St. Gertrude Church

Engaging Those Difficult Passages in Scripture

1/21/2021

By Fr. Joseph, O.P.

In Exodus 21, God seems to say that killing a slave (v 20) or even an unborn child (v 22) is not as serious as killing “a man” (v 12), because the punishments are less severe. This seems to imply the former have less intrinsic value and dignity than the latter. Or else God contradicts Himself later such as through Church teaching on human dignity. Obviously neither is true, but how should such verses should be interpreted in a Catholic light?

Holy Communion with Low-Gluten Host

1/7/2021

The parish is happy to minister Holy Communion with low-gluten hosts for those who require it. Such persons should approach the altar the end of the procession for Holy Communion and identify themselves to the minister at that time. On Sundays, such persons should make themselves known to an usher before Mass and follow the instructions above.

Two Christmas Reflections

12/24/2020

By Brad Bursa

In the midst of Christmas Eve and Christmas festivities, it can be difficult to pray and reflect. Over the years, it's become a Christmas custom of mine to read two brief reflections to enter more deeply into the Christmas Mystery. I'd like to share them with the parish this year, especially given all the troubles of 2020. These articles seem to speak into the challenges of our day in a particular way.

Ask a Priest—How to Celebrate all Twelve Days of Christmas

12/21/2020

With Fr. John Mark Solitario, O.P.

Q. So apparently there really are “12 Days of Christmas” recognized by the Church. How do Catholic families celebrate the other eleven days after December 25th?

Fr. John Mark: Yes, if you count the days from Christmas until the traditional date for Epiphany (Jan 6), there are indeed twelve days! This reminds us of the time leading up to Jesus’ circumcision and naming on the eighth day after his birth (cf. Lk 2:21), in addition to the time it took for the Magi to arrive before Herod began his dreadful persecution. The readings at Mass during these twelve days take on a variety of subjects as the Church peacefully gazes upon the Incarnate Son of God and then grapples with the variety of reactions his birth provoked and continues to provoke.

The Story Behind Our New Website

12/16/2020

We knew we needed a new digital “front door.”

So, we set out to create something beautiful and inviting.

The new website is an attempt to cultivate something of a visual evangelization – we’re trying to tell the good news of Jesus Christ and what God is doing at our parish.

At the same time, we want the website to accompany non-parishioners, even non-Catholics, so that the website helps them find what they’re looking for on their path.

In other words, we’ve tried to do something rather difficult.

Advent 2020

11/29/2020

Advent is often an overlooked season as Christmas becomes more and more commercialized. Advent is the liturgical season of four weeks devoted to preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is a time of waiting and watching, of yearning and hoping. We are invited to recognize our deep need for God and to acknowledge that God has come (in the Incarnate Word, the person of Jesus Christ), that God comes to us today most fully in the sacraments of the Church, and that God will come at the end of time, ushering in the new heavens and the new earth.

This Advent, we want to help all of our parishioners engage this beautiful season with fervor. Please utilize the resources below for personal prayer and for the good of your whole family.

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