Each year on Ash Wednesday, Christians enter the season of Lent—a 40-day time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This six-week period helps us prepare for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we are called not only to read sacred Scripture (prayer), serve (give alms), and practice self-control (fast) but also to an inner conversion of heart by seeking to follow Christ's will more faithfully.
To help you get the most out of Lent 2024 and prepare for Easter in a powerful way, St. Gertrude Parish is offering a weekly Speaker Series with adoration and the opportunity for confession, a powerful evening of live music performed by The Vigil Project, daily confession, Friday Stations of the Cross, and more. We invite you to join us for one, two, or all of these events—a sure way to have a life-changing Lent.
To help you get the most out of Lent 2024 and prepare for Easter in a powerful way, St. Gertrude Parish is offering a weekly Speaker Series with adoration and the opportunity for confession, a powerful evening of live music performed by The Vigil Project, daily confession, Friday Stations of the Cross, and more. We invite you to join us for one, two, or all of these events—a sure way to have a life-changing Lent.
Lenten Speaker Series + Holy Hour
Nurturing Faith in a World of Distractions
February 21 & 28; March 6, 13, & 20
St. Gertrude Church | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
St. Gertrude Church | 7:30–8:30 p.m.
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Are you overwhelmed, tired, and preoccupied with things of this world? Lent is the perfect time to refocus on what matters most and deepen your relationship with Jesus. Join us every Wednesday during Lent for a short reflection from one of our Dominican friars, followed by Eucharistic adoration. Priests will be available for confession. The evening will end with Benediction at 8:30 p.m.
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For more information about the friars who will be preaching, check out their bios at the bottom of this page.
SCHEDULE
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February 21 - Faith: Received as a Gift
Father Joachim Kenney, O.P. February 28 - Faith: Nourished in Prayer Father John Langlois, O.P. March 6 - Faith: Nourished by the Word of God Father Joseph Alobaidi, O.P. |
March 13 - Faith: Nourished by the Sacraments
Father Luke VanBerkum, O.P. March 20 - Faith: Acted Upon and Lived Out in the World Father John Paul Walker, O.P. |
Lenten True Presence Night with The Vigil Project
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Monday, March 4
St. Gertrude Church | 7-8:30 p.m. Nationally acclaimed music group The Vigil Project will present an evening of live music, dynamic Lent-themed reflections, and a time of Eucharistic adoration to help you pray more deeply into this season and prepare for Christ’s resurrection at Easter. The Vigil Project is a nonprofit apostolate founded in 2016 by a community of musical artists with a common mission to make Catholic music for Catholic prayer. Featuring a collective of seasoned singer/songwriters and music leaders, TVP exists to invite the Church to a fresh encounter with God and to deep prayer through the experience of beautiful music. Learn more about The Vigil Project and listen to their music at thevigilproject.com. 
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Stations of the Cross
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Fridays During Lent
St. Gertrude Church | 7 p.m. When was the last time you reflected on Jesus' agonizing and humiliating walk to his crucifixion? Have you contemplated Mary's suffering as she watched Roman soldiers beat her son—and then saw him die on the cross? Praying the Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, is a popular devotion during Lent and an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ death and the sacrifice he made for you and for all mankind. We invite you to meditate on 14 specific events of Jesus' passion and death by praying the Stations of the Cross with us on the following Fridays during Lent:
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Choral Tenebrae
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Wednesday, March 27
St. Gertrude Church | 8 p.m. For the first time ever, St. Gertrude Parish is having a Choral Tenebrae, also known as the Service of Darkness. This special liturgy is conducted in near darkness—the only source of light is a series of candles on the altar. After each portion of the liturgy, a candle is extinguished until the entire church is dark. Throughout the service, the choir will chant the great sorrowful psalms and lamentations from Scripture and motets that reflect upon the Passion. Our service at St. Gertrude Parish will include Dominican elements of Tenebrae and will be sung by the Capella and Novitiate Choir. Together, they will sing an extremely special and legendary piece: Gregorio Allegri’s famous setting of Psalm 51, Miserere mei. All are welcome to join us for this moving liturgy! |
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Holy Week & Easter Liturgies
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Sunday, March 24–Sunday, March 31, 2024
St. Gertrude Church March 24 | Palm Sunday 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m. Mass March 27 | Wednesday of Holy Week 8 p.m. Choral Tenebrae March 28 | Holy Thursday 8 a.m. Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 7 p.m. Mass of Our Lord's Supper March 29 | Good Friday (No Mass) 8 a.m. Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 3 p.m. Celebration of Our Lord's Passion (Communion Service) 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross and Entombment of Christ March 30 | Easter Vigil 8 a.m. Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 8:45 a.m. Blessing of Easter Baskets 9 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass March 31 | Easter 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m. Mass |
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Meet Our Lenten Speaker Series Dominican Friars
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Father Joachim Kenney, O.P., grew up around Dominicans at St. Louis Bertrand Parish in Louisville, KY, and joined the Order of Preachers soon after graduating from the University of Louisville. After his ordination in 2017, Father Joachim became the parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in New Haven, CT, where he learned the ropes of being a priest from Father John Paul until December 2021. While in Connecticut, Father Joachim assisted with Masses and confessions for the Dominican nuns at Our Lady of Grace Monastery and had the opportunity to do part-time ministry at Quinnipiac University for three and a half years. Father Joachim is happy to be part of the St. Gertrude community, working to build the Church in Madeira and Indian Hill. |
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Father John Langlois, O.P., was elected the prior of St. Gertrude Church in 2020. Born in Berlin, NH, he entered the Dominican Order in 1985 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1991. He holds a doctorate in Church history, and has spent most of his priestly life teaching, both at Providence College in Providence, RI, and at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Immediately before coming to St. Gertrude, he served as president of the Pontifical Faculty at the Dominican House of Studies for seven years. |
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Father Joseph Alobaidi, O.P., is a retired professor of Bible theology and languages. He was a research assistant at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, a Bible professor at The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, and a lecturer in Islamic Theology and post Biblical Judaism in Washington, D.C. He is currently a novice instructor. |
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Father Luke Mary VanBerkum, O.P., grew up outside of Detroit, MI. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2016, he entered the Dominican novitiate here at St. Gertrude Priory. He was ordained a priest in 2022 in Washington, D.C., and then spent a year finishing a licentiate in sacred theology and gaining some pastoral experience, especially with the Latino community. He is excited to be back in the Midwest and to serve as parochial vicar here at St. Gertrude Church. |
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Father John Paul Walker, O.P., was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and is the pastor at St. Gertrude Church. He has a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois and an M.S. in chemistry and environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Immediately after his graduate studies, Father John Paul entered the Dominican order and was ordained a priest in 2002. During his 20 years of priesthood, Father John Paul has worked in college campus ministry, taught theology at Providence College, served as the director of Pastoral Formation at the Dominican House of Studies, served as pastor of St. Mary in New Haven, CT, worked with the pro-life movement, had experience in Catholic young adult (20s–30s) ministry, and more. |
