St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, January 14, 2024

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

I hope this new year is off to a great start for you all, and since we have officially concluded the Christmas season, your lives are renewed with a greater since of light, hope, and joy because Christ has been born for you and in you.

I want to say thank you again to all who worked so hard to help us celebrate these days so well. So many gave so much to enable us to reach out to those less fortunate. And so many others shared their precious gift of time, talent, and treasure all year to empower us to continue the mission of Christ and to spread the Good News that He lives among us.

Thank you to all who were so generous to me personally, to our staff, and our parish with many acts of love and support. 

We appreciate you for all you do for us. This has been a wonderful Christmas. Praise God! The days are getting longer. Christ has brought us light and new life.

NCA News

As many of you may already have heard, before Christmas, the NCA community announced that they will be consolidating their two campuses to one. St Gertrude’s campus was chosen as the site to remain open. They are doing this to use their resources more wisely to have a stronger program.

This news of consolidating has sparked both positive and negative responses from our parish, school families, and parishioners. I must state this, their planning did not include me or any representative of St. Gertrude. 

We will work with NCA for a smooth transition, and in no way will this consolidation affect our Strategic Parish Plans, Direction, or Finances.

A letter from NCA principal Teresa Black and a link to a survey about the consolidation is available further down in the bulletin.

Night of Romance

This is the weekend to register for this event! The evening is a wonderful opportunity for you and your partner to reconnect and socialize with other couples.

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 Gym Mass Next Sunday, January 21

Next weekend, there will be combined 10:30 am Mass in church.

There is no Gym Mass.

Parent Meeting for First Communion Students/Confirmation Candidates Planned for Monday, January 22

On Monday, January 22, there is a mandatory meeting of both parents of students making their First Communion in 2024 and those making their Confirmation this year too.

Please meet in the church at 6:00 pm.

Contact Pastoral Associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org with questions.

Care for Real Food & Supply Drive is January 27-28

Our next donation drive will be before/after the masses in two weeks, on Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28.

Care for Real has a big need for baby care and personal care supplies. Below are the most needed items for each category. 

Baby care:

• Size 3, 4, 5, and 6 diapers
• Baby wipes
• Pull ups (all sizes)

Personal care:

• Menstrual pads
• Body wipes
• Bar soap
• Body wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrushes/toothpaste

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. 

Reconciliation for First Communion Candidates - Monday, January 29

Please keep the young students of our parish in their prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation on Monday, January 29 at 6:30 pm in church.

Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have questions.

You're Invited to An Evening of Romance

Save the date! St. Gertrude's Marriage Ministry is planning a special evening for couples on Saturday, February 10. The night will celebrate, renew, and strengthen your sacred commitment to your life partner. 

All couples are welcome, but space is limited!

The night will start off with Mass, followed by cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dancing. Dim lighting, romantic decorations, and great food will set the mood for an evening for you and your partner to reconnect and socialize with other couples in the Social Hall.

The cost is $125 per couple and includes dinner, beer, and wine. Tickets are available at the rectory. Gift certificates are available!

For more information, contact mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org or spatterson@stgertrudechicago.org. 

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.

Parishioner Survey: NCA Consolidation Questions

Dear Parishioners of Holy Child Jesus; Mary, Mother of God; St. Gertrude; and St. Jerome:

As you may know, the leadership of Northside Catholic Academy has decided to consolidate our school from two campuses to one. Beginning next school year, Northside Catholic Academy will be located on our Edgewater campus at St. Gertrude. We will, however, remain a regional school -- the Catholic school for our four parishes. You may read the consolidation notice on our website. 

We know that some of you have questions about the consolidation and what the future looks like for NCA. We are still working out many details; however, we want to hear your questions and provide answers to you as we are able. How we will communicate answers is yet to be decided and may vary parish by parish. 

Thank you for your interest in Northside Catholic Academy. Catholic education is critical to the mission of the Church, and your concern is appreciated by all of us at NCA.

Yours in Christ,

Terese Black

Principal, Northside Catholic Academy

Growing in Faith: An Excerpt from Pope Francis' 2013 Homily about Today's Readings

“The Gospel account (cf. Jn 1:35-42) showed us John the Baptist who points out Jesus as the Lamb of God to his disciples. First, there is the moment of listening. The two disciples listened to the witness of the Baptist. You too, have listened to those who have spoken to you about Jesus. 

The second moment is the encounter. The two disciples encounter the Teacher and stay with him. After having encountered him, immediately they notice something new in their hearts: the need to transmit their joy to others, that they too may meet him. Andrew, in fact, meets his brother Simon and leads him to Jesus. It reminds us that God did not create us to be alone, closed in on ourselves, but in order to be able to encounter him and to open ourselves to encounter others. 

The last part of the narrative is walking. The two disciples walk toward Jesus and then walk a stretch of the road together with him… Faith is a walk with Jesus. Remember this always: faith is walking with Jesus; and it is a walk that lasts a lifetime.

Certainly, at some moments on the journey we feel tired and confused. But the faith gives us the certainty of Jesus’ constant presence in every situation, even the most painful or difficult to understand. We are called to walk in order to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of the love of God, which reigns over us and permits us to live in serenity and hope.”  

Rest in Peace

• Raymond Sousa, service is Saturday, January 20 at 11:00 am at St. Gertrude

New Parishioners

• Gerry & Gunars Kulans
•  Kirstie Salvatierra & Royce Tolledo
•  Wildaline Serin & Manuel Ballester Matito

Recent Baptisms

• Ettie Cecilia Luth

Ministers of the Word

• Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 pm - Patrick Reardon, Susan McKean
• Sunday, January 14 at 8:00 am - Kathryn Stimac, Jay Cook
• Sunday, January 14 at 10:30 am - Rafael Melendez, Rose Karasti

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, January 14 at 8:00 am - Hallie Burhoe
• Sunday, January 14 at 10:30 am - Bob Backis, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck

Cantors

• Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 pm - Kathryn Flynn
• Sunday, January 14 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
• Sunday, January 14 at 10:30 am - Kristina Vragovic

Altar Servers

• Sunday, January 14 at 10:30 am - Xavier Lassus, cross bearer; Mary Kate Cashman and Mathios Paulos, acolytes

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Sunday, January 14: 8:00 am - Raymond Collins+; 10:30 am in church - Raymond Sousa+; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Quinn Bringas+, Paul Rapp+
• Monday, January 15: 7:30 am - Living and deceased parents of St. Gertrude parishioners
• Tuesday, January 16: 7:30 am - Pete Ballard+
• Wednesday, January 17: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Thursday, January 18: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, January 19: 7:30 am - Pete Ballard+
• Saturday, January 20: 7:30 am - Raymond Sousa+; 5:00 pm - Michael Signa+

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.