St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, May 5, 2024

Sixth Sunday of Easter

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

The Feast of Pentecost is soon approaching, it is May 19th. Pentecost is the day the church was born. We have been planning for some months to make this a special day for our parish. With a combined mass at 10:30 am, we will then have a gathering after mass outside with everyone.

The Misericordia food truck will be parked in front of the church giving sweets, coffee, and juice. Plan on staying and celebrating with each other.

This weekend, Fr Pius Nwiyi will graduate from Loyola University. Good going, Pius! Also Fr. Pius has gotten his new assignment at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois.

Also moving is Richard Joubert, S.J. Richard has finished his philosophy studies at Loyola University and returning to his home province (Central and Southern Province) to begin the next stage of his Jesuit formation, regency. He has been missioned to the Jesuit Community of Dallas, where he will be teaching at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. Richard has been serving as an acolyte at the 8:00 am mass for the past two years and was the emcee here for the holidays. We wish him the best of luck!

First Communion is Next Weekend!

Next Saturday is First Communion for St. Gertrude's Religious Ed and NCA students. Please keep them in your prayers.

On Sunday, all the First Communicants are encouraged to come to the 10:30 am mass in church to celebrate with the whole community, as well as part take in the Parish May Crowning.

Parish Meeting This Sunday

There will be a parish meeting following the 10:30 am mass in the church, all are invited. The meeting is to discuss the transfer of Fr. Paul Adaja and the termination of Kathryn Flynn.

Letter from Cardinal Cupich: Catholic Charities Mothers Day Collection is Next Week

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

May is a month to remember and celebrate the mothers and mother figures in our lives. These women on whom all generations depend-are essential to the fullness of God's plan for human life.

May is also the month when we celebrate the important work of our Catholic Charities. Helping mothers in need is core to our Catholic faith and a cornerstone mission for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Whether they be single mothers, mothers of children with special needs, foster mothers, or mothers who are migrants, we help them and their children.

Your generous donation to the Mother's Day Collection for Catholic Charities enables this urgent work. Catholic Charities was founded more than a century ago by the Archdiocese to help those in need in Cook and Lake counties. As the largest provider of human services in our region, Catholic Charities serves nearly 400,000 people annually. This tremendous reach of services is only possible through your generous support.

Each year I call on our parishes to support Catholic Charities, and so I encourage you to be generous by contributing, either:

• In-person during the second collection on Mother's Day weekend, May 11-12
• Online at catholiccharities.net/donate
• By mail to Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 8275, Carol Stream, IL 60197-8275.

Thank you for your on-going support and partnership. May Mary, our Mother whom we honor in May, continue to inspire us to take up the mission of her Son with joyful enthusiasm.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

Friday, May 3

• 7:00 pm - Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) in the Ministry Center

Saturday, May 4

• RSVP deadline for teens interested in participating in the Youth Group car wash
• Before/after the 5:00 pm - donations for Care for Real to help asylum seekers accepted in the back of church

Sunday, May 5

• Before/after the 8:00 an 10:30 am masses - donations for Care for Real to help asylum seekers accepted in the back of church
• Parish Meeting after the 10:30 am mass in church (please note the new location)

Thursday, May 9

• 11:30 am - Women's Friendship Club in the Ministry Center

Friday, May 10

• 6:30 pm - Communion Mass practice in church
• 7:00 pm - Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) in the Ministry Center

Saturday, May 11

• 10:00 am - First Communion Mass
• Catholic Charities – Mother’s Day second collection

Sunday, May 12

• Catholic Charities – Mother’s Day second collection
• 10:30 am - May Crowning during mass in church

Monday, May 13

• 7:00 pm - Book Club in the Ministry Center

Friday, May 17

• 7:00 pm - Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) in the Ministry Center

Saturday, May 18

• 10:00 am-1:00 pm - Youth group car wash

Sunday, May 19

• Pentecost
• Combined 10:30 am mass in church (no Gym mass)

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.

Our Monthly Asylum Seeker's Food and Supply Drive is May 4-5

On Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, we will host a food and supply drive for asylum seekers. Items needed for migrants include: 

• Protein bars
• Ramen or other instant noodles 
• Snack size chips and crackers
• Juice boxes
• Fruit cups
• Menstrual pads *most urgent
• New underwear (all genders and sizes)
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Body wipes
• Bar soap

Thank you for helping our neighbors in need!

Women's Friendship Club Gathering is Thursday, May 9

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!

First Communion is Next Weekend!

First Communion celebration is approaching! On Friday, May 10, there will be a First Communion practice at 6:30 pm. Please be on time.

Our parish's First Communion Mass is Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 am. No photos are allowed before and/or during mass, but rather after the service.

On Sunday, May 12, there is a May Crowning celebrated at the 10:30 am mass in church. All communicants should participate in the Crowning of Blessed Mary in their First Communion finery.

First Communion Attire

The attire for First Communion is simple, age appropriate, and should not distract from the focus of receiving the Sacrament. For boys, we ask they wear any color suit or slacks and a dress shirt. Girls usually wear white dresses, but it any color can be worn. Veils are optional, but should not block the face. Gloves can be worn, but not while receiving Holy 

Communion. While sitting in the pew (and especially when going up for Communion) 

children should not hold bibles, rosaries, etc.

Book Club is Monday, May 13

Please join the book club in the Ministry Center on Monday, May 13 at 7:00 pm. We will discuss The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, and we would love new voices and opinions.

On Monday, June 10, our group will talk about Deacon King Kong by James McBride.

There are many copies of both books available at the Chicago Public Library.

Contact Lea Cloninger at 773.973.2465 or Sue Benjamin at 773.551.8401 with questions.

Upcoming Youth Group Activities: A Car Wash and a Hot Dog Sale

The parish youth group has two upcoming events: a car wash and a hot dog sale. All proceeds will go towards youth group activities.

The car wash is planned for Saturday, May 18. Teens will be available to wash cars from 10:00 am-1:00 pm in the parish parking lot. The cost is $15 per vehicle.

The Edgewater Yard and Sidewalk Sale is Saturday, June 1 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Our parish youth group will sell pop and hot dogs to attendees in the parish parking lot from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

If your teen in grades six and up is interested in joining our youth group, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

It's Time to Register for our Summer Teen Youth Mission Experience

Our youth mission experience is taking shape! Planned for the week of July 22-26, teens in sixth grade through high school are invited to volunteer with a different Chicagoland organization each day. 

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.

Thank You for Your Generosity!

Thank you to the many parishioners who plan to drop off donations for Care for Real this weekend for asylum seekers and who did bring items last weekend for our other neighbors in need!  

Care for Real has faced surge after surge in need for food assistance since the pandemic. This year, they've had an 82% increase in households served in Edgewater compared to 2023. In Roger Park, they've seen a 32% increase in food pantry visits this year.  

We are so grateful for your help supporting them as they work to provide food and much-needed supplies to our neighbors who are struggling.

Heart to Heart Lending Closet News

The Lending Closet is in the midst of SPRING SHARING! Volunteers are needed to help pack and label boxes of medical supplies that we are sharing with Project C.U.R.E. (which ships supplies to clinics in need worldwide).

PLEASE e-mail or call the Lending Closet manager Laurie Hasbrook at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org or 773-973-5464 ext. 115 if you can volunteer for hour or two.

Growing in Faith

Religion, at times, can seem somber and contentious. But the message of Jesus is all about joy and love.



In this weekend’s gospel, Jesus calls his disciples “friends” and tells them to keep his commandments. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might

be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

It’s as simple and astonishing as that. As John writes in the second reading, “God is love.” The richness of our relationship with God depends on how much we love one

another — i.e., love every person, regardless of differences.

It’s about happiness. Our joy will be complete if we love one another. This doesn’t mean that we will avoid pain and sorrow which are part of the warp and woof of life. It means that the central theme of our lives, if we love one another, will be joy.

And it’s about Jesus as a friend. There are many ways to think of Jesus, but there isn’t a lot of talk about him as our friend. Yet, that’s what he says in the gospel — and he says that he chose us as friends. He is there to be a friend to every human being.

Friendship is a two-way street. Once we are chosen by Jesus, it is up to us to choose him. It is up to us to decide to embrace him as a friend and to embrace his call to love one another. It is up to us to love.

~ Patrick T. Reardon

Easter Flower Offering Envelopes

We are offering an opportunity to celebrate someone in your life, living or deceased, during the Easter season. Please consider making an Easter Flower offering in their name.

Envelopes are available in the back of the Church and may be placed in the collection basket or sent to Rectory. The names of those honored will be published in the bulletin during the Easter season.

Flower Offering Remembrances

In Memory of/Individual who Honored Them

• Caskie Family
• Peter Steenveld by Joanne Steenveld
• John and Elizabeth by Pat O’Neal
• Groleau Karasti by Rose Karasti
• Slane and Quinn families by Millie Slane
• Mary Ellen Mellon & JoAnne Joyce by Bernard Joyce
• The deceased of the Strubbe-Galoney family by Marie Galoney
• Gonzalo, Sabrina, and Celi Frias by Maria Frias
• Larry McCauley by Marilyn Klein

St. Francis Catholic Worker House of Hospitality



St. Francis House is a home offering hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement, located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4652 N. Kenmore.

All are welcome to come by for dinner any Monday at 6:00 pm! Curious about this tradition? Read about in the Chicago Catholic at https://rb.gy/10e7pw. 

NCA Summer Camp 



Wildcat Camp strives to provide a safe, engaging experience with a variety of recreational, educational, athletic, and fine arts programs at an affordable price!

Join us for:

• Arts & Crafts
• Snacks
• Sports
• Field Trips
• and MUCH MORE!

Register at https://bit.ly/49CGPmH.

Rest in Peace

• Jean Sweeney

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, May 4 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, May 5 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Sunday, May 5 at 10:30 am - Maria Ugarte, Bob Backis, Carlos Barragan

Upcoming Mass Intentions



• Monday, May 6: 7:30 am - Alicia Alamo+, Fernando Galang, Jr.+
• Tuesday, May 7: 7:30 am - Ethna Nolan+
• Wednesday, May 8: 7:30 am - Patricia Kelly+
• Thursday, May 9: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, May 10: 7:30 am - Laura Linke+
• Saturday, May 11: 7:30 am - People of God; 10:00 am - First Communion students; 5:00 pm - St. Gertrude Class of 1950
• Sunday, May 12: 8:00 am - Rasael Cadabid; 10:30 am - Bernice Kiedysz+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Patricia Messbarger

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.