Online Religious Ed Classes Jan 30/Confirmation & 1st Commun

All Religious Ed classes will be held remotely on January 30.  Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have not received meeting information yet.  

On Saturday, January 29, the first retreat for Confirmation Candidates will be held from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.  Contact Eloy Escamilla, our Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org if you have not received meeting information yet.  

There is a parent meeting on Thursday, February 10 at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall, 1401 West Granville Avenue, for children who will make their First Communion in May. Please note our requirements stated in our Religious Ed handbook, "

Any student who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Communion in St. Gertrude Church in 2022 must  have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation, and have completed at least two years of preparation for the reception of the sacrament." We do ask that parents only attend and thank you in advance for being on time.

~ Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, Religious Education and Youth Ministry  

The youth group’s Summer Mission Trip will be July 17-22. The group will travel to Lake Traverse, South Dakota. All teens in grades 7-12 who attend parish youth group meetings regularly are welcome to take part in this jam-packed week of service, friendship, and fun! Space is limited.

The cost is $379 per person, not including transportation. A nonrefundable $50 deposit is due by Sunday, February 13, 2022. A nonrefundable half payment of $100 is due by Monday, February 28. The final payment deadline date will be shared in the future. We are organizing some fundraising events to offset these expenses. 

Please consider two factors when deciding about the Mission Trip - the pandemic is likely to still be ongoing in July and we are traveling to and from South Dakota in a passenger van. (A close space considering the pandemic).

For more information about the mission trip, please visit the Lake Traverse Youth Mission Trip | YouthWorks website. If you have any questions, please email me at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.

~ Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, Religious Education and Youth Ministry 

We are looking for volunteers to help with our Kids Word Ministry, which will resume in a few weeks. During the 10:30 am Mass in church, kids ages 5-9 are invited to attend Kids Word after the opening prayer to learn age-appropriate lessons. 

To help, contact Eloy Escamilla, Pastoral Associate, Religious Education and Youth Ministry, at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org or call 773.764.3621.  

Eloy Escamilla joined the parish staff on Monday, August 2 as the Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry here at St. Gertrude. 

Eloy comes to us after six years in a similar position at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish on the southeast side of Chicago.  He has received both a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. 

Eloy's email is eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org. 

Below is a letter from Eloy:

Hello! My name is Eloy Escamilla, and I am the new Pastoral Associate for Religious Education and Youth Ministry here at St. Gertrude Church. I am from Pachuca, Hgo., Northeast of Mexico City. I obtained a Master of Arts in Theology, majoring in Scriptures (New Testament) and a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. I am so excited and thankful to God to be a new member of the staff! 

It is always exciting to come to a new place and learn new things, get to know new people, and share our talents so together we can all build up the Kingdom of God that Jesus would always talk about.

Teaching Religion is one of my passions, so I am looking forward to meeting with our students who attend Religious Education classes. I am also looking forward to meeting and working with catechists/teachers and parents who share their faith with our students. And of course, I am looking forward to meeting you all!  

I am always going to try to do my best with a big smile! 

Prayers! 

~ Eloy Escamilla