Fr. Mike Retires

Dear Parishioners of Saint Gertrude,   

Your outpouring of affection for my retirement celebration was simply amazing! Thank you very much for all your thoughtfulness and kindness. Last weekend’s celebrations were both uplifting as well as overwhelming! I will never forget your many expressions of love and appreciation. At some moments over the recent days, I began to wonder if we were celebrating a retirement, or a organizing a petition for canonization! I assure you that I’ll never be beatified or canonized, but your good wishes will echo in my heart forever no matter where I go. I hope that you enjoyed the cookies (baked at Misericordia), and I also hope that you’ll wear the Saint Gertrude wristband with pride. Please keep me in your prayers, and I assure you that you are in my prayers.   

There are so many people I have to thank for all your kindness shown to me, but let me mention especially Father Rich Prendergast, Father Mike Gabriel, Mary Clare Barker, Kevin Chears, Tim Harrington, Dorothea and Mike Tobin, Jane Callahan-Moore, Eduardo Soto, Eloy Escamilla, and Laurie Hasbrook.    

I am grateful to everyone for your incredible thoughtfulness and generosity. For everyone else whom I’ve not mentioned by name, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. A huge thank you to everyone!  

~ Father Mike Bradley 

We are so grateful to everyone who came out to bless Fr. Mike Bradley last weekend as he begins the next phase of his life - retirement! The entire weekend was wonderful, so filled with love and heartfelt memories.   

We especially would like to thank Dorothea and Mike Tobin, the Confirmation class of 2022, all of our cantors and musicians, all those who wrote reflections, Rogers Park Florist, Tim Harrington, and Misericordia Bakery and for their assistance with making the celebration so beautiful.   Fr. Mike was so touched with the celebration and he leaves St. Gertrude knowing how much he was appreciated and loved. Thank you!

We love you, Father Mike, and it fills our hearts to remember your years at St. Gertrude's and to celebrate the love we have shared!

Read touching tributes from Fr. Rich and parishioners - and check out our photos of Fr. Mike through the years!