St. Gertrude Catholic Parish

Dear St. Gertrude,

Here are ten things that we thinking about and working on at your favorite parish:

1. A parish synod. We hope to put together something in the spring to gather 200-300 parishioners together to discuss and define how we understand and what we believe about our need to deepen our faith, our responsibilities toward the poor, our concern about passing along the faith to the next generation and some other important basic foundations of the parish. We have a committee working on the format, the dates and times, the materials needed for all the parishioners and our goals for the synod. It should be a lollapalooza.2. A Lenten experience. On March 27th (a Saturday), we hope to have a day when the best speakers in the world will give us some thoughts about how sometimes we feel paralyzed and important. This day will be open to all. The best speakers in the world happen to reside in St. Gertrude parish, including Delle Chatman, John Horan, K.C. Conway, and Dick Westley. You’ll be hearing more about this one.

3. The Parish Play. Featuring Janet and Michael Jackson on March 5th and 6th. Oh, no. They are busy that weekend. Well, instead we will have our own parishioners, fully clothed, unindicted, doing a home-grown musical filled with family entertainment of the highest caliber. Broadway-bound or maybe Clark Street. An annual delight.

4. A Bishop’s visit. This Wednesday, Bishop Frank Kane comes to talk to the staff. It is an annual opportunity for him to get to know the parish, for the staff to tattle on the pastor, for us to dialogue with the administration, for everyone to make it through another meeting. The Vicariate structure is a way that the Archdiocese has chose to build in middle management. You’ll hear more about this meeting in two weeks.

5. Some Lenten plans. Of course we will have the blessing with ashes, the simple suppers, Wednesday Masses, the communal reconciliation service on March 31st, the big Palm Sunday extravaganza. We are looking into getting Jesse Jackson to preach on one of the Wednesdays. We will have those little books you can use to pray each day. There is the usual cost: prayer, fasting and good works.

6. A spring-cleaning for the church. A few years ago we did this on a spring Saturday before Easter. We want to do it this year. Details later.

7. The return to Sacred Heart. When Sacred Heart School began their construction of the addition to the school, we lost a place to have Mass. The exile is almost over. We will return by the end of February to our lobby sanctuary. Sister Maxwell has been a most hospitable landlord.

8. The Mustard Seed Bookstore. Ever since our local Lerner paper had an article about the best neighborhood store in our locale, the Mustard Seed, owned by Phil and Nancy Bujnowski, we have been thinking about their plight and how we might help. There isn’t much in the neighborhood to call a shopping district. And there isn’t any parking. So the Mustard Seed is suffering the fate of so many Ma & Pa stores, especially little bookshops. We all care so much for Phil and Nancy. The question is: “”How can we help?”" If you haven’t been to the store, please go immediately. It is on Devon (Sheridan Rd.) just a few doors east of Broadway. How can we help?

9. Make room for the Triduum. That’s Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Three wonderful liturgies. The highlights of the liturgical year!

10. The coming of spring. Okay. We have all had enough. This winter was gentle and short. We are grateful and we declare it is now over and done with. We welcome the robins and the puddles in which the blue skies reflect up. Thank you very much.

WK

Filed under: Dear Saint Gertrude