First Communion Class of 2024

We are so proud of the children from our Religious Ed program and NCA communities, Holy Child Jesus, St. Jerome, Mary Mother of God, and St. Gertrude, who will make their First Communion on Saturday, May 11!

They worked so hard and we are blessed to have their loving presence at our parish. 

We are especially thankful for Teresa Boyd and Mara Brecht from NCA and Dorothea Tobin, Suzanne Striczek, Melinda Banahene, Sandra Francis, Matilda Adeboye, and Hoang Do from our Religious Education Program, for their kind and patient instruction.  

Please continue to hold the First Communicants in your prayers as they experience the unfolding mystery of the Sacrament of Communion.

Read an article about  El Señor de Los Milagros (Our Lord of the Miracles)! This Spanish language article can be viewed in English by selecting English at the top of the screen.

On Sunday, October 16, St. Gertrude welcomed Bishop Bartosic and members of the Peruvian community in Chicagoland for a Feast Day celebration of El Señor de Los Milagros (Our Lord of the Miracles).

In Lima, Peru, homage to the Peruvian Shrine of El Señor de los Milagros is known as one of the largest Catholic processions in the world. It is venerated for three days every October and attended by thousands. Devotees pray to the Lord for miracles for health, relationships, jobs, or any life challenge.

This devotion began in 1687 after the original image of our Lord, painted by an African slave, remained unscathed after a high magnitude earthquake in 1655 destroyed everything. This was the first of many miracles. 

In 1979, the Lord of Miracles Mass, procession, and the Hermandad of El Señor de los Milagros (Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles) was established by six founders at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Over the past 43 years, thousands have attended the Chicago annual Mass and procession. There are countless testimonials of miracles to this day.

El Señor de Los Milagros shrine is now permanently housed in our parish after St. Ignatius closed. The shrine will temporarily be located in back of church. Its permanent home will be on the south wall just outside the shrine of the Little Flower (St. Therese of Lisieux).  

History of the Shrine and Our Lord of Miracle 

In Lima, Peru, homage to the Peruvian Shrine of Our Lord of Miracles (El Señor de los Milagros) is known as one of the largest Catholic processions in the world. It is venerated for three days every October and attended by thousands. Devotees pray to the Lord for miracles for health, relationships, jobs, or any life challenge.

This devotion began in 1687 after the original image of our Lord, painted by an African slave, remained unscathed after a high magnitude earthquake in 1655 destroyed everything. This was the first miracle. Over the past 43 years, thousands have attended the Chicago annual Mass and procession. There are countless testimonials of miracles to this day.

In 1979, the Lord of Miracles Mass and procession was established by six founders at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Teresa Mazzarri, the visionary, dreamt of God telling her to establish the procession in Chicago. Teresa told her sister, Vicky Ugarte, husband Cesar Ugarte, Cesar’s sister, Mercedes Ugarte, and family friends Felix Galvez and Luis Galvez, Sr. The group established the Hermandad of El Señor de los Milagros (Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles) as a nonprofit in Illinois with a founding board of 19 members, who were their closest friends and who shared the common vision of strong faith in the Lord. In 1981, the Shrine moved from Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Ignatius Church where it has been housed for 41 years. Today, Mr. Luis Galvez Sr. is the only surviving founder.

There are many Lord of Miracles Brotherhoods throughout the U. S. and in the world. Maria Luisa Ugarte, niece of visionary Teresa Mazzarri, niece of Mercedes Ugarte and daughter of Cesar & Vicky Ugarte has been filming a documentary to record the Chicago history while Mr. Luis Galvez Sr., the only surviving founder, is writing the book of the Chicago history. These community leaders plan to assure continuity of this very important cultural tradition in the Peruvian community of Chicagoland. 

Thank you to Fr. Rich and St. Gertrude Parish for welcoming us and for supporting the continuity of our mission of spirituality. We will honor the Lord through prayer groups and spiritual retreats in addition to the annual celebration. All are welcome to our ministry!

~ Maria Luisa Ugarte

I know you are all wondering how Miguel, Angie, and their kids are doing.

We are so grateful for all your support and prayers. As some of you may have known, Angie's sister, her husband and two kids were in a different shelter. We've been working to reunite the families and the great news is that we've been successful in doing so. This will help everyone, as the kids will have more support to overcome the stress and trauma of this move, and the adults can now share child care responsibilities, meaning that all four can work.

We have two requests: Angie needs the services of a dentist. So far we have been unable to find one who will do pro bono work. We are investigating Stroger, but if you know of anything please let me know to forward to Father Mike, or write Father Mike directly. Also, all four adults seek work of any kind.

Next, here is a press release from the City of Chicago: New Shelter Stay Policy, Additional Landing Zone Personnel and New Regulatory Measures

There are a lot of new restrictions and limitations that I'll summarize at the bottom. You can see why it was a blessing we could support an extended family at St. Ignatius, and why so much more needs to be done to ensure that their asylum hearing and various documents are moving along.

I think that's everything for now. Thank you for being a light to the world!

On behalf of the Refugee and Immigrant Ministry committee,

~ Denise Goodman

Some changes to highlight from the City's press release:

• Rental assistance has been reduced from 6 months to 3 months for newly qualifying families.
• Shelter residents who arrived to shelter on or prior to 11/16/2023, will maintain eligibility to apply for rental assistance.  
• Shelter residents who arrived to shelter on or after 11/17/2023, will not be eligible for rental assistance.  
• All families are now receiving a 60-day notice to leave their current shelter. This process happened in waves. 
• Families who arrived in shelter prior to 7/31/2023 have already received their 60-day notice.
• Later arrivals who entered shelter between 7/31/2023 - 11/16/2023 will begin receiving 60-day notices on 2/1/2024. 
• All new arrivals to shelter on or after 11/17/2023 will receive a 60-day notice upon intake.
• Families who do not have other housing options at the end of their 60-day notice must return to the migrant Landing Zone in the West Loop to place a new shelter request.
• All migrant families continue to be eligible for public aid benefits (Medicaid, WIC, etc.) through IDHS, health care access through Cook County Health, and school registration for children.
• City-provided legal services and case management will be available to help individuals apply for Temporary Protected Status, Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), and Asylum. 
• For those who have arrived after November 17, 2023, there is NO months of rental support. 

On Tuesday, March 18, teens from our Religious Education program and NCA made their Confirmation. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication! 

Those who made their Confirmation and their families should note that there is a second Confirmation retreat on Thursday, May 1 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Social Hall.