Bulletin for Sunday, September 24, 2023
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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From Fr. Mike Gabriel
"Welcome back home!" That was the only thing I could think of while standing at the back of church last Sunday. It seemed like everyone has come back home, either from vacations or events, etc. Plus there were many new faces in church as well!
The most important thing is for those who have been away is to let you know that you were missed. And to those who are new, welcome! St. Gertrude’s is our home. It is where we grow spiritually in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and it is from here that we go out as disciples to different places, where we work or go to school and live, to bring Christ words and examples.
As you can see from the bulletin, lots of things are happening. Please take the time to look at the many things being offered and commit yourself to at least one. You will not regret it.
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Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk - Your Support is Needed!
Excitement is in the air at St. Gertrude Parish as we gear up for our highly-anticipated new fundraiser, Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk!
All parishioners and Edgewater residents are invited to join us on Saturday, October 7 for a morning of fun, community, and generosity during the Chicago Marathon weekend.
This event promises to be a fantastic opportunity for us to come together, raise funds for important parish ministries, and strengthen our bonds of faith. Please consider registering for this special event and be a part of this special day. We truly need all the support we can get to make this event a success.
Let's make October 7th a date to remember as we unite in support of St. Gertrude Parish and its mission. Sign up in the back of church using a paper registration form or register online at https://bit.ly/StGerts3K.
I hope to see you there!
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T-Shirts for Soles of St. Gertrude Parish
Those who have already registered can pick up their t- shirts after Mass this Sunday and next weekend. Those who are interested in purchasing one can still get one for $15. Register after Mass today or online at https://bit.ly/StGerts3K.
Schedule for Saturday, October 7th's Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K
- 8-8:45 am - Warm up and stretch exercises.
- 8:55 am - Opening prayer
- 9:00 am - Runners will take off
- 9:30 am - Walkers will take off
- 9:45 am - Those who will be doing a walk around the block.
- 10:30 am - Pep Rally to show our support for Fr. Mike Bradley.
- 5:00 pm Mass - There will be a blessing at Mass for all those participating in the Chicago Marathon.
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This Week's Marathon Minute by Fr. Mike Bradley
Sometimes people ask me why I still take part in marathons even though I’ve slowed down quite a bit over the years. At 70 years of age, my reason for running is that I can still offer prayers for those in our community who are suffering spiritually, mentally, and physically.
I realize that many people are “running a marathon” of sorts in their daily experiences – due to chronic illnesses, desperate financial situations, or profound disappointments. When I run on behalf of St. Gertrude Parish’s Heart to Heart program, my heart is filled with joy because I offer up any discomfort or pain for those who have entrusted their prayer intentions to me. It is a privilege to “run for you!”
As I keep moving forward for 26.2 marathon miles toward the finish line – especially during those moments when I feel that I have absolutely no energy left -- the Holy Spirit takes over and lifts me up. Whenever I think of all the prayers that you are offering for me, I realize that I’m not alone. Each step of the marathon, I carry you with me in my heart!
~ Father Mike Bradley
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Fr. Mike Bradley Running the Chicago Marathon for St. Gertrude's Heart to Heart Ministry
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on October 8th, and along with 45,000 other participants, several Saint Gertrude parishioners and I are prepping for the 26.2 miles.
My most recent marathon was a do-it-yourself event in our Edgewater neighborhood, back in October of 2020, when the regular Chicago marathon had been canceled. Since November of 2020, after experiencing medical setbacks and a surgery, and under doctor’s orders, I had to curtail my running.
Because of the prayers of many people, however, I’m now able to lace up my shoes and run my 50th marathon. I'm also pleased to be part of this year's “Soles of St. Gertrude Parish,” which includes a fun run/walk on October 7th and other activities for “Marathon Weekend.”
As part of the festivities, we are asking you to consider making a donation to Heart to Heart, our parish’s outreach to elders in the Edgewater community. Regardless of their religious affiliation, these folks can call Heart to Heart when they need transportation to the grocery store, doctor’s office, mass . . . or they’d just like a friendly visit. Heart to Heart also operates a lending closet of durable medical equipment which provides critical support to people all over the city. Your support for Heart to Heart is a real blessing to so many people, and your prayers for me will enable me to reach the finish line on October 8th.
Please send me your prayer intentions (mbradley2222@yahoo.com), and I will pray for your prayer requests as I run/walk the 26.2 miles.
With heartfelt appreciation for your prayers and support,
~ Father Mike Bradley
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How to Support Fr. Mike's Chicago Marathon Efforts
Fr. Mike Bradley will run the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 8. We are seeking sponsorships for Father Mike, with all proceeds going to Heart to Heart ministry for seniors. You can donate online at https://bit.ly/FrMikeRuns or via a check at church or dropped off at the Rectory. Please add Fr. Mike's name in the memo line.
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Events & Activities at St. Gertrude
listed in chronological order
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Care for Real Food & Supply Drive on September 23-24
This weekend is our donation drive.
Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:
- Baby wipes
- Diapers size 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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Event at St. Gregory's: The Catholic Imagination in Fiction
Join Prof. Scott Moringiello (scholar-in-residence) for a course exploring the ways in which the spiritual, theological, and aesthetic traditions of the Catholic faith inform the major literary works of the past century. In this course, held on Tuesdays from September 19-November 7 from 6:30-8:30 pm, participants will read three novels: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, Silence by Shusaku Endo, and The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade.
While the authors' background, style, and subject matter differ widely, their portrayals of human life and experience all draw on the paradoxical relation of the sacred and profane, transcendent and terrestrial that characterizes the incarnation and the life of the sacraments.
Participants will be required to obtain their own copies of the books.
The class will take place in St. Gregory the Great's Monsignor Klasen Building, located at 1609 W. Gregory St. For more information and to register, visit https://www.stgregoryhall.org/catholicimagination.html.
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Domestic Violence Survivors' Mass is Saturday, September 30
Please save the date for the 8th Annual Domestic Violence Survivors' Mass at beautiful Holy Name Cathedral, located at 735 N. State Street in downtown Chicago.
Mass will be held at 5:15 pm and live-streamed on Holy Name Cathedral's website, holynamecathedral.org. Free parking is available in the parking garage at 14 W. Superior, on lower level 1 or lower level 2. Bring your parking ticket with you to the Cathedral to validate your parking ticket in the Cathedral vestibule. There is a maximum of two hours of parking, with a steep fee if exceeded.
We hope you can join us to pray for an end to domestic violence!
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Donations Needed for Asylum Seekers - Collections on September 30 and October 1
A collection for asylum seekers will be held on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. 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.
Please place items from the list below in the bins at the back of church for delivery to Care for Real.
Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:
- Baby wipes
- Diapers size 4-6
- Pull-ups
- All toiletries
- Menstrual pads
- Ready-to-eat items like granola bars, tuna or chicken salad cracker packs, individual milk boxes
Thank you for your generosity!
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2023 Feast of St. Francis: The Way of St. Francis: Seeking Peace and Justice for All Creation
St. Scholastica Monastery
7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago or Zoom
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm
For more information or to register in person, contact Sr. Patricia Coughlin, OSB, at patcoughlinosb@sbcglobal.net. To register for the virtual event, email webcoordinatorosb@osbchicago.org.
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Manuscript Illumination Workshop at St. Gregory's Parish on Saturday, October 7, 12:00-5:00 pm
Join St. Gregory’s Hall artist-in-resident Sarah Crow for a one-day workshop in medieval manuscript illumination in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday, October 7 from 12:00-5:00 pm. Participants will make their own paints using a medieval recipe and reproduce a 15th-century illumination of The Virgin and Child in a Red Rose c. 1480. The event will take place at St. Gregory the Great's Parish Center, 5545 N. Paulina St.
The website for the event is here: https://www.stgregoryhall.org/illumination.html.
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Pet Blessing Planned for Sunday, October 8
The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is Tuesday, October 4. As we do each year, there will be Blessing of the Pets next Sunday at 11:30 am on the steps of the church.
Please join us with your furry (or scaly!) loved ones!
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Book Club, Monday, October 9
On Monday, October 9, the book club will discuss Via Negativa by Daniel Hornsby at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center. The premise of the book centers around a priest who embarks on a fateful journey with a pistol in his pocket and an injured coyote in his backseat.
Contact Lea Cloninger at 773.973.2465 or Sue Benjamin at 773.551.8401 with questions.
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Parish Pastoral Council Member News; October Meeting Date Announced
The Parish Pastoral Council welcomed three new members, Ed Butler, Gordon Hannon, and Krista Chinchilla-Patzke.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.
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Next Women's Friendship Club Gathering is Thursday, October 12
St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of every month in the Ministry Center. The gathering begins at 11:30 am, attendees should bring their own (brown bag) lunch.
Dessert is provided!
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Growing in Faith
Matthew 20:1-16: God the Generous, God the Merciful
When I read this Gospel, I was moved by this symbolic story Jesus told about the mercy of a rich owner towards day workers who had been rejected by work bosses and left without prospects of any money for their families.
Here the owner of the vineyard himself, and not his foreman, keeps going out to the town centers, over and over all day, to hire day workers rejected by the various work bosses. Humiliated, they are also worried since they will go home without any money at all for their loved ones.
Notice the owner does not, of course, promise the late comers a denarius (good pay for a day’s work) such as arranged for those first chosen, but “what is fair.”
Yet, as the day closes, he orders the foreman to pay the late comers the same, a denarius! And they are to be paid first. Here we see the mercy of the owner, who treats the men with dignity, and tries to make up for their humiliation and their worry.
Jesus’ story then warns us about how tough and unmerciful we can be, failing to see mercy in action, if we think it takes from us. And Jesus has the owner tell the complainers that God does not have to answer to anyone for God’s huge hearted and insightful love.
~ Sister Wendy Cotter, CSJ, Ph.D
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Thank you to Loyola Students for Helping the Lending Closet
The Heart to Heart Lending Closet recently hosted a group of enthusiastic freshman year students and their sophomore guides from Loyola University for a Saturday of Service.
Sponsored by Loyola's Community Service and Action office, the students helped inventory, clean, and store donated durable medical equipment.
GO RAMBLERS!
~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet manager
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It's Not Too Late to Sign Up for Religious Education Classes!
Registration is still open for our Religious Education program! Religious Ed registration forms can be found 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.
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Kids Word Available at 10:30 am Masses
Kids Word has resumed during the 10:30 am Mass in church. This program offers children aged 4-7 years-old an age-appropriate Gospel message and do fun, scripture-based activities such as coloring or crafts in the Rectory.
Children are invited by the celebrant to come to the altar before the readings and are returned to church before the petitions.
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Spiritual Directors/ Companions Available
Earlier this month, Lori Dressel and Carol Ann Munro were in church to discuss the benefits of a spiritual director and companion.
If you've been searching for a deeper relationship with God or wanted to seek God’s help in making you might consider meeting with a spiritual director/companion.
Carol Ann and Lori offer confidential one-on-one sessions at St. Gertrude and the opportunity to slow down and take time to reflect on your experience of life, God’s action and grace in your daily routines and connect deeply to “the Spirit hidden in the depths of your soul.“ (T. Merton)
In meeting with a spiritual director, a person learns to pay attention to God’s personal communication, to respond to this personally communicating God, to be open to intimacy with God, and to live out the richness of the relationship that results from this intimacy.
If you are interested in this, contact Lori Dressel at lorijdressel@gmail.com or Carol Ann Munro at carolannmunro@comcast.net.
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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 September and meets until Pentecost.
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.
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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St. Gert's Garden
We had an excellent veggie crop this past weekend! Cucumbers, green peppers, habanero peppers, cayenne peppers, and tomatoes were shared with Care for Real.
Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who have been taking good care of our parish garden. We truly appreciate your time and efforts.
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Join the Choir!
Are you interested in joining St. Gertrude’s choir? We'd love to have you!
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 7:00-9:00 pm in church. The choir sings at the 10:30 am Mass in church.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathryn at kflynn@stgertrudechicago.org.
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New Parishioners
- Paul and Nancy Kelly
- Jess Edward Sayre & Emily Anastasia Mann
- Gunnar John Kolrud & Alison Clare Wall
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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, September 22 at 5:00 pm - Roman Reyes, Patrick Reardon
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Sunday, September 23 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott, David Sullivan
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Sunday, September 23 at 10:30 am - Martha Mulligan, Stephen Modde
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Eucharistic Ministers
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Saturday, September 22 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
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Sunday, September 23 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
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Sunday, September 23 at 10:30 am - Lisa Schneider, Ray Sousa, Tim Love
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Cantors and Musicians
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Saturday, September 22 at 5:00 pm - Kathryn Flynn
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Sunday, September 23 at 8:00 am - Tim Dowling
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Sunday, September 23 at 10:30 am - Michael Callahan
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Altar Servers
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Sunday, September 23 at 10:30 am - Ethan Craft, cross bearer; Owen Craft, Wyatt Dant, Acolytes
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Financial Report from Last Weekend
September 16-17
Sunday Collection Envelopes: $1,538.00
Loose Checks: $500.00
Loose Cash/Coins: $734.40
Online Donations: $7,260.13
Total Collected: $10,032.53
Budgeted: $10,000.00
Difference: $32.53
Year-to-date Collected FY 2024: $114,518.46
Year-to-date Budgeted FY 2024: $386,400.00
Difference: -$271,881.54
Seminarian Education Collection: $715.92
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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, September 25: 7:30 am - People of God
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Tuesday, September 26: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
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Wednesday, September 27: 7:30 am - Stephania Perkarski+
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Thursday, September 28: 7:30 am - Communion Service
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Friday, September 29: 7:30 am - People of God
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Saturday, September 30: 7:30 am - Leon Ward's 80th birthday; 5:00 pm - Luisa Bruno+
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Sunday, October 1: 8:00 am - People of God; 10:30 am in church - Adora Santos and family (Thanksgiving); 10:30 am Gym Mass – Matt Bussey+
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Please Keep the Following People in Your Prayers | |
- Carlos Barragan
- Zara Bradley
- Lilly Buie
- Hallie Burhoe
- Maggie Callaway
- Aida Calvopina
- Claire Conley
- Denise DeBelle
- Ann Collins Dole
- Connie Engelmohr
- 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
- Nancy Michael
- Andy Mueller
- Karey Myers
- Donald Nyderek
- Claude Poulsen
- Richard Seitz
- Willy Spalla
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Janice Wittenberg
- Yyes Yoza
- Joel Pozzi Zio
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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. | | | | |
