Bulletin for Sunday, August 13
& Sunday, August 20, 2023
19th & 20th Sundays in Ordinary Time
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Mass Times: Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am Mass in Church; 10:30 am Gym Mass; Monday-Friday: 7:30 am (Thursday is a Communion service); Saturday: 7:30 am & 5:00 pm. The Gym Mass will resume in the fall.
Reconciliation: 4:15-4:45 pm on Saturday or by appointment.
Office Hours: The Rectory office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am-2:30 pm. The office is closed on Labor Day.
Heart to Heart Contacts: Sr. Susan Quaintance, OSB/Director/872-296-2537; Laurie Hasbrook/Lending Closet/773-973-5464
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From Fr. Mike
Last week, I wrote to all of you via an e-blast and a letter in church, (there are still copies at the back of the church) calling us as a parish to unity and prayer, even amid disagreement. This disagreement is in how we help those seeking asylum and the use of the Broadway Armory.
I appreciated some of the feedback. One response was, “We’re all in this together,” and that we are. We must stand together as a sign of hope and not abandon St. Gertrude’s. Please join me in deepening and living our faith and to pray for the grace to help us stand strong together and face the challenges that are before us.
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Fireside Chat
On Wednesday, August 16th at 7:00 pm, the Fireside Chat resumes. The topic is how can we help those coming to United States seeking a better life. We will have a speaker, who is seeking a better life here. Come join us! Bring your own chair and refreshments. If you like, bring a snack to be shared. We will meet in the courtyard between the Ministry Center and Church. See further down in this e-bulletin for suggested readings and the rules of engagement.
Pastor Installation
On Sunday, September 24th at the 10:30 am Mass, I will be installed as pastor here at St. Gertrude’s. I am truly honored to be here and to serve here. I like to think of this as a day we celebrate our faith and diversity in our faith community. If you can please come, not for me, but for each other.
Time Off
Please note I am going to have some surgery and will be recovering for about two weeks, starting Thursday, August 24th. While I am away, you will be in the good hands of our pastoral staff, who will be handling some of my duties, while maintaining their own workload.
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Soles of the Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk - Part of our Parish's Marathon Weekend
It's time to start getting in shape for Soles of the Parish Fun Run and Walk!
As you know, we have decided to have a parish gathering and fundraiser over the Chicago Marathon weekend, with proceeds going to support the ministries here at St. Gertrude’s. The Soles of the Parish fun run and walk will be Saturday, October 7. The sign-up sheet will be at the back of the church for this 3K. You can also find additional information and sign up online for this event at https://bit.ly/StGerts3K.
Fr. Mike Bradley will also be running the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 8. We are seeking sponsorships for Father Mike, with all proceeds going to our Heart-to-Heart ministry. You can sponsor Fr. Mike Bradley online as well by visiting https://bit.ly/FrMikeRuns.
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Events & Activities at St. Gertrude
listed in chronological order
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Book Club - Monday, August 14
On Monday, June 12, the book club will discuss The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young.
Save the date! The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai will be discussed at the September 11 book club.
We would love new voices and opinions!
Contact Lea Cloninger at 773.973.2465 or Sue Benjamin at 773.551.8401 with questions.
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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Tuesday, August 15
On the Feast of the Assumption, our Mass schedule is:
Monday, August 14 at 6:30 pm Vigil Mass
Tuesday, August 15 at 7:30 am
Tuesday, August 15 at 6:30 pm
This is a Holy Day of Obligation.
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Fireside Chat Planned for Wednesday, August 16
As mentioned in Fr. Mike's column, the next Fireside chat is planned for Wednesday, August 16 at 7:00 pm, where we will discuss immigration.
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” ~ Matthew 25:35
The Catholic faith tradition has a long, rich history of hospitality and respect for the stranger or alien.
The Church call us to a vision of unity in diversity as part of the parish life by helping immigrants, migrants, refugees and people on the run from injustices.
Attendees are asked to review the suggested readings and to be mindful of the rules of engagement. Both are outlined below.
Readings for the Discussion
Here are a few articles you might like to read prior to the discussion:
I also recommend reading a wonderful book called Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora.
Fireside Covenant
As we engage in conversation, please observe the following:
- Confidentiality - What's said here, stays here.
- No preaching - We speak from our personal experiences, we are not here to judge, we avoid saying "we should" or "you should".
- No cross talk - We listen in silence while others are speaking. We do not comment or ask questions about what others say.
- Respect time - Our gathering is 90 minutes. Please respect time so we can all share.
- All are asked to share - by coming to this gathering, you agree to participate in some way. Even if it's just your name, we ask you to share something.
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Altar Server Training - Thursday, August 24
Students in 5th grade and up are invited to become altar servers! There is a training session planned for Thursday, August 24th at 6:00 pm.
Please note, serving as an altar server does qualify for Confirmation service hours.
Contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org with questions.
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Care for Real Food & Supply Drive - August 26-27
Our next collection for Care for Real is the weekend of August 26 and August 27.
Special needs requested by Care for Real include:
- Granola bars/protein bars
- Individual servings of children/tuna and crackers
- Protein drinks
- Pop top soups, chili, and pasta
- Size 5 and 6 diapers
- Menstrual pads
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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Parish Youth Group Cookout Planned for Sunday, August 27
Parish youth group members as well as teens in 7th grade and up are welcome to attend a youth group cookout! The BBQ will take place in the backyard after the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, August 27.
Please RSVP to Eloy Escamilla at
eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Join the Choir! Social & Rehearsal Planned for Thursday, August 31
Are you interested in joining St. Gertrude’s choir? Kathryn Flynn, our new music director, is planning a social and rehearsal on Thursday, August 31!
The social will be from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Rectory dining room, followed by practice from 7:00-9:00 pm.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathryn at kflynn@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Donations Needed for Asylum Seekers - Collections on Sept. 2-3/Updated List of Needs Below
We are so appreciative of the many parishioners who dropped off donations to asylum seekers these past few weeks! Thank you so very much for your generosity.
In addition to feeding neighbors in need, Care for Real is providing support to families sheltering at the Broadway Armory. Please place items from the list below in the bins at the back of church for delivery to Care for Real:
- Diapers sizes 4, 5 and 6
- Pull-ups
- Baby wipes
- Clean children’s in-season clothing and new or very gently shoes (that they can wear right now)
- Feminine sanitary pads (no tampons, please)
- Individual, pre-packaged, ready to eat food and snacks (granola bars, tuna kits, jerky, etc.)
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Black hair care
- Body wash
- Bar soap
- Incontinence briefs
- Women’s leggings
- Men’s jeans and pants
Thank you for your generosity!
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PreCana Class Offered at St. Gertrude on Saturday, September 9
Pre Cana 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.
This full day, in-person gathering on Saturday, September 9 is dedicated to considering your life together as a married couple. Led by a facilitator couple from St. Gertrude, the 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 the September session by calling the Rectory office at 773.764.3621or by filling out an online form at https://stgertrudechicago.org/marriage.
The cost of PreCana is covered by the church fee couples planning a wedding at St. Gertrude are charged.
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Register for our Religious Ed Program - Classes Begin on Sunday, September 10
Registration is now open for our 2023-2024 Religious Education program! Classes will begin on Sunday, September 10, with in-person instruction held on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 am.
Religious Ed registration forms can be found at https://bit.ly/RelEd2023-2024 and on our website at https://stgertrudechicago.org/religious-education-news. Forms in Spanish are also available on our website. Please note that students must receive two years of preparation in order to make these sacraments.
The fees for the 2023-2024 school year are $210 for one child and an additional $30 for each student from the same family. Tuition can be paid online at https://bit.ly/StGertsRelEdTuition.
An additional sacramental fee of $65 is required for children making their First Communion and First Reconciliation, or their Confirmation. That fee can be paid at https://bit.ly/StGertsSacramentalFee.
Completed forms and any questions about the program should be emailed to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. Please register before the start date.
Interested in becoming a substitute catechist teacher? Contact Eloy Escamilla at the above email address.
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Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass – September 17
Congratulations to all of the couples celebrating 50 years of marriage this year! The Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass is scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 2:30 pm. The Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654.
Please register by September 15, 2023. Click here for information & to register.
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Parishioner Author Event Planned for Thursday, September 21
Parishioner Kathy Osberger has a book coming out August 18th, titled I Surrender A Memoir of Chile's Dictatorship, 1975.
On Thursday, September 21, St. Gertrude parish and the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America (CRLN) are partnering to host an author event, with Kathy speaking about her book and time in Chile during the reign of military dictator General August Pinochet and experiences at the hands of Chile's secret police.
Her book will be available for sale at a reduced price this weekend in the back of church, with a portion donated to St. Gertrude’s.
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Lending Closet Update
Summer has seen wonderful connections made at the Heart to Heart Lending Closet. Ahzea Makhubu, a volunteer for Agape Mobility Ethiopia contacted us in August to see if we had any extra mobility devices. Due to the ongoing support of parishioners and members of the broader community we were able to donate over a dozen walkers, canes and crutches to Agape Mobility Ethiopia (https://agapemobilityethiopia.org/).
Closer to home, the Lending Closet phone rings daily with requests from people in need throughout Chicago. Wheelchairs, transport chairs, and shower chairs remain in short supply.
If you have items to donate, contact me at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org or at the Lending Closet office number, 773-973-5464.
Thank you in advance for your generous support and donations.
~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet Manager
Photo credit: Ahzea Makhubu with Saba Teklemarcos at Agape Mobility Ethiopia U.S. headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Interested in Becoming Catholic?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process by which adults learn more about the Catholic Church. This free program begins in the fall and meets until Pentecost.
Many people who begin RCIA are non-Catholics seeking to become Catholic or at least to explore whether Catholicism might be a good home. Those who complete the process and decide to become Catholic are initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. Others who take RCIA are already Catholic but want a deeper understanding of their faith foundation.
The RCIA process does not ask those who have been baptized in another faith to give up their denominational experiences. Rather, the RCIA process seeks to add new colors and designs to their existing faith life tapestry. In addition to attending Mass, the RCIA process includes weekly gatherings of breaking open the Word of God, sharing our stories, and learning about our faith traditions.
Classes begin in September.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA process at St. Gertrude, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.
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Growing in Faith: The Listening Heart: Jesus and the Canaanite Mother
This story of Jesus and the Canaanite mother shows us a Jesus who listened, and who saw the truth in what this foreign mother showed him, and changed his mind completely, instantly exorcising the demon who was torturing her daughter.
She was right. Here we all are, all of us together here in the household of God, each of us deserving of each other’s love and help in need.
This story of Jesus’ encounter was copied over and over again until the composition of the gospels, because Christians meditated on it, shared about it, and used it so frequently for their own spiritual life. They were urged to see every person as God’s child, no matter what their background or present religious affiliation or non- religious affiliation.
That readiness to listen, to be open to learn something about our God from those who would ordinarily be regarded as ‘foreign’, and to be ready to help , is what the story calls on us to incorporate into our hearts. And the story teaches that, like Jesus, our helping someone is not dependent on their joining us. This mother simply returned to her home and her life. This Gospel calls us to be like the Jesus who opened his ears , his heart, listened, and seeing the woman’s truth of our being part of a universal family, acted immediately out of love.
~ Sister Wendy Cotter, CSJ, Ph.D.
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New Parishioners
- Marlene Dumas
- Jeanna Rawski
- Susan McKean
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Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, Cantors, Musicians, & Altar Servers for This Weekend | | |
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Ministers of the Word
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Saturday, August 12 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Jennifer Kiedaisch
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Sunday, August 13 at 8:00 am - Art Lyons, Jay Cook
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Sunday, August 13 at 10:30 am - Tim Love, Sarah Millar
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Saturday, August 19 at 5:00 pm - Jennifer Kiedaisch, Patrick Reardon
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Sunday, August 20 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe, David Sullivan
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Sunday, August 20 at 10:30 am - Rose Karasti, Bob Backis
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Eucharistic Ministers
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Saturday, August 12 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
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Sunday, August 13 at 8:00 am - Brian DeVarenne
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Sunday, August 13 at 10:30 am - Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck, Ray Sousa
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Saturday, August 29 at 5:00 pm - Michelle Kuehlhorn
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Sunday, August 20 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
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Sunday, August 20 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez, Sarah Millar, Stephen Hasselbeck
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Cantors and Musicians
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Saturday, August 12 at 5:00 pm - Paula Dempsey
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Sunday, August 13 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
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Sunday, August 13 at 10:30 am - Kathryn Flynn
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Saturday, August 19 at 5:00 pm - Kate Davis
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Sunday, August 20 at 8:00 am - Denise Goodman
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Sunday, August 20 at 10:30 am - Matt Heimer
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Altar Servers
- Sunday, August 13 at 10:30 am - Alise Veleta
- Sunday, August 20 at 10:30 am - Carter Dant
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Financial Reports from July 29-30 and August 5-6
July 29-30
Sunday Collection Envelopes: $2,108.00
Loose Checks: $685.00
Loose Cash/Coins: $545.50
Online Donations: $2,840.83
Total Collected: $6,179.33
Budgeted: $10,000.00
Difference: -$3,820.67
Year-to-date Collected: $42,756.12
Year-to-date Budgeted: $386.400.00
Difference: -$343,643.88
August 5-6
Sunday Collection Envelopes: $5,082.00
Loose Checks: $910.00
Loose Cash/Coins: $784.35
Online Donations: $5,616.95
Total Collected: $12,393.70
Budgeted: $10,000.00
Difference: $2,393.70
Year-to-date Collected FY 2024: $55,149.82
Year-to-date Budgeted FY 2024: $386.400.00
Difference: -$331,250.18
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Priests’ Health and Retirement
"O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"(Matthew 14:31)
Do you doubt your faith from time to time? Thankfully, the Lord provides us with priests that
help us in our faith journey sacramentally as well as spiritually without asking for anything in
return so we can grow in our faith and lessen our doubts and someday get to Heaven.
Now, it is our turn to show our love and care for their ever-faithful support. Please consider including a legacy gift for Priests’ Health and Retirement to support the healthcare needs of our active priests, as well as the medical and housing needs of our retired priests.
For more information, please call Priests’ Health and Retirement at 708.449.8026. If you would like to make a gift today, please visit prmaa.org.
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Ways to Help Our Parish: Amazon Smile, Text to Give, GiveCentral, PayPal, and Amazon Smile
Visit smile.amazon.com and select St. Gertrude Parish as your charity of choice. From then on, connect to Amazon through smile.amazon.com and St. Gertrude will automatically benefit as your charity of choice.
We have set up a "Text to Give" option through GiveCentral. Parishioners are welcome to text the word Donate to 1.773.741.9505 to make a donation via phone.
To access our PayPal link, please visit our parish website and donate from there. GiveCentral offers parishioners the option of one-time gifts or weekly contributions.
For more information on text to give or to sign up for online giving, please email Eduardo Soto at esoto@stgertrudechicago.org.
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Upcoming Mass Intentions
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Monday, August 14: 7:30 am - Living & deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners; 6:30 pm - People of God (Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Assumption)
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Assumption of the Bless Virgin Mary, Tuesday, August 15: 7:30 am - Nancy Donnelly +; 6:30 pm - People of God
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Wednesday, August 16: 7:30 am - Ethan Seitzer +
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Thursday, August 17: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, August 18: 7:30 am - Norman H. Linke +
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Saturday, August 19: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm - Joseph Keeley +
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Sunday, August 20: 8:00 am - People of God; 10:30 am Mass – Judy O'Toole +
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Monday, August 21: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
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Tuesday, August 22: 7:30 am - Living & deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
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Wednesday, August 23: 7:30 am - Joanne Meade +
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Thursday, August 24: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, August 25: 7:30 am - Fred Donnelly, Sr +
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Saturday, August 26: 7:30 am - People of God; 5:00 pm -Joanne Joyce +
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Sunday, August 27: 8:00 am - People of God ; 10:30 am Mass – Carl Goeltenbodt (100th birthday)
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Please Keep the Following People in Your Prayers | |
- Carlos Barragan
- Zara Bradley
- Lilly Buie
- Maggie Callaway
- Aida Calvopina
- Claire Conley
- Denise DeBelle
- Ann Collins Dole
- Mr. and Mrs. Emin Euman
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Gina Heidkamp
- Maria Hertl
- Erica Maria Kast
- Bernice Kiedysz
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- Marilyn Klein
- Ignacio Lopez
- Janet McCulley
- Jack McDermott
- Karey Myers
- Donald Nyderek
- Richard Seitz
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Janice Wittenberg
- Yyes Yoza
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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. | | | | |
