Welcome to St. Gertrude Parish

Our annual fundraiser features handmade, fair-trade arts and crafts, plus a fabulous used book sale, Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland, White Elephant tables, complimentary gift wrapping, and great food. The Bazaar is held in our Gym, located at 1401 W. Granville Avenue. Get Directions

Family Fun: There’s plenty to do for families, including pictures with Santa, kids' crafts, and a children’s White Elephant section. On Saturday, we will also have wreath-making for families and games for kids.

Pancake Breakfast on Sunday: Be sure to stop by our pancake & sausage breakfast on Sunday from 8:30 am-1:00 pm! Musical talent from the parish will be on hand to make the morning even more festive.

Pre-Order Your Christmas Tree! Need a tree, wreath, or garland to celebrate Christmas? There are a few trees, wreaths, and garland available to order in advance of the Bazaar. Items can be delivered for $10 or picked up for no charge  at our Bazaar. Click HERE to place your orders online or drop off this order form at the Rectory.

Volunteers are Still Needed! We still need a lot of help to make this event a success!  There are lots of ways to contribute - from helping to set up, making baked goods, volunteering for a shift in different areas, or donating items for the White Elephant! To sign up to volunteer, click HERE! Volunteer shifts count towards NCA and Confirmation service hours.
 

This year, the annual ECRA Thanksgiving Service was hosted by the combined St. Ita and St. Thomas Church, 5500 N. Broadway, on the afternoon of Sunday, November 24. The general theme was compassion and gratitude for all we have received.

St. Gertrude was represented by our talented parishioner, Bridget Dunne, singing “We Sing for the Children” accompanied by our Music Minister, Mary Clare Barker, and children from our parish playing violins.

Canned goods and a free-will offering was collected for Care for Real.

The Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA) is an interfaith association of religious organizations that work toward fostering friendships and understanding of other faiths, and to nurture a thriving and just neighborhood. For decades, ECRA has linked religiously diverse neighbors to create solutions to local problems, including the Edgewater Community Council and creating Edgewater’s food pantry, Care for Real.

ECRA hosts several events annually that bring together Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, as well as our friends from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindi faith.

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.