All Are Welcome
Welcome to St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago
Located in Edgewater, our parish strives to be a community that welcomes all and brings Christ’s love to others.
Here is the Latest News:
Parish Survey 2021: We Need Your Help!
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
Resurrection Compost Garden
COVID Protocols Relaxed at Church: No Registration Needed for Mass/Masks Optional if Vaccinated/New Office Hours
Mass Schedule, Live-Stream & Rectory Hours
Mass Schedule, Live-Stream & Rectory Hours
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
Mass Schedule, Live-Stream & Rectory Hours
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
Missing the Latest Parish News? Check out (or Sign up for) our Weekly E-Bulletins
parish Survey
We Need Your Help
With summer on the horizon and restrictions fading away, the pastoral staff is seeking ways to welcome you back to church. We’d like your feedback and ask that you fill out a quick survey either online HERE or mail/drop a printed version that was sent to your home at the Rectory office (1420 W. Granville), or put it in the collection basket in church.
If you need help filling it out, our staff is happy to assist you. Also, if you would like anyone from the pastoral staff to follow up with you, please let us know the best way to contact you.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Click the image to take the survey
updated covid protocols
COVID Protocols Relaxed
With the State of Illinois and City of Chicago moving into Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan, our parish's COVID protocols have relaxed!
No Registration Required for Mass/Gym Mass Info
No advanced registration is necessary to attend Mass. Because we are already in June, the Gym Mass will take its usual summer break and return in September.
Masks are Optional if Vaccinated/Seating Area for Non-Vaccinated
Those vaccinated church visitors are allowed to go without masks. Unvaccinated visitors are asked to wear masks. Children (including those that are unvaccinated) should sit with their families.
We have a section in church designated for unvaccinated visitors to keep themselves safe.
Communion
Communion will continue with just the host and distributed only to the hand - not on the tongue. Everyone is encouraged to consider using the hand sanitizer before you come forward for Communion.
All Doors to Church are Open/All Pew Open/Tape on Floor will be Removed/No Hand Sanitizer Required
The front doors and all side doors will be open to enter and leave. There will no longer be markings on the floor guiding the direction of where to walk. All the pews are once again available for use.
There won't be a mandatory sanitizing of hands at the doors nor at Communion (although sanitizer will be available at the entrances).
Rectory Office Hours to Increase
Office hours are Monday-Friday are 8:30 am-3:30 pm. As of Monday, June 21, our Monday-Friday hours will be 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Parish Meeting Rooms Open
Meetings and other activities on the campus will resume starting June 14. Groups should request space with the front office.
10:30 am Live-Stream to Continue
We will continue to offer the 10:30 am Mass via live-stream for the indefinite future.
Holy Water/Bringing up the Gifts/Offertory/Breaking Bread Hymnals
Holy water is in the fonts.
The weekend of June 19-20, parishioners can bring up the gifts at offertory. The weekend of June 26-27, ushers will resume taking up the offertory and any special collections.
Breaking Bread hymnals arrived, as well as the new library carts that will be stationed in the back and south side entrance to church. You may feel free to pick up a Breaking Bread this weekend if you would like to have access to the scripture readings for the Mass.
No Singing Yet
The science still indicates that because singing is a very effective means for spreading the virus, it is best not to have congregational singing in church yet. So we will remain with just a cantor singing the hymns and mass parts.
Choir & Lectors at Mass
The weekend of July 3 – 4, the choir may again sing in church, depending on the availability of choir members. At that time, we will resume two lectors at every Sunday Mass, depending on the availability of lectors.
Parish Survey: Post COVID Input Wanted
With summer on the horizon and restrictions fading away, the pastoral staff is seeking ways to welcome you back to church. We’d like your feedback and ask that you fill out a quick survey either online (link below) or mail/drop a printed version that was sent to your home at the Rectory office (1420 W. Granville), or put it in the collection basket in church.We’d like your feedback and ask that you to fill out this quick survey. Thank you!
Parish News
How to Join our Resurrection Compost Program
Please add your name to one of the signup sheets in church or email Mary Clare Barker at mcbarker@stgertrudechicago.org to receive a composting bucket. A one-time $5 lease secures your 5 gallon Resurrection Compost bucket and you’re ready to go.
We are asking people to use our buckets and deposit around Masses so that we can anticipate compost volume and cultivate it appropriately. Simply fill the bucket during the week and bring it with you to Mass. You can deposit your compost and leave the bucket outside to retrieve later or return it to your car (but please DO NOT bring the bucket into church!) The compost bins will be located along the northwest wall of the church and will be clearly marked. PLEASE NOTE: We are NOT accepting yard waste at this time. Once the compost bins are in place and ready to use, an email will be sent to all those who signed up.
~ Mary Clare Barker
Heart to Heart News: Two Workshops by the Center for Disability and Elder Law to be Hosted at St. Gertrude
The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) is once again providing in-person services! CDEL provides free legal services to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities including assistance with estate planning, drafting of Last Wills and Testaments, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Transfer on Death Instruments, and assistance with landlord-tenant matters.
CDEL will be hosting events at St. Gertrude's on Monday, June 28 and Friday, August 6. Please call 312-376-1882 to schedule services and be sure to mention your interest in an in-person appointment at our parish.
Due to the pandemic, in-person activities will be restricted to small interactions by appointment only. Documents will be completed prior to the in-person meeting, which will be finalized and executed at the in-person appointment.
Free Classical Music Concert
On Saturday, July 10 at 2:00 pm, a free concert will take place on the south lawn of Congregation Emanuel, adjacent to Edgewater’s Lane Beach at the end of Thorndale (5959 N. Sheridan Road). Presented with the support of Congregation Emanuel and the Chicago Federation of Musicians, the Yepez Players will perform as a part of their Skyline Salon Series.
Come for their music and enjoy Lane Beach and the playground. With no public parking in any of the adjacent high-rise buildings, there are excellent Red Line and CTA bus services to Thorndale and some street parking west of Sheridan Road. Please note that there is no public bathroom access at Lane Beach or Congregation Emanuel.
This event is hosted by Edgewater residents and St. Gertrude parishioners Jane Callahan-Moore and Stefanie Clark.
Crimes Against Seniors Workshop
The domestic violence ministry at St. Katharine Drexel invites you to the online seminar "Crimes Against Seniors" on Tuesday, June 29 from 6:00-7:00 pm via Zoom. Help support Elder Abuse Awareness Month and learn more about this type of domestic violence. Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Leanna Miehlich from the Seniors & Persons with Disabilities Unit will be presenting.
Register today at bit.ly/crimesagainstseniors. Questions? Please contact Bernita Johnson at depaulgrad08@yahoo.com.
St. Ignatius Hospitality
Thanks to all our volunteers who provided the hospitality on Sunday, June 6 for our welcome event for St. Ignatius parishioners! The gathering in the courtyard after the 10:30 am Mass turned out perfectly! Even the weather cooperated with temperatures in the low 80s and a great breeze! It was a pleasure to meet many St. Ignatius parishioners and assure them they are always welcome here at St. Gertrude.
Thanks to Mike Tobin, Kim McInerney, Allen Stryczak, Gail Smith, and Denise Robinson for being on the Welcoming Committee and making sure we were ready to offer such delightful hospitality!
Spiritual Opportunities This Summer
St. Clement Summer Theology on Tap Series Tuesdays in July: Have you been wondering what St. Joseph can teach us about adulting? Interested in learning more about theology? Join the St. Clement Young Adult Community on Tuesday evenings in July at Saint Clement. During this four-week series, they will explore topics such as discernment and purpose in life from their line-up of speakers.
Evanston Theology on Tap Thursdays in July: Join young adults in Evanston for a hybrid version of Theology on Tap every Thursday in July. See the website for times, locations, and topics.
Musical Reflections Retreat Opportunity – Enjoy a self-guided retreat weekend on the Mundelein Seminary campus from July 9-11 including special programs highlighting the majestic pipe organs in our beautiful Chapel of the Immaculate Conception and historic Cardinal Mundelein Auditorium. The retreat includes lodging, meals, and Sunday Mass. Learn more and register here: www.usml.edu/retreat.
Online Bible Study with Father John Kartje – As the world slowly begins to recover from the turmoil of the past year, join Mundelein Seminary rector Father John Kartje for an in-depth tour through biblical accounts of restoration from chaotic times. Allow the scriptures to be your guide to spiritual healing and renewal. Register at www.usml.edu/bible-study.
Online Faith & Science Summer Scripture Conference – Watch top scholars unpack issues of faith and science at USML's annual Summer Scripture Conference from June 20-25. Full conference online access is just $325 for the week and individual speaker series are just $75 each. Register at www.summerscripture.org.
IPS Scripture School: Fruits of the Holy Spirit – The Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) Scripture School fosters a transformational encounter with God through online instruction and formation in Sacred Scripture within a live interactive framework. Please join us this summer as we “picnic” with the Holy Spirit! This learning experience will explore the “fruits” of the Holy Spirit, according to both biblical testimony and Church tradition, and how every fruit grows, develops, and blossoms in our own lives.
In this series, we will enjoy lectures and conversations around the fruits of the Holy Spirit, meet and dialogue with every instructor of IPS Scripture School, and have FUN learning more about ourselves, each other, and the Holy Spirit! Register online here!
Thank You to Volunteers That Helped With our Resurrection Compost Garden on Saturday, June 5
Last weekend, eleven volunteers gathered to plant vegetables and herbs that will be used to benefit the St. Thomas of Canterbury soup kitchen. HERE are pictures from the morning.
We also erected a double barrier fence to hopefully keep out unwanted wildlife. A large iron trellis was moved to the courtyard where we will grow climbing roses. Colorful hanging plants were also added to the courtyard to beautify the space in time for the welcome reception for St. Ignatius parishioners. Many thanks to ALL who contributed their efforts on Saturday. Special thanks to Frs. Mike Bradley, Mike Gabriel, and Louis for lending their physical brawn to this endeavor in the intense heat.
I hope that you will stop by after Mass and see what we have done in the rectory garden and courtyard.
~ Mary Clare Barker
Congratulations, Graduates!
Congratulations to all our NCA graduates, and to all those parishioners graduating from grammar school, high school, college, or university! You have certainly finished this part of your education in a unique fashion -- during a pandemic! I know the entire parish joins me in congratulating you -- especially because of the difficulties of this past year and wish you well in all your future endeavors. Congratulations!
Edgewater Glen Garden Walk
The Edgewater Glen Garden Walk will be held Sunday, July 11 from 12:00-5:00 pm, starting at 1420 W. Glenlake. There is a suggested donation is $5 per adult, with no charge for children. Appropriate COVID protocol is required for all participants.
This year, the gardens in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of West Norwood, West Glenlake, West Hood, and the south side of Granville will be featured in this easily walkable route. All of the gardens are beautiful, and many of them are grown without pesticides or herbicides. For more info, please visit edgeglen.com.
Congratulations to our Newly Confirmed!
We are so proud of their hard work and are so blessed by their kind hearts and loving presence in our parish. Please continue to hold them in your prayers as they continue to grow in their faith.
Religious Ed Update
We are so grateful for our Religious Ed community, who has been incredibly patient and supportive this unpredictable year. The students are truly wonderful kids and I am so impressed with how kind, smart, and creative they are.
I'm also so thankful to those volunteers who joined me as a Religious Ed teacher:
- Ginevra Clark - first and second grade
- Suzanne Stryczek - fifth and sixth grade
- Steve Monti - seventh and eighth grade
They worked incredibly hard to provide engaging lessons via Zoom and made sure each child learned important information about our faith.
If you're interested in registering for the fall, forms can be found HERE.
~ Kevin Chears, Pastoral Associate
Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration Planned for Sunday, September 19, 2021
The Archdiocese of Chicago's Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass is scheduled to be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at 2:30 pm at Holy Name Cathedral. Couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year are invited to participate. Please note, this Mass is planned as a live event with participants attending on-site.
With the uncertainty of how the COVID-19 virus will be this fall, this Mass may need to be moved to an online liturgy due to ongoing mitigation efforts associated with the pandemic. More details on the Mass, including location and relevant COVID-19 precautions, will be available in early summer 2021. Couples interested in participating can register here. Please contact familyministries@archchicago.org with any questions.
Parish Survey 2021: We Need Your Help
With summer on the horizon and restrictions fading away, the pastoral staff is seeking ways to welcome back and serve all of you. We’d like your feedback and ask that you to fill out this quick survey. Thank you!