All Are Welcome
St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago
Our parish strives to be a community, growing in faith, that welcomes all and brings Christ’s love to others.
Here is the Latest News:
Mass Times/Rectory Hours
Our Chicago Marathon Weekend Fundraiser
Upcoming Events & Activities
Upcoming Events & Activities
Our Chicago Marathon Weekend Fundraiser
Upcoming Events & Activities
Our Chicago Marathon Weekend Fundraiser
Our Chicago Marathon Weekend Fundraiser
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
This Weekend's Bulletin
A Letter from Fr. Mike about the Broadway Armory
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
A Letter from Fr. Mike Gabriel
About the Broadway Armory
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Last Sunday's Gospel told us a parable that the Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, a pearl of great price. Finding the pearl is the result of a deliberate search. The protagonist must unload all his other possessions to obtain something even more valuable. In my time serving Saint Gertrude, I have encountered many of you who have discovered in this parish community a real treasure for their lives, a pearl of a parish, if you wish. I also know that over the years, our parish has been a welcoming place for many people who would not feel welcomed elsewhere. They, too, have found a home and a treasure in our parish. And I know how many of you give all that you can to make our parish and our neighborhood a reflection of the Kingdom of heaven. I am grateful for such wonderful examples of faith.
Over the last few months, the City of Chicago has been inundated with hundreds of asylum seekers and immigrants that have been shipped here from southern states. Most often, our parish community has rallied to the defense of the poor and immigrant and has stood as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden. However, the city recently decided, without seeking community input, that the Broadway Armory, which has been used for over a decade as a community center with numerous activities and programs, would be converted to "temporarily" house a few hundred of the immigrants bussed in from other places. That decision and the less of these wonderful programs has also created a rift in our community that challenges who we are as a Catholic Community.
Unlike the political world, the Church is best when we honor each other and find Christ in one another. Saint Gertrude is an amazingly diverse community and is a shining example of Christian unity within the Archdiocese of Chicago. That is why the comments I am hearing now have saddened me beyond belief.
We have always been a parish with diverse opinions and programs, but we have always supported one another and worked together. We have always had a bigger net, a wider welcome for those whose opinions are different. The pain of the Broadway Armory cancelling many programs and being used to house immigrants has torn that net as people cannot agree on a singular course of action in this moment we allow this moment to break our relationships with one another or can we find our point of unity?
l ask you to reflect deeply upon this coming Sunday's Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus chooses Peter, James, and John to accompany him up the mountain. Remember, these two are the brothers who want to supplant Peter by sitting at the right and left of Jesus in His glory. Jesus chooses all three to see His glory, not siding with one or the other. Yet, all three must also climb the steep mountain and help each other along the way. Despite whatever differences they had, they all followed Jesus to see His glory, not seeking their own.
This weekend, I ask that we all come together and hold each other in prayer. We do not have to agree and may never agree about our course of action. We must believe that each one of us is following the Lord, each one of us is dedicated to Christ, and each one of us is seeking that hidden treasure of faith.
In Christ,
Fr. Mike
All are Welcome - and All Means All!
A Word of Welcome from Fr. Mike Gabriel
St. Gertrude extends a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, LBGQT, rich, poor, y no habla ingles. We offer special welcome to those who are young and old, or who have a crying baby. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli, or more like me, who just tries.
We don’t care if you're more Catholic than the pope or haven’t been in church since little Timmy’s baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60, but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome starving artist, tree huggers, latte sippers, vegetarians, and junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery and those who are still addicted.
We welcome you if your having problems or down in the dumps. We’ve been there too. We welcome those who don’t like “organized religion”. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, those who work too hard, those who don’t work, can’t spell, or came because grandma is in town.
We welcome those who could use a prayer right now, or thought you were on Clark Street, not Granville, and are here by mistake. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We welcome those who laugh at this, as well as those who gasped.
We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, and bleeding hearts with all our hearts.
We welcome YOU!
~ Father Mike Gabriel
Scroll down for Parish Events (Listed in Chronological Order
Our Marathon Weekend Parish Fundraiser - How to Help
Our parish fundraiser is just a two short weeks away! There are two main components:
- Soles of St. Gertrude Parish, a 3k fun run and walk on Saturday, October 7
- Fr. Mike Bradley will run the Bank of America Chicago on October 8 for Heart to Heart Ministry.
Soles of the Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk - Saturday, October 7
Excitement is in the air at St. Gertrude Parish as we gear up for our highly-anticipated new fundraiser, Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K Fun Run and Walk!
All parishioners and Edgewater residents are invited to join us on Saturday, October 7 for a morning of fun, community, and generosity during the Chicago Marathon weekend.
This event promises to be a fantastic opportunity for us to come together, raise funds for important parish ministries, and strengthen our bonds of faith. Please consider registering for this special event and be a part of this special day. We truly need all the support we can get to make this event a success.
Let's make October 7th a date to remember as we unite in support of St. Gertrude Parish and its mission. Sign up in the back of church using a paper registration form or register online at https://bit.ly/StGerts3K.
T-Shirts for Soles of St. Gertrude Parish
Those who have already registered can pick up their t- shirts after Mass this Sunday and next weekend. Those who are interested in purchasing one can still get one for $15. Register after Mass today or online at https://bit.ly/StGerts3K.
Schedule for Saturday, October 7th's Soles of St. Gertrude Parish 3K
- 8-8:45 am - Warm up and stretch exercises.
- 8:55 am - Opening prayer
- 9:00 am - Runners will take off
- 9:30 am - Walkers will take off
- 9:45 am - Those who will be doing a walk around the block.
- 10:30 am - Pep Rally to show our support for Fr. Mike Bradley.
- 5:00 pm Mass - There will be a blessing at Mass for all those participating in the Chicago Marathon.
Sponsor Fr. Mike's Chicago Marathon Efforts - Sunday, October 8
Fr. Mike Bradley will run the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 8. We are seeking sponsorships for Father Mike, with all proceeds going to our parish ministries. You can sponsor him online at https://bit.ly/FrMikeRuns or at church.
Event at St. Gregory's: The Catholic Imagination in Fiction
Join Prof. Scott Moringiello (scholar-in-residence) for a course exploring the ways in which the spiritual, theological, and aesthetic traditions of the Catholic faith inform the major literary works of the past century. In this course, held on Tuesdays from September 19-November 7 from 6:30-8:30 pm, participants will read three novels: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, Silence by Shusaku Endo, and The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade.
While the authors' background, style, and subject matter differ widely, their portrayals of human life and experience all draw on the paradoxical relation of the sacred and profane, transcendent and terrestrial that characterizes the incarnation and the life of the sacraments.
Participants will be required to obtain their own copies of the books.
The class will take place in St. Gregory the Great's Monsignor Klasen Building, located at 1609 W. Gregory St. For more information and to register, visit https://www.stgregoryhall.org/catholicimagination.html.
Domestic Violence Survivors' Mass is Saturday, September 30
Please save the date for the 8th Annual Domestic Violence Survivors' Mass at beautiful Holy Name Cathedral, located at 735 N. State Street in downtown Chicago.
Mass will be held at 5:15 pm and live-streamed on Holy Name Cathedral's website, holynamecathedral.org. Free parking is available in the parking garage at 14 W. Superior, on lower level 1 or lower level 2. Bring your parking ticket with you to the Cathedral to validate your parking ticket in the Cathedral vestibule. There is a maximum of two hours of parking, with a steep fee if exceeded.
We hope you can join us to pray for an end to domestic violence!
Donations Needed for Asylum Seekers - Collections on September 30 and October 1
A collection for asylum seekers will be held on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. These donations will be sent to Care for Real, who is providing support to families sheltering at the Broadway Armory in addition to feeding neighbors in need.
Please place items from the list below in the bins at the back of church for delivery to Care for Real.
Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:
- Baby wipes
- Diapers size 4-6
- Pull-ups
- All toiletries
- Menstrual pads
- Ready-to-eat items like granola bars, tuna or chicken salad cracker packs, individual milk boxes
Thank you for your generosity!
2023 Feast of St. Francis: The Way of St. Francis: Seeking Peace and Justice for All Creation
St. Scholastica Monastery
7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago or Zoom
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm
For more information or to register in person, contact Sr. Patricia Coughlin, OSB, at patcoughlinosb@sbcglobal.net.
To register for the virtual event, email webcoordinatorosb@osbchicago.org.
Thank you for Supporting Care for Real; Our Next Food & Supply Drive is October 21-22
Thank you to the many people that brought supplies for Care for Real last weekend!
Our next supply drive is October 21-22.
You can give to Care for Real! Make a donation on their website, https://careforreal.org/wishlist, or drop off items at 5341 N. Sheridan Road from 12:00-3:00 pm Monday-Friday.
Items needed for neighbors and asylum seekers include:
- Baby wipes
- Diapers sized 4-6
- Pull-ups
- All toiletries
- Menstrual pads
- Ready-to-eat items like granola bars, tuna or chicken salad cracker packs, individual milk boxes
Additionally, you can go to https://careforreal.org/wishlist to make a donation, drop off items at 5341 N. Sheridan Road from 12:00-3:00 pm Monday-Friday, or bring items to the Asylum Seekers collection in church on September 2 and September 3.
It's Not Too Late to Register for Religious Ed/No Class October 8
Registration is still open for our 2023-2024 Religious Education program! Classes are held on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 am.
Religious Ed registration forms can be found at https://bit.ly/RelEd2023-2024 and on our website at https://stgertrudechicago.org/religious-education-news. Forms in Spanish are also available on our website. Please note that students must receive two years of preparation in order to make these sacraments.
The fees for the 2023-2024 school year are $210 for one child and an additional $30 for each student from the same family. Tuition can be paid online at https://bit.ly/StGertsRelEdTuition.
An additional sacramental fee of $65 is required for children making their First Communion and First Reconciliation, or their Confirmation. That fee can be paid at https://bit.ly/StGertsSacramentalFee.
Completed forms and any questions about the program should be emailed to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. Please register before the start date.
Kids Word Available on Sundays at 10:30 am Masses
On Sundays during the 10:30 am Mass in church, children aged 4-7 years-old are invited to attend Kids Word to hear an age-appropriate Gospel message and do fun, scripture-based activities such as coloring or crafts in the Rectory.
Children will be invited by the celebrant to come to the altar before the readings and will return to church before the petitions.
Email eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for details.
Manuscript Illumination Workshop at St. Gregory's Parish on Saturday, October 7, 12:00-5:00 pm
Join St. Gregory’s Hall artist-in-resident Sarah Crow for a one-day workshop in medieval manuscript illumination in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday, October 7 from 12:00-5:00 pm. Participants will make their own paints using a medieval recipe and reproduce a 15th-century illumination of The Virgin and Child in a Red Rose c. 1480. The event will take place at St. Gregory the Great's Parish Center, 5545 N. Paulina St.
The website for the event is here: https://www.stgregoryhall.org/illumination.html.
Pet Blessing Planned for Sunday, October 8
The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is Tuesday, October 4. As we do each year, there will be Blessing of the Pets next Sunday at 11:30 am on the steps of the church.
Please join us with your furry (or scaly!) loved ones!
Parish Pastoral Council Member News; October Meeting Date Announced
The Parish Pastoral Council welcomed three new members, Ed Butler, Gordon Hannon, and Krista Chinchilla-Patzke.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00 pm in the Ministry Center.
Scroll down for Parish news
Thank you to Loyola Students for Helping the Lending Closet
The Heart to Heart Lending Closet recently hosted a group of enthusiastic freshman year students and their sophomore guides from Loyola University for a Saturday of Service.
Sponsored by Loyola's Community Service and Action office, the students helped inventory, clean, and store donated durable medical equipment.
GO RAMBLERS!
~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet manager
St. Gert's Garden
We had an excellent veggie crop this past weekend! Cucumbers, green peppers, habanero peppers, cayenne peppers, and tomatoes were shared with Care for Real.
Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers who have been taking good care of our parish garden. We truly appreciate your time and efforts.
Registration Open for our 2023-2024 Religious Ed Program
Registration is still open for our 2023-2024 Religious Education program! Classes will begin on Sunday, September 10, with in-person instruction held on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 am.
Religious Ed registration forms can be found at https://bit.ly/RelEd2023-2024 and on our website at https://stgertrudechicago.org/religious-education-news. Please note that students must receive two years of preparation in order to make these sacraments.
The fees for the 2023-2024 school year are $210 for one child and an additional $30 for each student from the same family. Tuition can be paid online at https://bit.ly/StGertsRelEdTuition.
An additional sacramental fee of $65 is required for children making their First Communion and First Reconciliation, or their Confirmation. That fee can be paid at https://bit.ly/StGertsSacramentalFee.
Completed forms and any questions about the program should be emailed to Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. Please register before the start date.
Interested in becoming a substitute catechist teacher? Contact Eloy Escamilla at the above email address.
Special Thanks to our Lending Closet Volunteers!
A sweltering August day didn't keep volunteers Fr. Paul Adaja, Andrea and Guy Banicki, Hallie Burhoe, Barb Daly, Peter Morin, Carol Ann Munro, Tom Rogers, Greg Steigmeyer, and Tom Tentler, from loading a 15-foot U-Haul truck with surplus medical supplies from the Lending Closet.
Project C.U.R.E. warehouse volunteers in Woodridge, Illinois gratefully accepted everything.
Hallie Burhoe, Lending Closet volunteer extraordinaire, generously covered the costs of this project.
FreeStyle Chicago Holds Event at St. Gertrude
The St. Gertrude Social Hall was the recent site of clothing distribution for asylum seekers. FreeStyle Chicago and Edgewater Mutual Aid Network members, along with parishioners Nancy Kuhn, Nancy Bujnowski, and Ana Ward distributed clothing to 60 families who are currently staying at the Broadway Armory.
Thanks also to Cecie Murphy for toys, and Dorothea Tobin, Bridget Lowry, and Mary Jude Ramirez for popsicle deliveries!
Join the Choir!
Are you interested in joining St. Gertrude’s choir? We'd love to have you!
Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 7:00-9:00 pm in church. The choir sings at the 10:30 am Mass in church.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kathryn at kflynn@stgertrudechicago.org.
Heart to Heart Lending Closet News
Summer has seen wonderful connections made at the Heart to Heart Lending Closet. Ahzea Makhubu, a volunteer for Agape Mobility Ethiopia contacted us in August to see if we had any extra mobility devices. Due to the ongoing support of parishioners and members of the broader community we were able to donate over a dozen walkers, canes and crutches to Agape Mobility Ethiopia.
Closer to home, the Lending Closet phone rings daily with requests from people in need throughout Chicago. Wheelchairs, transport chairs, and shower chairs remain in short supply.
If you have items to donate, contact me at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org or at the Lending Closet office number, 773-973-5464.
Thank you in advance for your generous support and donations.
~ Laurie Hasbrook, Lending Closet Manager
Interested in Becoming Catholic?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process by which adults learn more about the Catholic Church. This free program begins in the fall and meets until Pentecost.
Many people who begin RCIA are non-Catholics seeking to become Catholic or at least to explore whether Catholicism might be a good home. Those who complete the process and decide to become Catholic are initiated into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. Others who take RCIA are already Catholic but want a deeper understanding of their faith foundation.
The RCIA process does not ask those who have been baptized in another faith to give up their denominational experiences. Rather, the RCIA process seeks to add new colors and designs to their existing faith life tapestry. In addition to attending Mass, the RCIA process includes weekly gatherings of breaking open the Word of God, sharing our stories, and learning about our faith traditions.
Classes begin in September.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA process at St. Gertrude, contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.764.3621.
Spiritual Directors/Companions Available
Last weekend, Lori Dressel and Carol Ann Munro were in church to discuss the benefits of a spiritual director and companion.
If you've been searching for a deeper relationship with God or wanted to seek God’s help in making you might consider meeting with a spiritual director/companion.
Carol Ann and Lori offer confidential one-on-one sessions at St. Gertrude and the opportunity to slow down and take time to reflect on your experience of life, God’s action and grace in your daily routines and connect deeply to “the Spirit hidden in the depths of your soul.“ (T. Merton)
In meeting with a spiritual director, a person learns to pay attention to God’s personal communication, to respond to this personally communicating God, to be open to intimacy with God, and to live out the richness of the relationship that results from this intimacy.
If you are interested in this, contact Lori Dressel at lorijdressel@gmail.com or Carol Ann Munro at carolannmunro@comcast.net.
Mary Clare Barker Retires!
On June 10 and 11, we celebrated our Director of Music, Mary Clare Barker, who is retiring after many years of service.
Mary Clare's musical talent has truly made a significant contribution to our parish. We have been so blessed to sing, clap, listen, and pray over the years to her beautiful music - much of it original compositions.
In addition to playing at Mass, she's led our choir and musicians, organized so many beautiful concerts, and played at countless benefits. She also created our parish composting program, our parish garden initiative that benefits Care for Real and St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen, our monthly food and supply guide for Care for Real, and so much more.
Above all of this, Mary Clare is truly a kind, sincere, hard-working, woman who has touched the lives of so many. We are so grateful for her presence at St. Gertrude over the years and for sharing her many talents with us.
Congratulations on your retirement, Mary Clare! You will be missed!
Click the image above for a special video tribute to Mary Clare! (courtesy of Maria Ugarte)
Rest in peace notices & funeral information
George Kehoe
- Visitation on Saturday, August 26 from 9:30-10:00 am at St. Gertrude Catholic Church. Memorial Mass to follow at at 10:00 am.
Seamus W. White
- Seamus W. White, nephew of Rich and Mary Ann Goode