From Fr. Rich

Happy Thanksgiving! Everyone is invited to join in our special Thanksgiving Mass on Thursday, November 24th at 10:00 am. 

Children in Church

A note about young children in church. Recently some parents reported that someone had complained to them because their young child was walking around in the back of church. They were told, “Fr. Rich wouldn’t like it.” 

In fact, I DO like it!

I have oftentimes told parents who are worried about their kids making noise in church that, unless their child has a penetrating scream, mostly their noises blend into the ambient sound of church. I also always encourage parents to try to sit closer to the front because 

youngsters like to watch what is going on.

As for walking about in the back of church, I’m fine with that as well. These are, after all, children.

Generally speaking, it is counter-productive to make our future parishioners feel they are not welcome in church!  

I do realize I have a bias -- I have nine siblings. Although my memory is fuzzy, I kind of doubt we were perfect angels every Sunday at Mass!

Letter from Cardinal Cupich: Second Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is This Weekend

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 

In his message for the Sixth World Day of the Poor, the Holy Father calls us to renew our commitment to working to break the cycle of poverty: “Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated.” As followers of Christ, our active concern for those on the margins is not a responsibility that can be delegated. Instead, the individual call to amplify the voices that go unheard is uniquely written on each of our hearts. 

For more than fifty years, organizations funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human 

Development lead the call for all of us to stand in solidarity with those who have been 

marginalized in their communities and to act against injustice. ChiFresh Kitchen, a worker cooperative owned by formerly incarcerated Chicagoans, is one of many CCHD grant 

recipients. The purpose of ChiFresh is to create economic security and a thriving work 

environment for its worker-owners. It also seeks to improve the health of its community by offering individually packed meals to schools, community groups and government 

agencies. 

The Archdiocese of Chicago is proud that CCHD has its roots here in Chicago, led by the efforts of Bishop Michael Dempsey during the years he served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on the West Side. By emphasizing empowerment, participation and solidarity, CCHD continues the initiatives of Bishop Dempsey as it works to support resilient communities during continued adversity and struggle. To learn more about CCHD’s impact or to donate online, please visit www.CCHDChicago.org. 

Please consider contributing generously to CCHD through the second collection this 

weekend. Together, we must continue to sow the seeds of hope amongst those who find themselves on the margins in Chicagoland. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago 

All are Invited to the Annual ECRA Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - Sunday, November 20

The Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA) is an interfaith association of

religious organizations who work toward fostering friendships and understanding of other

faiths, nurture a thriving and just neighborhood, and create solutions to local problems.

ECRA hosts an annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service benefiting Care for Real that bring

together Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, as well as our friends from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindi faith.

All are invited to attend this service on Sunday, November 20 at 3:00 pm, hosted this year at Northshore Baptist Church, 5244 N. Lakewood Ave. Those who attend in person are encouraged to be vaccinated and to wear a face mask.  

Attendees are encouraged to share their bounty with the food insecure in our

neighborhood. Scan the code above to see Care for Real's wish list! A reception will follow the service.

Growing in Faith

Here in the U.S., our pioneers came to this country precisely to escape kings, so the title, Christ the King, is not one they or we would readily choose. But this ancient title for Jesus was given to him because unlike earthly kings, Jesus’ use of power and authority is to bring about “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace”, as the preface of the Mass today will tell us.

It would be precisely Jesus’ challenges to the oppressive authorities of his day in defense of God’s people, that they be treated with dignity, and fairness, as beloved children of God, that would bring him the cross. “He stirs up the people” the authorities accused him before Pilate. Yes, that was the fear, to stir hearts to a new vision of what God wanted for them. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you a king?” Jesus answered, “I am a king , but my kingdom is not of this world.” Nevertheless Pilate would write to spite the accusers: “This is Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”. 

Now the resurrected Jesus commissions us to use our authority and our power as his brothers and sisters, to break systems of oppression and establish laws to protect people, to transform not only our own lives, but to work for the transformation of our society and to bring about the full arrival of the kingdom of God.               

~ Sister Wendy Cotter, csj, Ph.D

Schedule for Altar Servers, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, & Cantors 

Ministers of the Word

Saturday, November 19 at 5:00 pm -

• Susan McKeon, Patrick Reardon
• Sunday, November 20 at 8:00 am - Mark Kollar, Westley Dingman
• Sunday, November 20 at 10:30 am - Rose Karasti, Anthony Myers

Eucharistic Ministers

• Saturday, November 19 at 5:00 pm - Kathy Wall
• Sunday, November 20 at 8:00 am - Marty McDermott
• Sunday, November 20 at 10:30 am - Annie Hasselbeck, Steven Hasselbeck, Ray Sousa

Altar Servers

• Sunday, November 20 at 10:30 am - Cross Bearer - Ethan Craft; Acolytes - Clare McCarthy, Alise Veleta

Cantors 

• Saturday, November 19 at 5:00 pm - Bernie O’ Connor 
• Sunday, November 20 at 8:00 am - Jon Blake
• Sunday, November 20 at 10:30 am - Michael Laus; Tona Palomino -trumpet; Jim Szmurlo - trumpet; Amir Ghazaleh - trombone; Fran Guenette - euphonium; Denise Goodman - clarinet; Jim Szmurlo - violin

• Monday, November 21: 7:30 am - Nathan †, Libby † and Noreen Waters †
• Tuesday, November 22: 7:30 am - Richard Kerwer, Sr. †
• Wednesday, November 23: 7:30 am - Grace V. Cabrera †
• Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24: 10:00 am - St. Gertrude Parishioners
• Friday, November 25: 7:30 am - Ethna Nolan †
• Saturday, November 26: 7:30 am - Living & deceased Torreano family members †; 5:00 pm – James McKee †
• Sunday, November 27: 8:00 am - Isabelle & Michael Laczkowski †; 10:30 am - Betty Cunningham †; 10:30 am Gym Mass - Jeanne Hasbrook †

(+ indicates the person is deceased) 

Click HERE for the daily readings for Masses. Here is the list of readings for this week for parishioners that prefer to look them up:

• Monday, November 21: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5/Lk 21:1-4
• Tuesday, November 22: Rv 14:14-19/Lk 21:5-11
• Wednesday, November 23: Rv 15:1-4/Lk 21:12-19
• Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a/Lk 21:20-28 or, for Thanksgiving Day, any readings from the Mass “In Thanksgiving to God”
• Friday, November 25: Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2/Lk 21:29-33
• Saturday, November 26: Rv 22:1-7/Lk 21:34-36
• Sunday, November 27: Is 2:1-5/Rom 13:11-14/Mt 24:37-44

If you would like to add a name to the prayer list, please contact the Rectory at 773.764.3621 or email stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org. Names will remain on the list for three weeks. After that time, please renew the name using same contact information.