Here are some points to remind us all of the importance of participating in the census: 

• Everyone counts. The census counts every living person in the U.S. once, only once, and in the right place. 
• The U.S. Constitution requires a census every ten  years. The census covers the entire country and everyone living here. The first census was in 1790. 
• It’s about fair representation. Every ten years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets. 
• Your data is confidential. Federal law protects your census responses. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics. By law, information from any individual cannot be shared with immigration enforcement agencies, nor can it be used to determine eligibility for government benefits.
• It’s about redistricting. After the census, state officials use the results to redraw the boundaries of their congressional districts, adapting to population shifts. 
• It means $675 billion. Census responses determine congressional representation in the states and inform how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed to states and local communities every year for critical public services and infrastructure, including health clinics, schools, roads and emergency services.

We are so grateful for the hard work of so many parishioners who made Advent at St. Gert’s so beautiful and festive. The children and families that participated in our wonderful Family Mass on Christmas Eve were so charming and sweet and truly made our Family Mass very special! We also appreciate the many talented musicians and singers that played and sang at all the Masses this month. 

Our environment team made the Church look absolutely beautiful. We also are thankful for Tommy Martin and Andy Mueller, who worked so hard this Advent season. 

So many parishioners participated in our Giving Tree program, organized to make Christmas special for families in need! The items requested went to 

Care for Real, Heartland Alliance, Courage, Catholic Charities Toy Shower, the Refugee Ministry at St. Gertrude, and other refugee families in our 

community.  

Thank you for your tremendous response to our call for help. Your gifts of time and talent were very much appreciated.

There are always so many people to thank for the success of an event like the Christmas Bazaar. Thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard to get things going by decorating, sorting, pricing, and setting up. Thank you for standing outside so we could pick up our greenery. Thank you for working at one of the white elephant tables over the weekend.Thank you to those who baked, cooked, or served us. Thank you to the vendors, old and new, for offering us such wonderful things to choose from. Thank you to the musicians who entertained us during the pancake breakfast. Thank you to Santa for stopping by. Thank you to those who came at the end, to help us clean up when we were all so tired. Thank you to Laurie Savas and Vicky Santoso who joined in coordinating this year. Thank you to Victoria Healy who co-chaired again this year.  And thank you for having a browse, hope you found a treasure or two.

Mark your calendars for next year – Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, 2020.                 

                                    ~ Kevin Chears 

During the month of October, our parish partnered with the Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach and collected diapers and pull-ups, new children’s pajamas and socks, and full-sized toiletries needed by victims of domestic violence and their children living in local shelters. 

The staff of A Safe Haven, one of the eight shelters that benefitted from the collection drive, recently wrote to us and the other parishes that participated, 

thanking parishioners for their generosity:

“WOW!!  On behalf of The Safe Haven Network and our donation recipients, I cannot thank you enough for your unprecedented response to our annual 

Supply Drive!  You helped us collect more donations than we have ever collected, and those donations will directly support domestic violence shelters and 

animal shelters in and around Chicago that serve YOUR friends, family, and neighbors. You are amazing!!”

On Sunday, September 22, United Power for Action and Justice met with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to discuss our shared goals of mental health and addiction services, gun safety, and housing development on the city's South and West Sides.

Thank you to the 24 parishioners from St. Gertrude that joined the nearly 100 religious and civic groups gathered at DRW College Prep in Homan Square! The hope is that Mayor Lightfoot acts on the concerns expressed and works to work with residents address them.