St. Gertrude Chicago

All are Welcome

1420 W. Granville,

Chicago, IL 60660

773.764.3621

stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org

www.stgertrudechicago.org

Bulletin for Sunday, December 22 and December 29, 2024

The Fourth Sunday of Advent, Christmas, and the Feast of the Holy Family

From Fr. Mike Gabriel

I pray for peace for all of you during these last few days before Christmas, which can often be hectic, stressful, or a difficult time of year. As we gather this weekend to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent, perhaps painfully aware that Christmas is only three short days away, we are invited to listen closely to today’s Scriptures, where we are encouraged to “leap for joy” and recognize God’s presence.

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to rejoice these days. I honestly can’t remember the last time I turned on the news without feeling heavy-hearted for those who are hurting or afraid. I empathize with those among you who have confided your own stories of struggle and loss. Sometimes, I feel like we are in the midst of a world gone mad. And yet, despite what can seem like absolute chaos, particularly amid the noise of the season, we are invited to leap for joy!

Even for those facing uncertainty, grief, or loneliness, we are called to rejoice—not in holiday festivities, presents, decorations, or the things we so easily get caught up in this time of year, but in the true meaning and great gift of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us!

Perhaps today, we could all pause, be still, and take a reminder from Charles Schultz’s Peanuts gang in the beloved favorite A Charlie Brown Christmas. You know the scene: Charlie Brown, after trying everything to make Christmas right, throws his hands in the air in total exasperation and shouts, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” (Have you ever been there? I know I have!)

Luckily for Charlie Brown—and for all of us—good old Linus steps in to save the day. Pulling his thumb from his mouth and holding his iconic blue blanket, he replies, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” Without another word, he strolls to center stage, and as the spotlight shines upon him, he begins to recount that familiar passage from the Gospel of Luke:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)

My friends, we too have been gifted the same tidings of great joy that the angel announced to the shepherds, and we are invited to rejoice because of it—not with an artificial joy that tells us to put on a happy face and make merry despite our struggles, nor with a naive joy that ignores the real suffering in our world. Rather, we are called to rejoice because God is with us.

God is with us through our failings and successes, our happiness and sorrow, our brokenness and wholeness. Whether we are barely existing or thriving, God is with us. In every time, in every place, and through every season of our lives, God is with us!

So, we are invited to rejoice this holy time of year and all throughout the year, whatever our circumstances may be. We have a God who embraced our humanity—in all its beauty, ugliness, messiness, and wonder—so that we might have life forever with our good and loving God and with one another.

And that, my friends, is not only something to leap about; it’s something to share! Shout for joy! Sing joyfully! Cry out with gladness: For among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

I know many of you will be traveling next week and may not join us for our Christmas celebration. On behalf of the parish staff, I wish you a blessed and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year.

St. Gertrude's Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve

Tuesday, December 24

• Rectory office closed
• 5:00 pm Family Mass
• 8:00 pm Caroling - live-streamed
• 8:30 pm Mass - live-streamed

Christmas Day

Wednesday, December 25

• Rectory office closed
• 8:00 am Mass
• 10:30 am Mass - live-streamed
• No Gym mass

Thursday, December 26

• 7:30 am Mass

New Year's Eve

Tuesday, December 31

• 7:30 am Mass
• 5:00 pm - Mass

New Year's Day - Mary, Mother of God

Wednesday, January 1

• Rectory office closed
• 10:30 am Mass

How to Watch our Live-Streamed Masses

Looking to watch our services online? Masses are live-streamed on our parish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stgertrudechicago/live/, then posted on our parish's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@saintgertrude1117/videos. You do not need a Facebook account to watch Mass on Facebook Live.

Christmas Eve Pageant Practice Planned for Saturday, December 21

As is our tradition during the Gospel at the Christmas Eve 5:00 pm Family Mass, the kids from St. Gertrude parish will act out the Christmas story.

We are looking for children ages 5 and older to participate in this charming production, and adults to help organize or be part of the event. 

Contact me at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you and/or your children are interested in being a part of this special Mass. Thank you!

~ Eloy Escamilla

"Longest Night" Homeless Persons' Remembrance on Saturday, December 21 - 4:00 pm Prayer Vigil and 5:00 pm Mass

The National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day takes place each year on the longest night of the year. At this time, we remember the brothers and sisters we have lost in the past

year due to homelessness — the person at the intersection we used to see all the time, the person who lived in the tent in the park that is now empty, the person in the sleeping bag we drove past on Lower Wacker Drive who isn’t there anymore — and we recommit to not letting this be the start of another year of growing homelessness.

Because December 21st falls on a Saturday this year, our remembrance will be included in the 5:00 mass, preceded by a prayer vigil at 4:00 pm. All are welcome. We invite you to join us in remembering those who are so often forgotten, except by their Creator.

Care for Real Collection is December 21 and December 22

Our monthly Care for Real drive is December 21 and 22. Please place nonperishable items in the bins at the back of church before and after mass times.

This month, Care for Real is urgently seeking donations of diapers in sizes 2-6, baby wipes, juice boxes, thermal layers (all sizes) gently used coats (all sizes), hand warmers, lotions and hand soap, shampoo and body wash, adult incontinence under bed pads.

Our collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month, and our asylum seekers’ collection is the first weekend of each month. 

Final Weekend to Buy Trees, Garland, and Wreaths

This is the last weekend to buy trees, wreaths and garland from our Christmas greenery sale!

Each 6’ Christmas tree is $55. Three different sized wreaths are available—the 18” wreath is $25, the 24” is $27, and the 36” is $35. Garland is also available for $40 per 5’ length. 

Greenery will be sold at the playlot on the west side of the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville Avenue on Sunday, December 22 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Only cash and checks will be accepted.

Heart to Heart Christmas Schedule

The Heart to Heart and Lending Closet offices will be closed for Christmas on Tuesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 31.

Laurie and Sr. Susan are so grateful for the volunteers, donors, and all the friends and members of our community. You have shown us what Incarnation -- Jesus being born among us -- is all about. We wish everyone much joy during this season of light and love.

Upcoming Youth Group Outing: Loyola Ramblers Men's Basketball Game Planned for Saturday, January 4

The youth group has a new activity for Saturday, January 4, replacing plans originally made for January 11. The teens will attend a Loyola Rambler's basketball game, as the men's team takes on VCU at Gentile Arena at 1:00 pm. There are a limited number of tickets!

Any teen in 7th grade and up is welcome to attend. Please email Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org to reserve a ticket or with questions.

PreCana Class Offered at St. Gertrude Parish on Saturday, January 11

PreCana 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, January 11 is dedicated to considering your life together as a married couple. Led by a facilitator couple from St. Gertrude, each 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 either session by calling the Rectory office at 773.764.3621or by filling out an online PreCana registration form at https://stgertrudechicago.org/marriage. If a sufficient number of couples do not sign up, the session will be canceled, and they will be provided with information about how to sign up for session elsewhere.

The cost of PreCana is covered by the church fee couples planning a wedding at St. Gertrude are charged. 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Staff/Christmas Blessing

Thank you for choosing to be a part of St. Gertrude parish and helping to making 2024 such a wonderful year!

Great churches don’t just happen; they are created and nurtured by active, generous parishioners. We are so grateful for each and every person in our community of faith. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones and may 2025 be filled with blessings and joy! 

~ Father Mike and the staff of St. Gertrude parish

A Christmas Blessing

God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;

the warmth of Christmas, which is purity;

the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;

the belief in Christmas, which is truth;

the all of Christmas, which is Christ.

~ Wilda English

Cardinal Cupich's Christmas Letter

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

In this holy season of Christmas, words from the Book of Wisdom echo in our hearts: For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy almighty Word leapt down from Heaven from Thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction. (Wisdom 18:15).

We have many reasons to think of our world as “the land of destruction.” Today, so many people across the globe suffer the ravages of war and violence, the burden of illness, crushing poverty and displacement, and natural disasters that are often weather related.

Our faith affirms that the Eternal Word of the Father took our flesh, shared our human condition in all its troubled dimensions, and then as “a fierce conqueror” lifted us up into new life. This mystery at the center of our faith gives us renewed hope and encouragement as we make our pilgrim way in this wounded world. Indeed, across the coming Holy Year, we celebrate the hope that only the Lord in his goodness can give us. It is hope, Saint Paul tells us, that will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

As you gather with family and friends in this holy season, I will pray for you and for a renewal of your hope. May the upcoming Holy Year with its theme Pilgrims of hope be an opportunity for all of us to learn how to be signs and instruments of hope for our struggling and burdened world.

As I celebrate the Eucharist in this holy season, I will ask the Lord to help you and your loved ones to cling to his word of promise that is the true source of our hope.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

A Message from the Parish Pastoral Council

The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) would like to thank everyone that provided their feedback for our next pastor.

The PPC, along with the finance board, met with the Pastoral Placement Board and shared our Strategic Plan along with the following summary:

About St. Gertrude Parish

St. Gertrude is a parish with a rich history and over a century of service to the Edgewater community. Like many faith communities, we have faced challenges over the years, but through resilience and unity, we have persevered.

As a family of faith and progressive activism, we continually seek innovative ways to address the evolving needs of our dynamic and diverse community. True to our hallmark, “All Are Welcome,” we strive to embody inclusivity in all we do – following the model of Jesus himself.

Preparing for a New Chapter

We are both excited and hopeful as we prepare to welcome a new pastor to lead our parish. To ensure the transition is guided by the voices of our community, our Parish Pastoral Council conducted in-person listening sessions and gathered input through paper and electronic surveys. The feedback we received highlighted several key themes that, after discussion with representatives of the parish staff and Finance Committee, we collectively feel are crucial for prospective candidates to understand:

1. A Spirit of Inclusivity: Our parish firmly believes that “All Are Welcome.” This is more than a motto or catch-phrase to us; it is a core value that has attracted many diverse families (LGBTQ+, international, mixed faith families, etc.) to join our parish community, and it is what unites us above all else. We therefore seek a leader who will share in and model our commitment to inclusivity, and who can further nurture this value within our community.
2. Collaborative Leadership: Ours is a parish with a strong legacy of active and passionate parishioners who minister both within our own community and in the broader Edgewater neighborhood. We also face perennial financial challenges and can at times operate in silos. We need a leader who is a master collaborator, who will value our legacy even while exploring new opportunities, and who will help orchestrate a future where the many gifts of our community can be better coordinated for maximum impact.
3. Unique Partnership with Northside Catholic Academy (NCA): With a recent consolidation that has NCA now operating exclusively on our campus, there is tremendous potential to strengthen the relationship between the parish and school. We hope to find someone who values having a Catholic school on parish grounds and sees this partnership as an opportunity for mutual growth and enrichment.
4. Vision and Innovation in Ministry: Ours is a faithful community that hungers for more meaningful opportunities to enliven and animate our connection with the Holy. We therefore desire a pastor who is visionary, creative, and ready to continue our tradition of good liturgy and preaching, supporting current worship services such as our ‘Gym Mass’ foster spiritual growth, and who embodies and embraces an expansive theology.

Looking Ahead

St. Gertrude Parish is a community brimming with opportunity. Our parishioners are passionate, enthusiastic, talented, and generous. We are ready to welcome and support a leader who can guide us to realize our full potential, to enable us to sustain our mission of faith and service long into the future.

Prayer for a New Pastor

God of new beginnings, be with us, the people of St. Gertrude, as we await the appointment of our next Pastor. Enable us, in this time of waiting, to be a people of hope, trusting in the presence and power of the Spirit.

We thank you for the pastoral leadership of all who have been pastors of our faith community, for those who have ministered as members of pastoral staffs over the years, and for the gifts of the Spirit shared in countless ways by those whose lives have graced this sacred space. 

May the community of St. Gertrude continue to be a beacon of welcome, of hope, of reconciliation, of peace and justice for all who seek you.

Bless those priests who may be considering applying to be the next pastor of our faith 

community and of all who will be a part of the discernment and selection process. Bless the works of our hands. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!

Thank You for Supporting our Greenery Sale!

Thanks so much to those parishioners and neighbors that purchased trees, wreaths, and garland this holiday season. All proceeds went to support St. Gertrude's ministries.

Special thanks to Robert Clark and our other amazing volunteers who generously gave of their time. I am so thankful for their hard work!

~ Eduardo Soto, Business Manager

Year-End Giving

As you consider your year-end charitable donations, please think about making an additional contribution to St. Gertrude. Your generosity has helped support us during these past trying years. We hope that you will continue to support us now and into the coming year as we carry out our service and our ministries to our parish and our community.

Information about making a donation can be found at https://stgertrudechicago.org/donate-to-st-gertrude.

Thank you so much for all you have done and are doing!

Catechist Needed

Our Confirmation catechist recently needed to step down to address health issues. We are now in urgent need of a new Confirmation teacher.

If you can help, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

Growing in Faith for December 22

In the aftermath of the Annunciation, Mary is so wise in seeking the friendship and support of St. Elizabeth, who is also pregnant with a prophet—in her case, the irrepressible St. John the Baptist.

St. Elizabeth also received startling news of her pregnancy by way of the Angel Gabriel. Elizabeth is older than Mary—Mary is a pregnant teenager, while Elizabeth is past childbearing age. Surely, it is her life experience that gives her the humility to say, “Why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to see me?” and the compassion to embrace and console her. They both have a lot of suffering coming their way as mothers.

What a relief this visit with Elizabeth must have been for Mary! No fear of gossip or cynicism about her pregnancy here. Together, Mary and Elizabeth can exchange notes about the spiritual meaning of their pregnancies as well as the very physical experience of pregnancy, as illustrated by Elizabeth’s statement that St. John the Baptist leaped for joy in her womb when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting.

In my own life, I have received a lot of support and wisdom from other mothers, especially other foster-adoptive mothers. I have benefitted from the prayers and insights of older women, who could see when I was having a hard day at a glance and console me with a hug.

May we all be as wise as Mary and as kind as Elizabeth in times of growth

~ Ruth Giles Ott

Rest in Peace

• Paul William Kelly, father of Paul Kelly
• Enoch Rivers, husband of Rosemary Castronova-Rivers

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 pm - Tim Harrington
• Sunday, December 22 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Sunday, December 22 at 10:30 am - Carlos Barragan, Annie Hasselbeck, Stephen Hasselbeck
• Tuesday, December 24 at 5:00 pm - Millie Slane, Sarah Millar, Tim Harrington
• Tuesday, December 24 at 8:30 pm - Michael Kowalsky, Bob Backis
• Wednesday, December 25 at 8:00 am - Barb Daly
• Wednesday, December 25 at 10:30 am - Kathy Wall
• Saturday, December 28 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, December 29 at 8:00 am - Josephine Delgado
• Sunday, December 29 at 10:30 am - Troy McMillan, Michael Kowalsky, Patrick Robinson
• Tuesday, December 31 at 5:00 pm - Lisa Schneider
• Wednesday, January 1 at 10:30 am - TBA

Upcoming Mass Intentions

• Monday, December 23: 7:30 am - Glenn & Mary Jo Martin+ 
• Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24: 7:30 am - Gusmanos family (living), 5:00 pm - Parishioners of St. Gertrude; 8:30 pm - Parishioners of St. Gertrude
• Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25: 8:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude; 10:30 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude
• Thursday, December 26: 7:30 am - Purgatorial Society
• Friday, December 27: 7:30 am - Valerie Patterson+
• Saturday, December 28: 7:30 am - Evanzuela Manuel; 5:00 pm - Emmett McKee+ and Jenny and Austin Wyman+
• Sunday, December 29: 8:00 am - Paul William Kelly+; 10:30 am - Betty Taylor+
• Monday, December 30: 7:30 am - Grace V. Cabrera+ 
• New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31: 7:30 am - People of God; 5:00 pm - People of God
• New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1: 10:00 am - Parishioners of St. Gertrude
• Thursday, January 2: 7:30 am - Communion Service
• Friday, January 3: 7:30 am - Enoch Rivers+
• Saturday, January 4: 7:30 am - Marie Roti+; 5:00 pm - Michael Cannon+
• Sunday, January 5: 8:00 am - Pat & David McWright; 10:30 am - Maggie McSweeney+; 10:30 am Gym - Marie Schonberger+

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.