the 2023 pet blessing!

Thank you to all who attended our services during Holy Week and on Easter both in-person and online! What a joy it was to get together and celebrate God’s unending love for us.

The past few weeks have required extra time and energy from so many of our volunteers in order to rehearse and then serve at all the services of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter! Thank you to all of our wonderful and generous cantors, our choir, musicians, and corps of liturgical ministers. They did a magnificent job! 

Great churches don't just happen, they are created and nurtured by active, engaged, and generous parishioners. We appreciate you sharing your time at Church, your talents and helping hands at Mass and parish events, your stewardship, and your prayers. We are  grateful to have you as part of our St. Gertrude family!  

Thank you to our musicians who performed last weekend at our Black History Month concert! We are so grateful for Mary Clare Barker, Michael Hawes, Eugenia Jeong, and Jennifer Dunne, who generously shared their talents and gave a beautiful and touching concert.

And thank you to those that attended this special event! More than 100 people came out to enjoy the event. We also appreciate all who contributed to the free will donation box, those funds will go to support St. Gertrude's ministries.

This event was sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund, which is part of the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

Photos courtesy of John Floeter, Chicago Federation of Musicians.

Thank you for coming out to our Cabaret last Saturday! Despite the snow, cold, and slick conditions, more than  80 people attended and enjoyed the music, drinks, and company. 

I am so grateful to have had so much help with both set up and clean up from parishioners and NCA parents. They truly made the event happen. 

And special thanks to the singers and musicians for sharing their talent with our community! We are blessed to have so many gifted parishioners who are willing to help our church.

~  Mary Clare Barker, Music Director

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!