February 22, 2015 - St. Gertrude Catholic Parish

St. Gertrude
ALL ARE WELCOME
1420 W. Granville Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60660 ● Telephone: 773-764-3621
First Sunday of Lent ● February 22, 2015
A rainbow is a
reminder of God’s
love for us.
“This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come,
of the covenant between me and you
and every living creature with you:
I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign
of the covenant between me and the earth.
When I bring clouds over the earth,
and the bow appears in the clouds,
I will recall the covenant I have made
between me and you and all living beings,
so that the waters shall never again become a flood
to destroy all mortal beings.”
~ GN 9:8-15
Page Two
St. Gertrude Parish
February 22, 2015
From Father Grassi
Our Lenten journey has begun. Here is the first suggestion I invite us to consider. If you are 30 years or
older, find an old high school photograph of yourself. If you are younger, an 8th grade graduation picture will
do. Make a copy, even if it made you cringe a little bit. Send it to family, friends and co-workers. Carry it with
you and show it to people. The laughter and the funny comments will do wonders for our humility. It will also
serve as a reminder that the transformation which should be the outcome of the Lenten journey we have just
begun must be more than the external changes that happen to us as the years pass.
While there certainly is nothing wrong with “giving up” candy or pouring cream in our coffee or watching
Downton Abbey on PBS (okay, The Big Bang Theory), Lent demands a whole lot more of us. Return to me
with all your heart, emphasis on all. Lent gives us the opportunity to realize that we don’t stay the same. We
couldn’t if we wanted to. The haircuts, glass frames, clothes styles that defined us back then as “cool” are an
embarrassment now. The youth we took for granted then is now sorely missed when we look at those old
pictures.
Like Jesus being driven into the desert in the Gospel and remaining there 40 days, we need to take the time
Lent affords us to look deep within ourselves. We need to ask the hard questions. What do I need to do to
become kind enough to be the conduit of God’s love to others? How have I failed in
my treatment of both my loved ones and the stranger on the street and everyone in
between? What happened to all I had committed myself to do last Lent?
When Holy Week passes and Lent with it and the time comes to celebrate the
Resurrection of Jesus, what will we have done this Lent that will have transformed us
from the source of pain and despair caused by our sinfulness to the Easter people that
bring the joy of the risen Lord to our world? It won’t be easy. It will be 40 days in the
desert among the wild beasts (cf, today’s Gospel). But the transformation will be worth
it. The angels will minister to us (cf, the Gospel again). And then how much easier it
will be to live with ourselves and how much easier it will be for others to live with us!
~ DJG
A funny thing happened on the way to writing this
reflection…I stopped to ask fellow travelers via Facebook or
face-to-face ‘what inspires you on your Lenten journey?’ Here
are some of their wonderful responses:
Fr. James Martin’s, newest book, Jesus: A Pilgrimage is great. “Well-suited to be read slowly over 40
days,” says Jim. From Mike, How to W ake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow by
Toni Bernhard. “Try The Little Black Book published by diocese of Saginaw,” says Bill. Says Martha, “You
must include some John O’Donohue. Everything he writes is beautiful and inspiring, but I know that his book
To Bless the Space Between Us is a great one.”
“Loyola University has a 3-Minute Retreat Mobile App,” says Mary Pat, “or take a look at daily reflections
available via Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl App.”
“Music,” says Jeff, “Songs by Leonard Cohen (which all have great You Tube performances) - Hallelujah,
If It Be Your Will, Show Me The Place, Come Healing, Going Home and of course,
Anthem.”
“Poetry,” says Marianne, “The True Love by David Whyte, ‘There’s a faith in
loving fiercely…’." “Movies, of course, The Robe, King of Kings,” says Mimi, “ but
also “Babette’s Feast, Places in the Heart.” Adds Clare, the Australian film Tracks.
“One prayer is all you need,” says Meg, “St. Teresa of Avila: Let nothing upset
you… Whoever has God lacks nothing: God alone is enough.”
Top inspirational suggestion? Start your own conversation! Put the question out
in your own circles – you will be inspired by the responses coming back to you!
~ Madeleine Philbin for Growing in Faith
Page Three
St. Gertrude Parish
February 22, 2015
Spotlight
This Lent, you are encouraged to raise up the needs of the world in prayer, to sacrifice by giving up food
and material wants, and to offer your time, talent and treasure as good stewards of the gifts God has given
you.
The Church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday by the threefold
discipline of fasting, alms giving and prayer.
Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years and older on all Fridays of Lent. Fasting
is to be observed on Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who meet the
criteria may take only one full meal. Two small meals are permitted is necessary to maintain strength
according to one’s needs; however, eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.
Setting aside time for prayer and reflection is to be observed in preparation for the celebration of Easter as
we renew our Baptismal vows.
Taking part in Operation Rice Bowl gives a focus to alms giving by supporting Catholic Relief Service in
their development projects overseas. These projects help individuals and communities use their own potential
and capacity to improve their lives. By contributing to CRS Rice Bowl, participants give more than money:
contributions help provide the resources and training that empower communities to create sustainable change.
Lenten Schedule:
 Faith Sharing Groups will be meeting thr oughout Lent at var ious time and var ious locations.
Contact Kevin at the Rectory if you would like more information.
 Stations of the Cross will be pr ayed at 2:00pm on the following Fr idays, Febr uar y 20, Mar ch 6,
March 13, March 27 and at 3:00pm on Good Friday, April 3.
 Lenten Reconciliation will be Fr iday, Febr uar y 27. Individual confession will be available in the afternoon from 2:00-5:00pm. Communal Reconciliation in the spirit of Taizé will begin at 7:00pm.
 Lenten Reflections with the Ladies’ Friendship Club take place Thur sday, Mar ch 12.
 Song and Story: a Reflection will take place in the Chur ch on Wednesday, Mar ch 18 at 7:00pm.
Join Fr. Dom and Mark Teresi in an evening of prayer.
Parish Calendar
Thursday, February 26
 10:00am ~ Retired Men’s Club in the Ministry
Center
Friday, February 27
 7:00pm ~ Lenten Reconciliation Service
Thursday, March 12
 Lenten Reflections with the Ladies’ Friendship
Club in Church.
Wednesday, March 18
 7:00pm ~ Song and Story: a Reflection in
Church
Palm Sunday, March 29
 8:00am ~ Liturgy
 9:30am ~ St. Gertrude East
 11:00am ~ Combined Liturgy, including the
reading of the Passion and the outdoor
procession with palms
Holy Thursday, April 2
 7:30pm ~ Liturgy of the Last Supper with
Washing of Feet
 Church will be open all night for Eucharistic
Adoration.
Good Friday, April 3
 3:00pm ~ Stations of the Cross
 7:30pm ~ Service of the Lord’s Passion
Holy Saturday, April 4
 11:00am ~ Blessing of Easter Food
 3:00-4:00pm ~ Reconciliation
 7:30pm ~ Easter Vigil Liturgy with Rite of
Christian Initiation
Easter Sunday, April 5
 8:00am, 10:00am, and 11:30am ~ Masses
 9:30am ~ St. Gertrude East
 10:30am ~ Gym Mass
Page Four
St. Gertrude Parish
February 22, 2015
Parish News
Market Day: Market Day orders are due online by
10:00pm on Tuesday, February 24. Pickup is
Saturday, February 28 from 9:00-10:00am in the
NCA cafeteria.
An Issue with Our Mail: The Rectory is
experiencing a problem with our mail delivery since
our regular mail carrier went on leave, with letters
sent to the Rectory being returned to senders. If you
have sent checks to the Rectory, they may not have
been received. Our business manager, Marge Butzen,
is working to address this issue and has met with the
Devon Avenue Post Office Station Master, as well as
Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s office. If you have
experienced this issue, please email our contact,
Taina Rodriguez, at Rep. Schakowsky’s office at
taina.rodriguez@mail.house.gov.
Charitable Donations: Letters from St. Gertrude
have
gone
out,
acknowledging
charitable
donations
made in 2014.
If
you have not received
your
letter
yet,
contact Marge Butzen
at 773-764-3621 or at
mbutzen@stgertrudechicago.org.
Thank you for your ongoing support and regular
giving. Your stewardship is very much
appreciated!
Retired Men’s Club: This month’s meeting will
be held on Thursday, February 26 at 10:00am in the
Ministry Center. The speakers are from Loyola
University,
Summur
Robert,
Director
of
Community Relations and Mary Miro, Community
Relations Specialist. For more information, call Jim
Corbett at 773-631-9920.
Lenten Reconciliation: What do I need to talk to
God about? Where do I need forgiveness? Our
Reconciliation
Service, in the spirit
of Taizé, will be held
on Friday, February
27 at 7:00pm.
Cabaret Wrap Up: Last week’s Cabaret was
absolutely wonderful! Thanks go out to the many
talented people who
worked so hard to put
on an amazing show,
the volunteers who
gave their time, and
the W.O.W. teens
who babysat for
children so their
parents could have a night out.
Church Cleaning: Last Monday, a group of
dedicated high
school students
from
Jesuit
schools,
including
Loyola, Cristo
Rey, Christ the
King and St.
Ignatius, cleaned
the Church until
it
sparkled.
Their time and efforts were greatly appreciated!
Snow Angels: A number of parishioners jumped
in to help last Sunday by shoveling the steps to
Church and the Gym when the snow began to come
down heavily. Thank you for your help!
Youth Ministry
Pack-A-Pantry Through Sunday, March 8:
The Confirmation candidates will host the second
annual Lenten Food Drive for Care for Real. The
candidates for Confirmation will distribute brown
bags today, Sunday, February 22, after all of the
Masses, and ask you return them filled with food.
We will collect the filled bags in the back of Church
until Sunday, March 8. Consider how your
participation in the
food drive could be
a part of your
Lenten journey and
help us help others
and pack the pantry
at Care for Real!
St. Gertrude Parish
Page Five
February 22, 2015
Our Lenten Journey
Family Conversion - Relationship Conversion
Lent can be a good time to reflect on the people who mean the most to us and the relationships we hold
most dear. For those of us who live in industrialized countries, it can be jarring to realize that our time together
as a family might amount to no more than a few minutes a day. Our lives are independent as we scatter in
different directions each day for work, school or childcare.
This season of reflection and renewal might be an appropriate time to pray about our family lives and how
we can be more thoughtful and prayerful about Lent as a family.
Perhaps we could hold a family meeting over dinner or some other relaxed place. We could discuss Lent
and the symbols of the season. We might want to talk about how our faith life is not a journey we make alone,
but one we are in as a community, as a family.
One Lenten family practice might include a daily act of love for our family. Can we look around and see
some small thing that needs to be done to make our lives together better? Is there laundry to sort or dishes to
be washed? Is there a floor that needs sweeping or a room that needs dusting? Just one effort by each of us
each day can make a dramatic difference in sharing the workload in the family. The grace we are reaching for
goes beyond getting the garbage taken out, for example. We know it is a grace when my experience of taking
the garbage out, feels to me like an act of love, an act of solidarity as a family. Perhaps the simplest way to
prepare for this grace is to pray:
Dear Lord, may this simple, ordinary sacrifice of my time for the sake of those I love, draw us closer
together as a family whose hearts you are drawing to yourself in the togetherness of our family love.
One of the real graces of Lent has to do with forgiveness and reconciliation – mercy and healing. This is
never simply a matter between Jesus and me. It always has something to do with my family and with my
relationships – how we are with each other. What in us needs mercy and healing? What patterns that we have
need our reflections and common family choices and actions this Lent?
Taken from the Praying Lent pages of Creighton University's Online Ministries website:
www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html. Used with Permission.
Lenten Reflection
Where Do You Find God?
In today’s reading, God promises to be with us. In
order to begin a relationship with God, we have to
start by looking for God intentionally everywhere.
Where is God in your life? In your family? In
your community? Spend some time looking for God.
Community Events
News for Veterans/National Guardsmen/
Reservists and Active Duty Soldiers and
Sailors: A free military and veterans discount card
is available at the Cook County Recorder of Deeds/
Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs,
offering discounts from more than 150 Cook County
merchants.
On Saturday,
February 28,
the
Park
Ridge VFW,
located at 10
Higgins
Road, will host a military veterans discount card
sign up event from 12:00pm – 4:00pm.
Interested applicants should bring their DD-214,
VA medical card or valid active duty/reservist/NG
card. For more information, please call 312-6035788 or visit cookrecorder.com/militarydiscount.
Page Six
St. Gertrude Parish
February 22, 2015
Parish Finances
This year, our son Nate, a second grader, will make two pivotal Sacraments that I know will help shape his
life – his First Reconciliation and his First Communion. His excitement about these milestones is definitely
palpable in our house! As Pope Francis reminds us, “the Sacraments express and realize
an effective and profound communion among us, for in them we encounter Christ the
Savior and, through him, our brothers and sisters in faith.” We consider ourselves
immeasurably blessed to have found a community in St. Gertrude as we
continue our walk of faith and as we watch our children commit themselves to the
church through these sacraments.
I wanted to acknowledge with enormous gratitude my fellow parishioners who read, listened, and
responded helping our community end 2014 in the black. It is through our concerted efforts as a parish that we
can maintain our relevance as a parish community and continue the parish ministries in order to “love one
another” seeing to the needs of all parish members. Pope Francis also reminds us that “to love God and
neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete: it means seeing in every person the face of the
Lord to be served, to serve him concretely. And you are, dear brothers and sisters, the face of Jesus.” This is
true of each and every experience I have at St. Gertrude. I see the face of Jesus through the raising up our
collective voices in prayer together at Mass, the wit and humor of Fr. Dom and Fr. Mike as they help us to
connect to the Gospel messages, the greeters offering kindest welcome to St. Gertrude, the circle of people
around the giving tree each Advent, the roar of laughter during a homegrown parish play to support Heart to
Heart, the tales of service from the W.O.W. Teen trips, and the extraordinary kindness of parishioners who are
patiently amused by the antics of our toddler at Mass.
As we enter the holy season of Lent, let us be reminded of a common purpose as the Church: to better the
world through holy acts that reflect Jesus’ vital message for us in the Gospel. Allow us to reflect on how as a
strong parish community that sits on a sturdy and sound financial ground, we can come together to exercise
God’s will in the world and create a more peaceful place. Please continue to prayerfully consider what you
can do to help St. Gertrude maintain the vibrant and generous nature of our parish community during 2015.
~ Colleen Fulkerson, Parish Finance Council
January Finances
January Income
Sunday
Christmas
Easter
lease
fundraising
masses/sacraments
January Expenses
Salaries
Benefits
Liturgical
Administrative
Maintenance
Utilities
Assessments
Support to NCA
Total Income
Total Expenses
49,328.82
2,715.00
300.00
608.63
-271.00
7,990.00
$60,671.45
21,776.76
5,476.00
881.97
3680.57
1,572.96
3,440.74
13,479.00
7,823.81
$58,131.81
$60,671.45
$58,131.81
Good news, we continue to remain in the black!
What a great way to start the new year!
Thank you all so very much for your consistent
giving. As we continue to stay in the black, the
parish can look at how we can better commit to
parish ministries and programs, as well as start
saving for those long-range expenses like a new
roof!
Page Seven
St. Gertrude Parish
February 22, 2015
Northside Catholic Academy
Buildings and Grounds News
Congratulations to NCA Geography and
Spelling Bee Winners: In January, NCA held its
annual Geography Bee and Spelling Bee for grades 5
-8. Congratulations to all the middle school students
who participated! They worked very hard to get to
the level of representing their classroom, and NCA is
very
proud
of
their
accomplishments.
The Geography Bee was impressive. Students
had to interpret
maps, as well
as
verbally
give or write
answers about
all parts of the
world.
Josef
Heidkamp, a
5th
grader,
placed third.
Henry
Van
Our geography bee winners!
Zytveld, an 8th
grader, placed second. And our first place winner,
carrying on the tradition of his two older brothers,
was Charlie Lewis, an 8th grader. Charlie will take a
written test to see if he continues on to the National
Geography Bee.
The Spelling Bee was equally exciting, with 34
rounds. Arianna
Aquino,
from the 7th
grade, placed
third.
Lucas
Ashbeck, a 6th
grader, placed
second, and his
brother
Mark
Ashbeck, in 7th
The spelling bee winners!
grade, was the
winner. Mark will now compete in the
regional Spelling Bee.
Special thanks to the Social Studies teachers for
holding the classroom bees, to Mr. Wirtz and Mrs.
Kubistal for running the Geography Bee, to all our
Language Arts teachers for conducting their
individual classroom bees, to Mr. Lakowski and Ms.
O’Neill for running the bees, and to Mrs. Mongan
for serving as a judge.
Last week, the Building and Grounds committee met
with Berglund Construction to review the
construction schedule and logistics for staging the
work to be done over the next six months. From mid
-February through mid-March, the work completed
will be behind-the-scenes: applying for permits,
creating shop drawings and
reviewing various submittals
(i.e.,
hardware,
marble).
Starting in mid-March, the
work will begin in earnest as
Berglund places scaffolding
around the bell tower and
installs temporary doors at the
Church
entrances.
A
construction schedule will be
posted at the back of Church
so you can track the progress, including when street
parking will be affected as the boom lift makes its
way around the campus. We will continue to keep
you updated on our construction progress.
Sound System Update
Some of you may have noticed a slight bit of
feedback in the new sound system speakers. The
sound system has three main components - the
microphones, the speakers and the mixer. The mixer,
housed in the sacristy, controls how the sound from
the microphones blends together. Last spring when
we assessed our system, we had hoped the fifteen
year-old
mixer
could last a few
more
years
supporting the new
speakers. Alas, it
needs
to
be
replaced
sooner
rather than later.
Our
consultants,
Threshold
Acoustics,
are
assisting us in
obtaining a mixer which is within our budget and
meets the sound needs of our parish and complements our new speakers and existing microphones.
Thank you for your patience.
St. Gertrude Parish
Page Eight
Our Parish at Prayer
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23
7:30am Patricia Kelly =
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
7:30am Zoran Tvrtkovic, Sr. =
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
7:30am Wayne Barker =
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 (Communion Service)
7:30am Bart Kohl =
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
7:30am Ben Rusin =
February 22, 2015
Readings for the Week
Monday:
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Ps 19:8-10, 15;
Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday: Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7, 16-19; Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19;
Lk 11:29-32
Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8;
Mt 7:7-12
Friday:
Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26
Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48
Sunday:
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116:10,
15-19; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
7:30am Lenten Intentions
5:00pm Cecille and Paul Heidkamp and Family =
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
8:00am Eileen Williams =
9:30am The Family of St. Gertrude =
10:00am Margaret Hanafee =
10:30am Special Intention
11:30am McNichols Family
= Indicates person mentioned is deceased.
Eucharistic Ministers
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
5:00pm Debra Novak, Candace Koch, Brad Koch,
John Sullivan
Ministers of the Word
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
5:00pm Clarisse Chonka, Pat Reardon
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
8:00am
9:30am
10:00am
10:30am
11:30am
Johnny Outlaw, Mark Kollar
TBD
Bob Backis, Chris Curran
Therese and Steve Laslo
Michelle Kuehlhorn, Troy McMillian
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
8:00am Hallie Burhoe, Barb Daly, Bill Mitchell,
Peter Morin, Johnny Outlaw
9:30am Pat Riley
10:00am Bob Backis, Chris Curran, Sr. Janet
Lawrence, Carlos Barragan, Ruth Ott,
Val Hastings
10:30am Lu Radzicki
11:30am Richard Ashbeck, Jana Ashbeck, Lina
Peon
Altar Servers
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
5:00pm Rebecca Nader, Alexandra Nader, Laszlo
Katona
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
10:00am Lizzie O'Brien, Jonathan Elue, Lauren
Elue
11:30am Ethan Vargas, Kayla Vargas, Ellie Siegle
Ministers of Welcome
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
5:00pm Helen Banta
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
8:00am
9:30am
10:00am
10:30am
11:30am
Joe Donnelly, Phyllis Raine
Pat Riley
Rafael Melendez, Ray Seitz
TBD
Chrissie Bolan, Michelle Kuehlhorn
St. Gertrude Parish
Page Nine
Milestones
February 22, 2015
Bulletin Announcement
New Parishioners
Nnaji Godbring
Wedding Banns
Natalie Kohn and Adam McLemore
(III)
If you have information for the bulletin, please note
the following deadlines to submit content:
 Bulletin for Sunday, March 22, copy is due on
Monday, March 16 by 9:00am.
 Bulletin for Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday),
copy is due on Monday, March 16 by 9:00am.
 Bulletin for Sunday, April 5 (Easter), copy is due
Monday, March 23 by 9:00am.
 Bulletin for Sunday, April 12, copy is due on
Monday, March 30 by 9:00am.
Please Come Join Us
Deaths
May he rest in peace
Ben Rusin
If you have been attending Mass and other activities
at St. Gertrude and have been thinking of becoming
a member of our parish community, please consider
registering. Just ask for the simple, one page
registration form from:
one of the greeters after all the Sunday Masses
at the Rectory (1420 W. Granville Ave.) or
online at stgertrudechicago.org.
.
ST. GERTRUDE PASTORAL SERVICES
OFFICE OF THE PASTOR
Rev. Dominic Grassi, Pastor
Marge Butzen, Director of Parish Management and Facilities
Kevin Chears, Director of Parish Leadership and Ministry Formation
Mary Ann Collins, Director of Parish Social Services
Mary Herbin-Horan, Minister of Music
Tracy Shields, Minister of First Impressions/Communication
LOCATIONS:
Rectory: 1420 W. Granville Ave., Chicago, IL 60660; Phone 773-764-3621.
Fax 773-761-4164; E-mail stgertrude1420@sbcglobal.net
Website: http://www.stgertrudechicago.org
Ministry Center: 6214 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60660.
Social Services Phone: 773-973-5464.
Social Hall: 1401 W. Granville Ave., Chicago, IL 60660.
OTHER PASTORAL STAFF
Rev. Michael Bradley, Resident
Rev. William Kenneally, Pastor Emeritus
Abigail Gapinski, Youth Minister
Carol Beatty, St Gertrude East Music Director
NEW PARISHIONERS
WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday: 8:00am, 10:00am, 11:30am
9:30am St. Gertrude East (Sacred Heart School/Sheridan and Granville)
10:30am Mass in the Gym (except summer months)
Monday through Friday: 7:30am (Thursday is a Communion Service.)
Saturday: 7:30am and 5:00pm (Sunday Vigil)
RECTORY BUSINESS HOURS
Monday, Tuesday: 8:00am to 7:30pm
Wednesday, Friday: 8:00am to 4:00pm
Thursday: Front Office/Reception closed
Saturday: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am to 1:00pm
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Individual: Saturday from 4:15-4:45pm and by request.
BAPTISM
Baptisms take place on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.
A parent preparation meeting is held the first Monday of each month at 7:00pm.
All arrangements should be made by calling the Rectory.
MARRIAGE
Arrangements begin by setting up an appointment with the Pastor. Preparations
are to begin at least four months prior to the desired date.
You are most welcome and are invited to stop in at the rectory to introduce yourself
and register. You may register with one of the greeters before or after any Mass.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC?
We have an enriching program called the R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation for
Adults). Contact the Rectory for details.
MINISTRY OF CARE AND COMMUNION
Trained ministers will gladly visit and bring communion to those who are sick or
homebound. Please call the Rectory to make arrangements.
HEART TO HEART
Senior outreach and social services connection: 773-973-5464
PARISH SCHOOL
Northside Catholic Academy: 773-743-6277
COMMUNITY MEETINGS HELD AT ST. GERTRUDE
Al-Anon: Sundays at 7:00pm in the Ministry Center
Open AA: Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the Ministry Center, and
Thursdays at 7:00pm in the school cafeteria.
Caris Pregnancy Center, pregnancy support, free pregnancy
tests, and post-abortion help: 312-229-5700.
Yoga: Wednesday at 7:00pm in the Ministry Center
Makko ho (Japanese yoga): Saturdays at 10am in the Ministry
Center