All Are Welcome
St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago
Our parish strives to be a community, growing in faith, that welcomes all and brings Christ’s love to others.
Here is the Latest News:
Mass Times/Rectory Hours
Lenten Events and Activities
Lenten Events and Activities
Lenten Events and Activities
Lenten Events and Activities
Lenten Events and Activities
Medical Lending Closet
Lenten Events and Activities
Upcoming Events & Activities
Upcoming Events & Activities
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Upcoming Events & Activities
This Weekend's Bulletin
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Donate to St. Gertrude Parish
Disciple Maker Index Survey
DMI Survey is Now Open!
Where is God calling our parish next? We can’t answer that without hearing from you.
The Disciple Maker Index (DMI) is a brief, anonymous survey that helps us understand what’s working well at St. Gertrude—and where we’re being invited to grow, from the Mass experience to parish life as a whole.
Right now, participation is very low. Your perspective is essential.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Palm Sunday, March 29. Paper copies of the surveys are also available in the back of church.
Fridays in March: Prayers for World Peace, Plus Stations of the Cross, Rosaries, Musical Meditation: Music, Stillness, Solidarity
As hostilities in Iran continue to unfold, these actions have already escalated into a wider conflict with no clear end in sight. In troubling times such as these, we turn to God in prayer.
Throughout the Fridays of March, St. Gertrude Parish will observe special days of prayer for world peace. On these Fridays, the church will remain open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm so that parishioners may spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Our regularly scheduled Lenten activities on Fridays will continue as planned. Please see the schedule below for the Fridays in March:
- 7:30 am – Daily Mass
- 8:00 am – Rosary and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- 3:00 pm – Stations of the Cross (traditional)
- 6:00 pm – Musical Meditation: Music, Stillness, Solidarity
- 6:30 pm – Stations of the Cross (social justice themed)
- 7:00 pm – Bilingual Rosary
- 7:30 pm – Benediction and Closing of Exposition
Because someone must be present in prayer during Exposition, we are asking for volunteers to spend 30 minutes or one hour in the church. If you are able to help, please add your name to the sign-up sheet located at the back of the church.
*In the event of a funeral, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be temporarily suspended until the funeral has concluded. The church will remain open and accessible for private prayer during that time.
Almoners Lenten Ministry - Sundays During Mass
Our parish's Almoners’ Program will be held through March 29. Each weekend, a second collection will be held, with funds used to distribute McDonald's cards to those who are in need.
At the end of each Mass, those wishing to participate in distributing cards to the needy will be invited to come forward, receive the cards, and be given a blessing as they go out in this charitable outreach.
Brewed at St. Gertrude Planned for This Sunday, March 22
After the 10:30 am masses on Sunday, March 22, all are invited to our monthly “Brewed at St. Gertrude” hospitality event in the Social Hall, featuring pastries, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.
All are welcome—new and long-time parishioners, families, and visitors!
Brewed at St. Gertrude gatherings for 2026 are:
- April 19
- May 31
- June 28
- July 26
- August 23
- September 20
- October 18
- November 15
- December 13
"Catholic Social Teaching in the Past and the Present Moment" Follow-Up Discussion Planned for This Sunday, March 22
All are invited to a follow-up discussion of Catholic Social Teaching in the Past and the Present Moment on Sunday, March 22. It will be held just after the Brewed at St. Gertrude gathering in the Social Hall.
This engaging program will feature two of our own parishioners—Heidi Schlumpf, senior correspondent for Commonweal, and Michelle Nickerson, a Professor of History at Loyola University Chicago, —both published authors and past speakers at St. Gertrude’s.
Join us for an afternoon of reflection, dialogue, and inspiration as we consider how the Gospel’s call to justice continues to shape our Church and our world today.
Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 pm: Lenten Simple Supper
Simple Suppers are returning for Lent on Thursdays evenings! Parishioners are invited to meet in the Social Hall, 1401 W. Granville Ave., at 6:00 pm for dinner.
On Thursday, March 26 Northside Catholic Academy will host.
Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 pm: Lenten Spirituality Session (Immediately after the Simple Suppers)
Following our Simple Supper, which begins at 6:00 pm.
The final Lenten Spirituality Sessions will be on Thursday, March 26 in the Social Hall from 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm following our Simple Supper.
We will discuss Almsgiving: The Third Pillar of Lent. A panel of four parishioners – Mary Kate Cahill, Rich Goode, Krista Chinchilla-Patzke, and Bob Backis will reflect on the question of what it means to engage in almsgiving. Is almsgiving focused on just sharing our financial resources or is there a deeper meaning to this spiritual practice? What does almsgiving mean in our society and in our country in which so many live in fear, express a poverty of loneliness, lack of meaning, purpose, love, and community. We will have an opportunity to reflect on our own practice of almsgiving and its place in our conversion of heart and the transformation of the world.
Lenten Communal Sacrament of Reconciliation This Monday, March 23 (in Evanston)
There is a Bilingual Lenten Reconciliation Service for all the parishes in our deanery (Deanery 2B) on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 pm at the St. Nicholas campus of St. John XXIII Parish in Evanston.
On Saturdays from 4:15-4:45 pm, except for Holy Saturday, private confession is available.
Another Collection Drive for Care for Real is March 28-29
St. Gertrude has its monthly collection drive for our neighbors in need on March 28-29! In addition to info in the image, you can visit https://linktr.ee/cfrchicago for information about donating and links to their Facebook and Instagram pages to see what they are specifically looking for at this time.
Please place items in the bins at the back of church.
Our asylum seekers’ collection is the full first weekend of each month, and our general collection drive for Care for Real is always the fourth calendar weekend every month.
We are so grateful for your help supporting Care for Real as they work to provide food and much-needed supplies to our neighbors who are struggling.
Friendship Club is Thursday, April 9
The St. Gertrude Women's Friendship Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of every month in the Ministry Center, 6216 North Glenwood Avenue.
The gathering begins at 11:30 am, and attendees should bring their own (brown bag) lunch.
Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) Meeting Planned for Saturday, April 11
St. Gertrude is a member of CSPL, the faith-based organization that organized the recent People’s Mass and Eucharistic Procession to the Broadview Detention Center.
Come together with other parishioners on Saturday, April 11, from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Ministry Center to build community and discuss how to help advance our parish's commitments to social justice, human concerns and faith formation through our participation in CSPL.
Book Club is Tuesday, April 14
Join us for a discussion of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm at the Ministry Center, 6214 W. Glenwood. New participants are always welcome!
For questions, contact Lea Cloninger (773.213.0509) or Sue Benjamin (773.551.8401).
Teens Invited to Join St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience
Parish teens are invited to participate in St. Gertrude’s Youth Mission Experience, taking place June 22–26. Open to students entering seventh grade through high school, this weeklong experience offers teens the chance to serve alongside Chicagoland organizations while growing in faith, friendship, and community.
Participants will enjoy meaningful service, have fun together, and earn volunteer hours. The cost for the week is $125.
To reserve a spot or learn more, please contact Pastoral Associate Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org.
Choir Get-Together
The Choral Choir enjoyed a little celebration a few weeks ago, taking time to relax, laugh, and enjoy one another’s company. We are deeply grateful for their ministry and the joy their music brings to our parish each week.
Thank You Note From RefugeeOne
Below is a thank you sent to our parish from RefugeeOne for our gifts collected via our Giving Tree:
RefugeeOne sends deep gratitude to the St. Gertrude community for the generous donation of gift cards for refugee families in need! Refugees in Chicago are facing especially tough challenges right now, including SNAP cuts, travel bans prolonging family separation, and the anxiety of witnessing immigration raids.
Your support is helping bridge the gap with food assistance for families in a tight spot—and that stability goes a long way in staying the course toward reaching their potential and finding belonging in their new home!
Thank you so much.
Volunteers Needed to Help with Live-Streaming Sunday Masses
We are looking for assistance with live-streaming our 10:30 am Sunday masses. The process is simple, you do not have to have a technical background, a special camera or phone, just a willingness to help.
Contact Eloy Escamilla at eescamilla@stgertrudechicago.org for more information.
The Rosary at St. Gertrude: Friday Evenings and after the 7:30 am Masses
Guadalupanos Rosary Group (Grupo del Rosario de Guadalupanos) on Friday Evenings
All are welcome to attend the weekly Rosary group held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm.
The bilingual gathering is held in the dining room of the Ministry Center, located at 6214 North Glenwood Avenue.
Recitation of the Holy Rosary after 7:30 am Mass
Additionally, the Rosary is said every Monday through Saturday in the church right after the 7:30 am mass. Please consider joining us in church—we would love to have you!
Saturday Morning Mass Schedule Change
Please note that beginning in the New Year, there will no longer be Saturday morning Masses.
We thank you for your understanding and invite you to join us at our other regularly scheduled Mass times.
Thank you for celebrating the feast of st. gertrude with us!
Feast Day Fun with Brewed at St. Gertrude
Thank you to all parishioners who came out last weekend to mass and the Brewed at St. Gertrude social event! It was wonderful to gather together and celebrate our faith community on our parish’s feast day.
Special thanks to the Brewed at St. Gertrude team for their hard work.
Photos courtesy of Steven Patzke.
Helping our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters
Thank you to the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership
More than 30 St. Gertrude parishioners, along with Fr. Sergio, came out to the People’s Mass outside the Broadview Detention last Saturday. Special thanks to the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), especially the St. Gertrude team, for organizing this demonstration our love and solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Photos courtesy of Deb Winarski.
PARISH NEWS
Announcements at Church
We’ve recently received a few questions about how information about parish events, updates, and neighborhood or Archdiocesan activities is shared. Here’s a quick overview:
Bulletins and Daily Reflections/Updates
Almost all of our information is gathered from our bulletins. Information is sent to news@stgertrudechicago.org, and should arrive about 10 days before the Sunday you’d like your announcement to appear. Early submissions are appreciated, as bulletin size can vary week to week, and both a print and e-bulletin are produced.
If you’ve signed up for our daily reflections, we include upcoming parish events or activities right after the prayers.
Announcements at Mass
We typically limit in-church announcements to three upcoming events, giving priority to parish-run activities happening over the next week. These are kept brief, as details such as times and locations can be found in the bulletin.
Social Media
We've been more active on social media, posting about everything on the bulletin and sharing some of our partners' posts too. Please consider following us on Instagram(@stgertrudeinchicago) or Facebook(@stgertrudechicago).
Heart to Heart News: Ministry of Prayer
Did you know that despite your being homebound or physically inactive, there is a special and valued ministry here at St. Gertrude which we invite you to consider? There are no meetings, no dues or calls required; yet as a participant you will have a valued connection to the parish life by enriching others and yourself through your own dedicated, daily prayer time!
It works like this: We provide you with a monthly prayer sheet that has some of the prayer petitions taken from the "Prayer Wall" in the back of our church. As one of our prayer angels, you will include these petitions in your daily prayers; thereby becoming an unseen blessing for so many!
Please contact Sr. Susan Quaintance at Heart to Heart at 773.973.5464 or squaintance@stgertrudechicago.org. We welcome your interest in this caring ministry.
Rest in peace notices & funeral information
Alice Czech
Mother of Anthony and the late Timothy, wife of the late William; wake at Barr Funeral Home on Monday, March 23 from 3:00-8:00 pm; funeral Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00 am at St. Gertrude; Full obituary here
Michael Browne
Visitation, Thursday, March 26, from 4:00-8:00 pm at Haben
Funeral Home, Funeral, Friday, March 27 at 10:00 am at St. Gertrude; Full obituary here
Marie Isaily
Mother of Mark A. (Rose Marie) Isaily of Chicago; Catherine (Robert) Shockey of Glendale Heights; and Michael and Derek Isaily of Chicago.
She was the proud grandmother of Jonathan (Gina) Centeno; Hilary (John) Frabbiele; Carrie (Brett) Psik; Elizabeth (Greg) Pociask; Alice Levins; Heather Shockey; Robert “Bob” (Katie) Shockey; Samantha (Scott) Lotz; Cory Shockey; Danielle Isaily; Nicole “Nikki” Isaily; Derek Isaily, Jr.; and Brianna Isaily.
She was also the loving great-grandmother of fifteen great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Gertrude Church on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 10:00 A.M. The Church doors will be open at 9:15 A.M. for anyone who wants to visit prior to the start of Mass.
Carolyn Carlson
Mother of Laurel Thomas (Chris)
Please Take Our Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), an anonymous survey to help St. Gertrude grow in faith and strengthen our parish community.
Our response rate is currently very low—your voice matters. Thank you for participating!