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
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
Upcoming Events & Activities
Upcoming Events & Activities
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
Upcoming Events & Activities
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
This Weekend's Bulletin
Support St. Gertrude Parish & our Ministries
Thank you for Celebrating Christmas with Us!
Our Mission & Values
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
Refugee and Immigration Ministry to Speak This Weekend at Masses
This Sunday, there will be an announcement from the Refugee and Immigration Ministry here at St. Gertrude. As many as 100 million people worldwide today have been forced to flee their homes because of violence, persecution, lack of education, poverty, or simply for the dream of a better life.
St. Gertrude’s remains committed to helping others find a safe place to begin anew. There will be a second collection to assist in fulfilling this mission.
Friday Morning Men’s Prayer and Scripture Discussion Group
The Friday Morning Men's Prayer and Scripture discussion group will have in-person gatherings for all of the Fridays in January and February.
It will be at the St. Gertrude Ministry Center, 6214 N. Glenwood. We meet for social conversation at 7:45 am and begin prayer at 8:00 am.
We read and share our insights into the Scripture readings for the coming Sunday. We want to better live the Gospel in our daily lives and we share what the readings mean to us, from our personal perspectives rather than a scholarly point of view. We finish with an “Our Father” at about 9:00 am. Some opt to linger longer as their schedule permits.
An option to meet via Zoom is also available. Here is the Zoom information for our weekly gathering:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84331230411?pwd=rnUN9lmPtxjVg6bdiQ5QnsbBlpcptc.1
Meeting ID: 843 3123 0411; Passcode: pray
There are currently about 6-8 guys participating in a typical Friday morning gathering. We hope several who are reading this will also find this to be appealing and give the group a try. If you are interested and plan to come, it would be helpful – but not required – if you let Allen Stryczek know you are coming by sending him an email to astryczek@sbcglobal.net.
Midwest Workers Super Bowl Tamale Benefit - Orders Taken This Weekend
On Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, Midwest Workers Association (MWA) will be taking orders of tamales after Mass for their annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit. MWA volunteers will return on Sunday, February 9 to deliver the tamales after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am masses. Saturday mass attendees are asked to pick up their orders on Sunday morning.
The tamale benefit generates critical support for MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign, which includes door-to-door membership canvasses, utility bill advocacy to avert utility shutoffs and restore service, winter-watch phoning, and warm clothing distributions.
If you are interested in ordering tamales, please stop by their table at the main church entrance or call their office at (773) 285-0485. Supporters can place orders by the half dozen for chicken in green sauce, cheese and jalapeno (vegetarian), or black bean and cactus (vegan.) There is a suggested donation of $10 for a half dozen tamales or $20 for a dozen.
Groups of volunteers are urgently needed to play a role in making tamales from February 3 through February 6, as well as participating in MWA’s membership canvasses and benefit advocacy sessions. Speak with an MWA volunteer next weekend about how you can play an ongoing role in MWA’s Winter Survival Campaign.
No Religious Ed Classes on Sunday, January 19/Rectory Office Closed on January 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 20. There will be no Religious Ed classes on Sunday, January 20.
The Rectory office will be closed on Monday, January 20.
Care for Real Collection is on January 25 -26
St. Gertrude has its monthly food drive for Care for Real on
January 25-26. Care for Real is urgently seeking
donations of diapers in sizes 2-6, baby wipes, juice boxes, thermal layers (all sizes) gently used coats (all sizes), hand warmers, lotions and hand soap, shampoo and body wash, adult incontinence under bed pads.
Our collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month, and our asylum seekers’ collection is the first weekend of each month.
Northside Catholic Academy Event Planned for Sunday, January 26
NCA will host a State of the School address on
Sunday, January 26 from noon-1:00 pm at 6216 N.
Glenwood
Following the update, there will be a curriculum fair
from 1:00-2:00 pm.
All are welcome to attend!
Reconciliation for First Communion Candidates - Monday, January 27
Please keep the young students of our parish in their prayers as they prepare for their First Reconciliation on Monday, January 27 at 6:30 pm in church.
Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have questions.
Upcoming Trainings for Ministers of the Word (Lectors) and Altar Servers
Interested in being more involved in church? We are looking for Ministers of the Word to read at weekend masses. There will be a training on Thursday, January 30 at 6:30 pm in church.
Additionally, students are welcome to attend a training to become an altar server on Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 pm in church.
Questions? Please reach out to Eloy Escamilla after Sunday, January 26 at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
You're Invited to An Evening of Romance
Save the date! St. Gertrude's Marriage Ministry is planning a special evening for couples on Saturday, February 8. The night will celebrate, renew, and strengthen your sacred commitment to your life partner.
The night will start off at 5:00 pm mass, followed by cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dancing from 6:00-10:00 pm. Dim lighting, romantic decorations, and great food will set the mood for an evening for you and your partner to reconnect and socialize with other couples in the Social Hall.
The cost is $125 per couple and includes dinner, beer, and wine. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/NightofRomancetickets. Only 25 tickets are available. In order to prevent cancellation of event, we need at least 15 couples to purchase tickets.
For more information, contact mgabriel@stgertrudechicago.org.
Help Wanted!
We are also looking for volunteers to help with bartending, serving, and dishwashing. Sign up at https://bit.ly/NightofRomanceVolunteers.
Catechist Needed
Our Confirmation catechist recently needed to step down to address health issues. We are now in urgent need of a new Confirmation teacher.
If you can help, please contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
A Message from the Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) would like to thank everyone that provided their feedback for our next pastor.
The PPC, along with the finance board, met with the Pastoral Placement Board and shared our Strategic Plan along with the following summary:
About St. Gertrude Parish
St. Gertrude is a parish with a rich history and over a century of service to the Edgewater community. Like many faith communities, we have faced challenges over the years, but through resilience and unity, we have persevered.
As a family of faith and progressive activism, we continually seek innovative ways to address the evolving needs of our dynamic and diverse community. True to our hallmark, “All Are Welcome,” we strive to embody inclusivity in all we do – following the model of Jesus himself.
Preparing for a New Chapter
We are both excited and hopeful as we prepare to welcome a new pastor to lead our parish. To ensure the transition is guided by the voices of our community, our Parish Pastoral Council conducted in-person listening sessions and gathered input through paper and electronic surveys. The feedback we received highlighted several key themes that, after discussion with representatives of the parish staff and Finance Committee, we collectively feel are crucial for prospective candidates to understand:
- A Spirit of Inclusivity: Our parish firmly believes that “All Are Welcome.” This is more than a motto or catch-phrase to us; it is a core value that has attracted many diverse families (LGBTQ+, international, mixed faith families, etc.) to join our parish community, and it is what unites us above all else. We therefore seek a leader who will share in and model our commitment to inclusivity, and who can further nurture this value within our community.
- Collaborative Leadership: Ours is a parish with a strong legacy of active and passionate parishioners who minister both within our own community and in the broader Edgewater neighborhood. We also face perennial financial challenges and can at times operate in silos. We need a leader who is a master collaborator, who will value our legacy even while exploring new opportunities, and who will help orchestrate a future where the many gifts of our community can be better coordinated for maximum impact.
- Unique Partnership with Northside Catholic Academy (NCA): With a recent consolidation that has NCA now operating exclusively on our campus, there is tremendous potential to strengthen the relationship between the parish and school. We hope to find someone who values having a Catholic school on parish grounds and sees this partnership as an opportunity for mutual growth and enrichment.
- Vision and Innovation in Ministry: Ours is a faithful community that hungers for more meaningful opportunities to enliven and animate our connection with the Holy. We therefore desire a pastor who is visionary, creative, and ready to continue our tradition of good liturgy and preaching, supporting current worship services such as our ‘Gym Mass’ foster spiritual growth, and who embodies and embraces an expansive theology.
Looking Ahead
St. Gertrude Parish is a community brimming with opportunity. Our parishioners are passionate, enthusiastic, talented, and generous. We are ready to welcome and support a leader who can guide us to realize our full potential, to enable us to sustain our mission of faith and service long into the future.
Prayer for a New Pastor
God of new beginnings, be with us, the people of St. Gertrude, as we await the appointment of our next Pastor. Enable us, in this time of waiting, to be a people of hope, trusting in the presence and power of the Spirit.
We thank you for the pastoral leadership of all who have been pastors of our faith community, for those who have ministered as members of pastoral staffs over the years, and for the gifts of the Spirit shared in countless ways by those whose lives have graced this sacred space.
May the community of St. Gertrude continue to be a beacon of welcome, of hope, of reconciliation, of peace and justice for all who seek you.
Bless those priests who may be considering applying to be the next pastor of our faith
community and of all who will be a part of the discernment and selection process. Bless the works of our hands. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!
Join Our Choir!
Happy 2025! As the new year begins, are you looking for other ways to contribute to the Mass that you know and love? Consider joining the choir to help us further make a joyful sound!
Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. All voices are welcome. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please email me at jhannau@stgertrudechicago.org.
Teens are Invited to Register for St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience
This summer, from June 23-27, parish teens are invited to take part in St. Gertrude's Youth Mission Experience! Teens in seventh grade through high school will volunteer with a different Chicagoland organization each day.
This is an excellent opportunity to have fun and earn volunteer hours! There is a $100 fee for the week. A $50 deposit is required at the time of registration. Please note that there are scholarships available! All participants will receive a t-shirt, water bottle, and a sports drawstring backpack.
To reserve a spot or for more information, contact pastoral associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025: Gathering in Hyde Park on Saturday, January 18
There will be a gathering to celebrate the 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 5:00-7:00 pm on Saturday, January 18 at Living Word Community Church, 5407 S. Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago.
Christians in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity every year from January 18 to 25. During this week, we are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for the unity of his followers stated in John 17:21, “Father, may they be one as You and I are one.”
The 2025 theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is Do you believe this? (Jn 11:26) This was the question that Jesus asked Martha, Lazarus' sister, after sharing with her "Your brother will rise again." Prayer and action will be effective if they are based on our firm trust in God and by living in a way that is consistent with our belief.
If you would like more information about this event in Hyde Park, please contact Allen Stryczek at astryczek@sbcglobal.net.
Kids Word 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.
Fr. Mike Bradley and Laurie Hasbrook are Recognized as 2024 Edgewater Treasures
On Saturday, November 2, Fr. Mike Bradley and Laurie Hasbrook, along Dr. Jamal Husain, were recognized as 2024 Living Treasures of Edgewater!
Edgewater Living Treasures are residents of Edgewater who have made a difference, some in a profound, fundamental way, and others in a small but significant action that has affected the well being of the Edgewater community. Their deeds were not driven by personal gain, but to help the people of the community – whether generating beauty, fostering harmony, helping the less fortunate or encouraging grass roots activity.
In addition to his work at the Archdiocese and St. Gertrude parish, especially the Heart to Heart ministry, Fr. Mike has raised funds for an AIDs clinic in Uganda, Catholic Charities in Chicago, Leukemia Society, and Northside Catholic Academy.
Laurie has worked diligently to improve the lives of others in Edgewater for more than 20 years. She has served as a support person for Iraqi refugee families and assisted migrants who gathered around the 24th District police station, sleeping on the ground without food or adequate clothing. Laurie has also worked with various mutual aid networks and WhatsApp groups to distribute goods and services to help these new neighbors. And her work at St. Gertrude, especially with the Lending Closet, has been a blessing to so many!
Pet Blessing Pictures
Thank you to those who came out this past Sunday for our annual Pet Blessing!
We were so happy to see those family members who don't usually attend Mass.
Heart to Heart Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Kowalsky
The Heart to Heart Lending Closet provides durable medical equipment to people throughout Chicagoland. Items donated to us for distribution are gently used and in good condition. But when we get a perfectly sturdy wheelchair, transport chair, or rollator with a flat tire or loose supports -- Michael Kowalsky comes to the rescue!
Michael is a Heart to Heart volunteer with a knack for diagnosing the most perplexing equipment issues. Thanks to Michael, along with the folks who donate to us, we're able to keep our mobility room well-stocked!
Items Needed for the Lending Closet
The Lending Closet is in dire need of rollator walkers (walkers with a seat.)
Please e-mail or call the Lending Closet manager Laurie Hasbrook at lhasbrook@stgertrudechicago.org or 773-973-5464 ext. 115 if have one to donate.
An Update from the Refugee & Immigration Ministry: Welcome to a New Family! (August 2024 Update)
Thanks to your extraordinary support, we are once again able to sponsor a newly arriving refugee family. We are working with Refugee One rather than Catholic Charities now, and I think you'll be impressed with all the support they provide.
This family of four is from Venezuela, and just recently arrived, flying into O'Hare via Ecuador. This is a young Catholic family, with one 8-year-old daughter and a 10-month-old son. The husband's father is already in Chicago, living on the South Side.
A case manager from Refugee One welcomed them at the airport. Since they had arrived to the U.S. through another city and cleared customs there, it went quickly and they were able to go straight to their apartment, where there was a culturally-appropriate, hot meal waiting for them, along with a kitchen stocked with groceries. They were also given a cell phone with one year of service, CTA cards, pocket money, and directions to the nearest grocery stores. The parents were very tired from the travel, and after a brief apartment orientation, the staff left so they could rest. The husband's father was able to visit them later the same evening. What a blessing to be reunited!
The case worker visited them again the next day to check in and answer any questions they had. The father shared that he worked as a barber in Ecuador since 2018 and would like to pursue that career path here! Eventually they'd like to live closer to family, but of course that will take some time.
The family was scheduled to go to Refugee One for their intake appointment shortly after their arrival; this allowed them to learn more about the services being offered to them, and for Refugee One staff to start to get to know them. Afterwards, the case worker was set to orient them to the CTA and practice the route from RefugeeOne to their apartment. They’ve begun an 8-week Cultural Orientation series (childcare is provided). “CO” is an 8-week long program for adults that focuses on topics like rights as a US resident, cultural norms in the U.S., carrying personal identification, U.S. laws, money management, creating a budget, steps to getting a job, the importance of paying taxes, and so much more. They’ll also be assessed for English level afterward and will be enrolled into one of the in-house classes or referred elsewhere, depending on their assessment outcome.
The next few weeks will be busy with school enrollment for their daughter, English classes, CO, and employment support, all while adjusting to their new home. Refugee One said, "We’re so grateful to St. Gertrude’s support in ensuring the Garcias received a warm and comfortable welcome to Chicago."
As you can see, the agency has a spectacularly well-organized on-boarding process. It's been wonderful working with them, and I wanted you all to know the wonderful result of your generosity and kindness.
On behalf of the Refugee and Immigrant Ministry,
Denise Goodman
Two Marriage Programs Available
Are You Struggling in Your Marriage?
If your marriage has become troubled or stressed, unloving or uncaring, or if your relationship has grown cold or distant, if you are thinking of separation or divorce, or if you are already separated or divorced, but you want to try again, then the Retrouvaille program can help you.
For more upcoming dates, information, or to
register, call 1.800.470.2230, 224-534-9235 or go to helpourmarriage.org.
Learn the Art of Living your Marriage Journey
As Pope Francis states, living together is an art and can be a beautiful journey. Marriage can be challenging with family, work, finances, kids, busy schedules and al that life offers. Losing focus on what is important in life is easy.
A Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend experience focuses on what's important in your marriage and provides the tools to live a beautiful journey together. It's for any married couple that desires a richer, fuller life together.
For more info, visit www.wwme.org.
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Spiritual Directors/Companions Available
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 Munro and Lori Dressel 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.
St. Francis Catholic Worker House of Hospitality
St. Francis House is a home offering hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement, located in the Uptown neighborhood at 4652 N. Kenmore.
All are welcome to come by for dinner any Monday at 6:00 pm! Curious about this tradition? Read about in the Chicago Catholic at https://rb.gy/10e7pw.
Thank you to the parish for all your support and prayers. The youth had a wonderful community mission week impacting lives in the community and beyond. We volunteered at the following organizations this week: The West Ridge Nature Park, Care for Real, Cradles to Crayons, and Feed My Starving Children. We then celebrated all our hard work with a day at the beach at the end of the week.
Special thanks to Jennifer Reyes and Anh Tran for helping to organize and lead the activities of the Mission week.
Mission Experience 2025 will be from June 23rd to the 27th. Hopefully, your child is interested in joining us next year!
Rest in peace notices & funeral information
Cheryl Stanton
- wife of Tom, mother to Megan, Mike, Katie, Tom, Paddy, Pete, Anne and Liam, grandmother to 16
Valerie Patterson
- sister of Sherl Patterson, St. Gert's office manager
Paul William Kelly
- father of Paul Kelly
Enoch Rivers
- husband of Rosemary Castronova-Rivers
Mary Amelse
- Funeral info here
Arlene Kaspik
- Funeral info here
Maggie McSweeney
- Funeral info here
Marie Schonberger
- Coming
Mark Schreiner
- son of Therese Schreiner
Michael Cannon
Marie Roti
- funeral Tuesday, November 26 at St. Gertrude
Carol Shields
- mother of Tracy Shields