Bulletin for Sunday, October 22, 2023
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
| |
|
From Fr. Mike Gabriel
What’s a miracle? A miracle is a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or
scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.
That is what we truly need in our world.
As I write this, the storms of war continues in our world. The number of fatalities grows larger, and those grieving even larger from the war in the Ukraine and Russia, now Israel and Gaza, plus many other wars around the world.
We truly need a miracle. A miracle of peace, where there will be no more bloodshed, a miracle of peace, where children are not left orphaned and so many injured. A miracle of peace where love must wash over everyone. A peace where reconciliation will overcome conflict.
We need a miracle! Pray and fast with me for a miracle of peace.
Mission Sunday
This Sunday is World Mission Sunday, organized by the Propagation of the Faith. It is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Missions around the world, especially throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe receive assistance from this fund.
They also support in prayer all those priest and religious and lay leaders who are giving outreach in healthcare, evangelization, education, and community services. This is done so that Christ love is made known and his light shines brighter in the world.
Mass of Remembrance
On Saturday, November 4, the 5:00 pm mass will be celebrated in memory of all those who have died, especially those this past year.
To include the names of relatives and friends who died this past year, please call Sherl Patterson at 773.764.3621 or email [email protected] so that we can add their names.
Please put a name and phone number on the back of the photo so we can contact you if you forget to pick up.
| |
Events & Activities at St. Gertrude
listed in chronological order
| | | |
|
Coat and Suitcase Drive for New Arrivals
Help donate new or like-new coats, suitcases, and luggage locks to new arrivals! The 48th Ward is partnering with Ismaili CIVIC to collect these much-needed resources as we head into the colder months.
Drop off your donations at the Ismaili Jamatkhana parking lot (1124 W. Rosemont) on any of the three dates:
- Saturday, October 21 from 1:00-4:00 pm
- Wednesday, October 25 from 3:00-6:00 pm
- Saturday, October 28 from 1:00-4:00 pm
| |
|
World Mission Sunday is This Weekend, October 21-22
Embrace the Universal Church with "Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move" this World Mission Sunday!
Today, Pope Francis encourages us to reignite the fire of our faith and to go forth sharing that faith with others. As we gather on World Mission Sunday, like Catholics around the globe, we are reminded that everyone has a right to receive the Gospel. Our prayers this day and our contributions to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith foster global missionary cooperation, enabling:
- Over 844,000 catechists to share the faith.
- 258,540 Religious Sisters to tend to families and children.
- 38,140 seminarians to journey towards the priesthood.
- Education for 26 million children.
- Medical assistance in 12,000 clinics.
- Comfort in 8,750 homes for the orphaned and elderly.
By offering our prayers and sacrifices we participate in the missionary movement of the Universal Church.
Thank you for setting out with your own burning hearts and feet in motion!
| |
|
Our Food & Supply Drive for Care for Real is This Weekend, October 21-22
Our next supply drive is this coming weekend, October 21-22.
Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:
Ready to eat meals:
- Canned meals (pop-tops only) like chunky soup, pasta, chili
- Soft granola bars
- Protein bars
- Cheese & cracker packs (shelf stable)
- Juice boxes
- Protein shakes (shelf stable)
- Snack size chips and crackers
- Applesauce & fruit cups
- Peanut butter/jelly
Baby Care:
- Baby wipes
- Size 4, 5, and 6 diapers
- Pull Ups (all sizes)
Personal Care:
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Body wash
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes
- Body wipes
Pet Pantry:
- Dry/wet dog food
- Dry/wet cat food
Additionally, you can go to https://careforreal.org/wishlist to make a donation, drop off items at 5341 N. Sheridan Road from 12:00-3:00 pm Monday-Friday, or bring items to the Asylum Seekers collection in church on November 4-5.
| |
|
Religious Education Info
Think First & Stay Safe
This Sunday, the second of these two mandatory sessions, Think First & Stay Safe, will be held for Religious Ed students.
Presentation of the Confirmation Candidates
All students who plan to be confirmed in March 2024 should attend the 10:30 am Mass in church after their regular Sunday Religious Ed class. During the Mass, the priest will call forward the candidates to be acknowledged by the whole community. Candidates must be accompanied by an adult.
| |
Youth Group Movie Day Planned for Sunday, October 22
All teens in 7th grade and up are invited to come to a movie day!
The group will gather in the rectory after the 10:30 am Mass to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Pizza, popcorn, and pop will be served.
Questions? Please email Eloy Escamilla at [email protected].
| |
ECRA Community Needs Survey
There are about 25 houses of worship in Edgewater, with about half of those faith communities, including St. Gertrude, part of the Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA).
ECRA has been around since the 1960s, and was the creative drive behind the establishment of Care for Real as our community food pantry. The organization also hosts an annual interfaith Thanksgiving service as well as an interfaith Juneteenth service.
ECRA is conducting an online “Community Needs Assessment during the month of October. There are 28 questions in the survey, and it typically takes about 10 minutes to complete.
HERE is the survey in English, and the survey is also in Spanish HERE. Another option is to scan the QR code (English or Spanish) and fill it out on your cell phone. Hard copies of the survey, in both English and Spanish, are also available at the back of the church. Copies of the completed survey can be placed in the box at the back of church.
All surveys should be completed and returned by the end of October.
This is NOT just for Edgewater residents. We’re looking for input from everyone who lives, works, shops, worships, or just has fun in Edgewater. Survey respondents don’t have to be part of a faith community, so you might want to encourage friends and neighbors to participate as well. Everyone's thoughtful input is welcome!
If you have any questions about ECRA or this survey, please contact Allen Stryczek at [email protected].
Thank you!
| |
|
Fall Bingo Fundraiser at St. Moses the Black
On Saturday, October 28, from 1:00-3:00 pm, there is a bingo fundraiser for St. Moses the Black. Located in the Ministry Center at 450 E. 78th St. (St. Dorothy Campus), admission is $10 and comes with a gift bag and a dauber. Cards are $5 a card or $20 for five cards.
Go to https://bit.ly/StMosestheBlackFallFundraiser for an event flyer.
| |
Women's Friendship Club Gathering
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!
Their next gathering is Thursday, November 10. Consider yourself invited!
Pictured: The Women’s Friendship Club’s October gathering. Special thanks to Laurie Hasbrook for sending this in!
| |
October is Domestic Violence Month
An excellent resource for getting help and learning about domestic violence is the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Their hotline is 800-799-7233. The organization also supports a text chat, get help by texting START to 88788.
They also have a very in-depth website, https://thehotline.com, with resources, safety plans, and more.
| | | |
Parish Pastoral Council Info
The parish council continues to meet and discuss the vitality of the parish through its various groups and ministries. We have been referencing the ideas brought forth from the town hall.
The next parish pastoral council meeting is on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.
| |
|
Living with Grief: Grieving and Honoring Your Spouse/Partner Amidst Holidays and Celebrations Workshop In November
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 9am 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 [email protected].
| |
|
Growing in Faith
“As Jesus and his disciples entered a village, some of the villagers began to harass Jesus and spit at him. Jesus answered them by offering a blessing. The disciples remarked, ‘These people harassed you and spat at you. How is it that you offer them a blessing in return?’ Jesus replied: 'I can only spend from what I have in my wallet.'” (Attar, The Way of the Sufi, Idries Shah, p 63.)
Three voices from this story suggest an identity for Jesus - as enemy, as naïve, as an instrument of reconciliation. Without a deeply formed sense of himself, Jesus well might have returned spit for spit.
Instead, operating from a prayer-produced level of spiritual economics that trades in the currency of unity, he pays back hatred with the coins of compassion (imagine the content of that Blessing!). Sure, he felt misunderstood, offended, disgusted, afraid. Yet, when confronted with violence, Jesus doesn’t “buy in” – doesn’t let the other compulsively define him or his values, doesn’t plot revenge. He remained steadfast in his commitment to active non-violence, and in so doing created a movement that eventually exposed “Caesar’s” oppressive regime as bankrupt.
To be like Jesus, we could begin by dumping out the contents of our “wallet” and then asking ourselves which coins best afford us the bricks for building bridges, and which coins can we rightly let go?
~ Peter Buttitta
| |
Composting Info
Dear Composting Friends,
First of all, thank you all for your contributions to the compost bin and taking time to give it a few turns. We have been so pleased with the amount of soil that has been produced. The compost is currently pretty wet and we have added some straw, as well as sawdust that a kind parishioner provided. We hope to add some dried leaves, too. We try to check on the compost a couple of times each week, when we are available.
As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, we would like to continue
composting even during the winter months, if it is possible. Sustainability knows
no season and we would like to try to make a positive impact on our environment
year-round.
Composting Tips:
Keep It balanced: If you can add some dry materials like dry leaves, straw, or
shredded newspaper this will help balance the other composting material.
Chop It Up: Smaller food scraps and yard waste decompose faster in the cold.
Freeze and Save: This is something that we do! If you don't have enough
compost materials to justify frequent trips to the compost bin, consider freezing
your kitchen scraps in a designated container. This way, you can save up your
compostables until you have a sufficient amount to bring to the tumbling bin. It's
an efficient way to contribute to composting. We let our container stay out to thaw so that we are not adding a block of ice to the bin.
We appreciate your commitment to composting, which plays a crucial role in
reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a more sustainable future. By
composting year-round, we demonstrate our dedication to the environment!
We so appreciate your participation in composting. If you have any questions
don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Thank you,
Guy and Andrea Banicki ([email protected]) ([email protected])
| | |
|
Help Needed with Baptismal Classes and with our Live-Streaming Team
We are looking for help with our monthly pre-baptismal sessions, held for new parents and guardians planning to have their child/children baptized at our parish. The classes are typically held on a Monday evening and last around 45 minutes.
Every Sunday, our 10:30 am mass in church is live-streamed by volunteers. Team members using a phone provided by St. Gert's, as well as a camera stand. We'll show volunteers how to go live on Facebook and troubleshoot any issues during the service.
Please reach out to Eloy Escamilla at [email protected] with questions or if you can help.
| |
|
Save My Scholarship
State lawmakers are considering ending the tax credit scholarship program referred to as "Invest in Kids." This program has provided nearly 40,000 scholarships to help families send their children to a school of their choice. Many of these scholarship recipients attend Catholic schools.
If the General Assembly in Springfield does not act to extend the program during its upcoming session in late October, the program will end. Many of these children from lower-income families will have to disrupt their education and will not be able to attend the school of their parent’s choice next school year.
Please contact your state senator and state representative and ask them to continue this valuable program.
Visit Illinois Catholic Advocacy Network's website at www.ilcatholic.org to remain engaged on policy issues that affect Catholics in Illinois,
| |
Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, Cantors, Musicians, & Altar Servers for This Weekend | | |
|
Ministers of the Word
- Saturday, October 21 at 5:00 pm - Patrick Reardon, Patrick Reardon
-
Sunday, October 22 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe, David Sullivan
-
Sunday, October 22 at 10:30 am - Sarah Millar, Anthony Myers
| |
|
Eucharistic Ministers
- Saturday, October 21 at 5:00 pm - Mary Cook
-
Sunday, October 22 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac
-
Sunday, October 22 at 10:30 am - Lisa Schneider, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck
| |
|
Cantors and Musicians
-
Saturday, October 21 at 5:00 pm - Bernie O'Connor
-
Sunday, October 22 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
-
Sunday, October 22 at 10:30 am - Rob Schroeder
| |
|
Altar Servers
-
Sunday, October 22 at 10:30 am - Xavier Lassus, cross bearer; Mary Cashman, Acolyte
| |
Financial Report from October 14 and October 15
Sunday Collection Envelopes: $2,032.00
Loose Checks: $195.00
Loose Cash/Coins: $909.68
Online Donations: $10,113.55
Total Collected: $13,250.23
Budgeted: $10,000.00
Difference: $3,250.23
Year-to-date Collected FY 2024: $153,833.77
Year-to-date Budgeted FY 2024: $386,400.00
Difference: -$232,566.23
| | |
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.
| |
|
Upcoming Mass Intentions
-
Monday, October 23: 7:30 am - John McCall+
-
Tuesday, October 24: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
-
Wednesday, October 25: 7:30 am - Hilda Young Moore+ (on what would have been her 105th birthday); Joseph Terry Shields+; Nancy Donnelly+
-
Thursday, October 26: 7:30 am - Communion service
-
Friday, October 27: 7:30 am - Deepa, Maya, Sandran Francis Sister for pass the USMLE step 2 exam
-
Saturday, October 28: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society; 5:00 pm - Greg Wall+
-
Sunday, October 29: 8:00 am - People of God; 10:30 am in church - Roy Lipscomb+ and Mary Grover+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Billy Tobin +
| |
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
- Rochelle Hernandez
- Erica Maria Kast
- Bernice Kiedysz
| |  |
- Marilyn Klein
- Ignacio Lopez
- Kathleen Marrin
- Janet McCulley
- Jack McDermott
- Nancy Michael
- Andy Mueller
- Karey Myers
- Donald Nyderek
- Denise Plunkett
- Claude Poulsen
- Richard Seitz
- Willy Spalla
- Elinora E. Tolentino
- Manuel & Norma Viray
- Leon Ward
- Janice Wittenberg
- Yyes Yoza
- Joel Pozzi Zio
| |
If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or email [email protected]. Names will remain on the list for three weeks. After that time, please renew the name using same contact information. | | | | |
