Monday at the 7:30 am Mass, Carol Ann Munro & Hallie Burhoe celebrated their second anniversary. Fr. Mike and parishioners gathered around them afterwards to congratulate and celebrate them.

We are delighted for Carol Ann and Hallie and wish them continued happiness.

Growing in Faith

Pope Francis wrote that Lent is “a time to reconsider the path we are taking, to find the route that leads us home and to rediscover our profound relationship with God, on whom everything depends.”  

Here are four online resources that can help make your 2024 Lenten journey more meaningful:

Ignatian Spirituality – Lent Resources  

• Online retreats and prayers
• Lenten video reflections
• Seasonal articles

25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent (Besides Giving Up Chocolate) 

Maryknoll Lenten Reflection Guide 2024: Caring for Creation 

• Reflections, questions, prayers and actions based on each week’s Scripture readings

Reflecting on the Lenten Season - Loyola Press 

• Lenten practices
• Lenten memories
• Lenten lessons

~ Growing in Faith Committee

Masonry Stone Work Completed on the Church Building

Work was recently completed on our church building, on the east side close to the rectory. It was damaged by rain, snow, and the wind.

The top two images show before, and the last two images show after the work was completed.

2024 Annual Catholic Appeal: Together at the Table

Our parish is conducting our campaign for the Annual Catholic Appeal. Please remember that the Annual Catholic Appeal is much different than a one-time special collection. It is a pledge campaign where you can make a gift payable in installments.

The new Annual Catholic Appeal theme, “Together at the table,” is an important theme as we prayerfully consider our support for the Appeal but also important for embracing the life that the Lord wants us to live. Each pledge makes a difference! All parish communities participate in the campaign and the gifts of many enable our parishes, schools and ministries to deliver needed services.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration and generous response. To make your gift, visit annualcatholicappeal.com. 

NCA: Be a Part of Somethings 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.

New Parishioners

• Emily Slowiak & Cynthia Arnold

Rest in Peace

• Raymond Seitz
• David Sierzega

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, February 17 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Jennifer Kiedaisch
• Sunday, February 18 at 8:00 am - Jacalyn Meier, Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez, Rose Karasti

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, February 17 at 5:00 pm - Kathleen Dawson
• Sunday, February 18 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
• Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 am - Annie Hasselbeck, Steven Hasselbeck, Lisa Schneider

Cantors

• Saturday, February 17 at 5:00 pm - Jim Manzardo
• Sunday, February 18 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
• Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 am - Kristina Vragovic

Altar Servers

• Sunday, February 18 at 10:30 am - Eva Mueller, cross bearer; Dominic Rubino, and Chukwnonso Okoye, acolytes

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Sunday, February 18: 8:00 am - Elizabeth Reshoft; 10:30 am in church - Betty Taylor+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Jenny Wyman+
• Monday, February 19: 7:30 am - Jacqueline Elwood+
• Tuesday, February 20: 7:30 am - Seliza Velasquez+
• Wednesday, February 21: 7:30 am - Mary Jo Martin+
• Thursday, February 22: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, February 22: 7:30 am - Seliza Velasquez+
• Saturday, February 23: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm - Jo Anne 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.