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 Schedule, Live-Stream Info/Links
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
Retirement Announcement from Fr. Mike Bradley
Retirement Announcement from Fr. Mike Bradley
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
Retirement Announcement from Fr. Mike Bradley
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
All Parish Meetings Moved Online
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Week of Christian Unity Prayer Service - Thursday, January 20
Our Weekly Bulletin
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
January 10, 2022
Notice - Parish Meetings Moved Online
All scheduled parish meetings will move online due to the increased COVID numbers. If you are part of a regularly scheduled parish meeting, the staff member responsible for your group needs your email address to share the Zoom link for whatever your meeting may be.
Retirement Announcement/Message from Fr. Mike Bradley
Fr. Mike to be Honored the Weekend of January 29–30
In the summer of 2007, I was assigned by Cardinal Francis George to be a “resident priest” at Saint Gertrude Parish. During this time, I’ve also served at the headquarters of the Archdiocese, where I’ve done work in the Church’s canon law department.
Ever since the first day I arrived at this parish, God has blessed me with the steadfast and inspiring leadership of our pastors Father Dominic Grassi and Father Rich Prendergast, and the excellent pastoral staff here. In addition, I was very fortunate to become a friend of our beloved pastor emeritus, Father Bill Kenneally, whom we commended to our Savior Jesus just a couple months ago.
Because I am reaching 70 years of age, I submitted to our Archbishop, Cardinal Blase Cupich, my request to be allowed to retire, and he recently approved that request. Thus, the time has arrived for me to retire and say farewell to Saint Gertrude Parish.
I’m very grateful to each one of you for your amazing kindness over the years. With you, I have shared in many joyful moments, which I will always cherish. I have also shared in your times of sorrow and loss, times of sickness and death, when our hearts were broken, and our faith was tested. Your great courage has lifted me up more than my words can ever express!
With the permission and encouragement of Father Rich, I’ll speak at each of the Masses on the weekend of January 29–30. After each Mass (5:00 pm on Saturday, 8:00 am and a combined 10:30 am on Sunday), I will be in the vestibule of the church to greet you. So, on your way out of church, please be sure to stop by and take a cookie (from the bakery at Misericordia) and some juice or water. Rest assured, safety protocols due to the pandemic will be strictly followed.
The other day, a parishioner asked me what gift I’d like for my retirement. My reply is that my material needs are provided for, and so if someone wants to give me a gift, I ask that you please make a donation to “Heart to Heart,” Saint Gertrude’s outreach program for the elderly and homebound persons in our Edgewater community. A donation to “Heart to Heart” – along with your prayers for me – would be greatly appreciated!
With much joy, I thank God every day for the privilege I have had to be with you here in our wonderfully diverse and welcoming community! May God bless you, and may God bless Saint Gertrude Parish!
~ Father Mike Bradley
On Sunday, January 30, the 10:30 am Masses will be combined and held in the church.
covid news
Free At-Home Rapid COVID Test Kits Available
This week, every household in the U.S. became eligible to order four at-home COVID-19 tests from the government. The tests are completely free!
Visit COVIDtests.gov and fill out the contact information and shipping address. Orders are expected to ship in 7-12 days and will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
religious ed/confirmation/Youth group information/Mission T
Religious Classes Moved Online Sunday, January 23 and Sunday, January 30
All Religious Ed classes will be held remotely on January 23 and January 30. Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, will reach out with Zoom links to Religious Ed classes.
Upcoming Confirmation Retreat for Students
On Saturday, January 29, the first retreat for Confirmation Candidates will be held from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Eloy Escamilla will send meeting details about the retreat closer to the meeting date.
Student Essay Contest Winners Announced - Winning Essays Shared
Congratulations to the three winners of our student essay contest - Hazel Tabora of Peterson Elementary School, Sam Butler of Pritzker Elementary School, and Sammie
Devitt of NCA! The essay prompt challenged students to write about finding the good news within the bad news and how this good news reflects the message of Jesus.
All three essays can be read on our parish website here: https://stgertrudechicago.org/student-essay-winners. Our bulletins will feature each of the three winners' essays over the next few weeks.
Summer Mission Trip to Lake Traverse, South Dakota Planned from July 17-22
The youth group’s Summer Mission Trip will be July 17-22. The group will travel to Lake Traverse, South Dakota. All teens in grade 7-12 are welcome to take part in this jam-packed week of service, friendship, and fun! Students must attend our parish’s youth group meetings regularly. Space is limited.
The cost is $379 per person. Transportation is not included; however, we are organizing some fundraising events to offset this expense. A nonrefundable $50 deposit is due by Sunday, February 13, 2022. A nonrefundable half payment of $100 is due by Monday, February 28. The final payment deadline date will be shared in the future.
Please consider two factors when deciding about the Mission Trip - the pandemic is likely to still be ongoing in July and we are traveling to and from South Dakota in a passenger van. (A close space considering the pandemic).
For more information about the mission trip, please visit the Lake Traverse Youth Mission Trip | YouthWorks website. If you have any questions, please email me at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
~ Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, Religious Education and Youth Ministry
Teens in Middle & High School - Join our Parish Youth Group
All teens in middle and high school are invited to consider joining the parish youth group for fun and enriching activities, including a mission trip this summer! Upcoming meetings and events will be shared in the bulletin and on our website, https://stgertrudechicago.org.
For more information, contact Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
Scroll down for Parish & NCA events
Week of Christian Unity Event Planned for Thursday, January 20
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually around Pentecost in the Southern Hemisphere and between 18-25 January in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the spirit of Christian unity, St. Gertrude's Catholic Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church will collaborate to hold a Prayer for Christian Unity service on Thursday, January 20 at 7:00 pm at Immanuel Lutheran, located at 1500 W. Elmdale Ave.
The in-person service will be also be livestreamed on Immanuel’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdL1QtZ1MGFZ-qdz--Iewzw
Featured participants include Pastor Fred Kinsey, Unity Lutheran church; Father Richard Prendergast, St. Gertrude Catholic church; Pastor Erika Takacs, Episcopal Church of the Atonement; Pastor Michael Ware, North Shore Baptist church, and Pastor Monte Johnson, Immanuel Lutheran church.
Second Collection for Church in Latin America
This weekend, our special collection supports the Church in Latin America. Your generosity makes a difference for our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean.
2022-2023 Tax Credit Scholarship Big Shoulders Application
NCA families are encouraged to complete both the Big Shoulders Fund Application and Empower Illinois (EI) Application. The Empower Illinois Application is now live.
Check out the Empower Illinois website for additional information at https://www.empowerillinois.org.
NCA will continue to keep our families updated as we receive additional information from Big Shoulders Fund and Empower Illinois.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Christine Huzenis (chuzenis@ncaweb.org) or Mrs. Leigh Holzman (lholzman@ncaweb.org).
NCA Soiree Info
Join NCA parents and alum for a night of casino-themed fun on Saturday, February 26. The 16th annual NCA Soirée will be held at the Theater on the Lake, located at 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive, and will celebrate NCA teachers, staff, and families. Tickets includes food, drink, entertainment, and more! Log in to NCA's Bidding for Good website to purchase tickets today!
NCA is currently running two fundraisers for the 2022 NCA Soiree, a grand raffle with a grand prize of $5,000 dollars and a choose your own vacation with six options! Tickets are available at ncasoiree.com.
All proceeds from the 2022 NCA Soirée support the students and programs of Northside Catholic Academy.
Todos son bienvenidos! Friday Night Spanish Language Rosary Gatherings in Church
Continuing a long tradition from St. Ignatius Parish, all are welcome to attend weekly Friday evening gatherings to say the Rosary. The group meets at 7:00 pm, and the Rosary is said in Spanish in the church.
Heart to Heart Medical Lending Closet Needs Shower Chairs
The parish’s Medical Lending Closet is in need of shower/bath chairs for their clients. These have been "hot ticket" items lately, and we are having trouble keeping up with the need. Transport chairs, wheelchairs, and rollator walkers are also in high demand. We take thoroughly cleaned items in excellent working condition.
Contact Laurie Hasbrook, the Lending Closet manager, at 773.973.5464 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am-2:30 or via email at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org.. Thank you!
Rest in Peace, Fr. Bill Kenneally
Fr. Bill, Former Pastor of St. Gertrude Parish, has Passed Away
It is with great sadness that we share that Fr. Bill Kenneally, the former pastor of St. Gertrude from 1984-2006, passed away on Thursday, October 28, in the presence of his loving family. Fr. Bill was a vital part of St. Gertrude for so many years and will be dearly missed.
Born in 1935 to Irish immigrants, Father Bill was raised in Humboldt Park and educated at Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, Quigley Seminary, and the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. After being ordained in 1961, his first assignment was at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, followed by stints at Little Flower on the South Side, St. Edmund in Oak Park, Immaculate Conception in Old Town, and St. Nicholas in Evanston. In 1984, Fr. Bill was named pastor at St. Gertrude and remained there until his retirement in 2006. Kenneally then served part-time at the parish of St. Barnabas. In May of this year, he celebrated his 60th ordination anniversary.
Fr. Bill truly lived a life of service, integrity, and kindness. He leaves behind a large, caring family and many dear friends.
Fr. Bill’s funeral was Tuesday, November 2. If you would like to watch the touching tributes to Fr. Bill during his funeral, click here. His obituary is available here.
On November 19, 2021, Fr. Bill's life was featured in the Chicago Sun-Times: Rev. William G. ‘Bill’ Kenneally, popular longtime St. Gertrude’s Parish pastor, dead at 85
Linked below is a Tribune article about his retirement from St. Gertrude in 2006 and his life as a priest: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-06-05-0606050104-story.html.
Notes of condolences can be sent to John Kenneally, 522 S. Owen Drive, Madison, WI 53711.
Parish Meetings Moved Online
All scheduled parish meetings will move online due to the increased COVID numbers.