Social Justice Organizations

Social Justice Groups at St. Gertrude

St. Gertrude is a parish comprised of people who are united by their faith and commitment to the Church’s teaching of human dignity and social justice. We seek to transform the principles of Catholic Social Teaching into concrete social actions through nurturing a greater public presence on justice and peace issues.

Listed below are several wonderful groups that our parish supports in order to serve the Edgewater community and the wider world. Due to COVID, many of these ministries have limited meetings or meet via Zoom. For more information about these groups and when/if they are meeting, please email stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org or call the Rectory at 773.743.6277.

Committee Against Domestic Violence

Domestic abuse ranges from physical violence to sexual, emotional, verbal, and economic abuse perpetrated by one partner in a relationship against the other. Most victims are women, and statistics show that one in three women suffers domestic abuse.

The goal of this committee is to inform the parish about the causes and nature of domestic abuse and about the resources available for abused women. We are not a counseling group, and do not meet regularly, but our goal is to become a source of information for abused women.

Please visit our Domestic Violence Resource Help page.

Click here to visit our Domestic Violence Resource Help page

Commonweal Conversation

Parishioners of St. Gertrude, St. Gregory, and interested neighbors gather monthly to discuss a different topic with various points of view, particularly those at the intersection of faith and the political issues of the day. The group gathers monthly to have thoughtful and civil conversations despite the very polarized political atmosphere we live in.

This group now meets via Zoom.

Northside Catholic Academy Green Team

Comprised of NCA and the six parishes that feed into it, this group’s goal is “to create a strong faith community for all ages rooted in care for creation in partnership with Northside Catholic Academy.” The monthly meetings include an educational, spiritual, and actionable component.

Social Justice: Peace and Justice Committee

As people of faith, we are commissioned to call out many of the injustices in our world. There is an urgent need now more than ever for us to be a church not only of statements and prayers but one of action, where God’s love, justice, and mercy can grow. We are looking for people who would be willing to be part of this committee, to help focus on specific injustices and to facilitate parish social justice activities.

St. Gertrude Refugee and Immigrant Ministry

This group sponsors refugees and immigrants, providing both financial and emotional support as they settle into their new lives in Chicago.

Here is a list of the people this ministry has helped.
Check out this great video from our amazing Refugee & Immigrant Ministry!
Denise Goodman's Growing in Faith article links the mercy of God's love and the work of the Refugee & Immigrant Ministry.
This article details how this ministry changed the life of Kadidja and her daughters

United Power for Action and Justice

United Power works with faith communities, including St. Gertrude Parish, to help them connect and put their power behind the issues that matter most to them. The group is currently working on issues related to gun violence, health care, affordable housing, immigration, and violence prevention.