Yes, we are still waiting on the Archdiocese. As you are aware, the Archbishop in a letter did state that St. Gertrude would NOT be a stand alone parish and would not be rebuild as it was. We now have to wait on that will happen next. Our options at this point are combine with another parish or them to combine with us. While very discouraging, it is only our prayers, support, and presence in the church for Mass and events that will show the archdiocese we have not given up!,
The Chosen Series is being shone, watched and discussed weekly at the home of Terry and Anita Matherne. It is open to all who are interested in joining. It is a moving account of the mission of Christ. The group watches the show each week, discuss what we have seen, ask questions, challenge our thinking, pray, and enjoy fellowship. We begin Season 2 the First week of February and it is never too late to join is! We meet at 6PM on Tuesday Evenings! There is always room for more.
The Monthly Rosary Group has been meeting for over a year now and is growing with over 24 consistent present each month. The Rectory Chapel is filled with prayerful support for one another and our parish as we gather each month for intercession of our Lady! Consider joining us for this prayerful time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament! Your life will be richly blessed! We begin at 9AM on the first Saturday of the Month in the Rectory! ALL are welcome to join us!
The Ladies Altar Society is collecting membership dues at this time. Dues are $7 for the year. Envelopes are in the Rectory Chapel. Please leave your dues in the envelope and put it in the collection basket! We would love to welcome new members!
St. Gertrude Angel Tree! I would like to say thank you for all the donations as of 11/20. I would like to have all the gifts/donations in by Sunday, December 11. This will give me time to organize, label and deliver all the gifts to the schools. The goal is to have everything distributed by December 16, so school administration can contact parents for pickup. If you chose a tag from the Angel tree, PLEASE be sure to attach it to the gift. Each student has a number, this is the way of making sure everyone is accounted for. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Vickie Hinrichs
The St. Gertrude Christmas Tree Family Decorating and Lighting Event Planning will be Saturday, Dec. 3rd at 5:30PM! Join us for Hot Chocolate, cookies, chips, dip, children's games, and Santa! We will have Christmas Caroling around the tree! Bring a family Ornament for the Tree! Again, join us as we ring in the Christmas Season!
As of October 22nd, we are still waiting on a response from the Archbishop concerning our proposal sent to him in August. Will update when we get more information!
Angel Tree News!!!! I know it's early, but the quick turnaround in years past becomes overwhelming so I have reached out to the schools a little earlier this year. Hope to hear from them soon! For those who would like to purchase their own gifts for the children I hope to have the Angels ready for masses the weekend of 11/5-6. For those who prefer making donations, I will begin taking donations beginning with this weekends Masses. Please place your donations in an envelope labeled Angel Tree donation and your name. If you have questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks for your generosity over the past two Christmas Seasons, your generosity has been overwhelming and inspiring! Vicki Hinrichs
The Viability Committee Met on June 21st for another meeting. We were updated by the Facilitators and Fr. Ray who shared that because of our questions posed to the Archdiocese and reflections made by the Archbishop broader conversations across the Archdiocese will be happening in all parishes. Also the Archbishop is calling all priests together in a couple of weeks for a three day meeting. We shared with the Facilitators our success of the past dinner fundraiser. We also shared our upcoming plans which included a movie night, the break down of the Mass at the homily for the next three weeks followed by a two part evening presentation on the Mass, the plans for the upcoming Pot Luck, scripture study night beginning after school begins, wanting to establish a welcoming committee and a fundraising committee. WE told them that daily Mass has begun as well as office hours T, W, and TH weekly. WE also shared that we are getting the food pantry up ad running. And attempting to get a phone line restored in the rectory. Prayer to the Holy Spirit would also be implemented before or after Mass. They were impressed that we had so much planned and on the way in such little time. The committee again pressed the facilitators on key questions and discussed the homework that was given. Many not agreeing with or liking the changes made in the churches presented in the homework links. We agreed that change has to happen and that change is possible if we all worked together for the good of the church. Finally, we began the process of designing Scenarios to present to the Archbishop. Best, Middle and Worst Nothing finalized, but a start. We will meet on our own in the next couple of weeks to dig deeper in each, and then with the facilitators in August to better cement our plans. Please pray for our parish, the members on the committee and the facilitators. This is not an easy task, it is very frustrating and very challenging! We all want what is best for our parish, but we have to be realistic at the same time. The more active we become, the more people are getting involved and stepping up to the plate the better our chance of saving St. Gertrude. If we do nothing but complain, and sit back and expect someone else to do things, we are dead in the water! Rise Up St. Gertrude Family!
We are attempting to get the Food Pantry up and running but need your help. We are starting again from scratch and need everything! Donations are being accepted now for non-perishable food items, toiletries, paper products, seasonings, quick meals such as instant potatoes, Mac and cheese, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce in a can, white beans, red beans, rice, salt, pepper, juices,. Again, any and everything is needed to stock up. Donations can be dropped off at Mass in the boxes. Any and all donations are appreciated!
The committee met for a second time with the Archdiocese Facilitators. We completed and discussed a survey, reviewed data, and discussed frustrations. Next meeting will be a final look at data and what other parishes around the nation in the same situation as St Gertrude have done. Then we will be in the planning for the future stage.
The St. Gertrude Feasibility Study Committee met with Fr. Ray and two facilitators assigned from the Archdiocese on Thursday, March 31st in the Fr. Mac Community Center. After introductions, the facilitators introduced the committee to the process that will be followed in the coming months. The process is an 8 step process that will lead us to the Archbishop making the final decision on the fate of St. Gertrude. The committee was honest and frank on the frustrations, limitations, and lack of support from the Archdiocese we have received as it relates to insurance, FEMA, support, answers to our questions. Now, we have to proceed through this process to show our viability and sustainability as a parish. So, we begin, and will keep you up to date as we go. Next meeting is a look at data including Baptisms, 1st communions, Confirmations, Marriages, Deaths, census info, survey which will be given to the committee members.
St. Gertrude Community is hosting a Work day on Friday April 1 and Saturday April 2 to clean up the grounds, the mess left by the remediation companies, and prepare the rectory as a chapel for Mass since it has electricity and working AC! ALL help is appreciated! Please bring your own movers, weed trimmers, racks, brooms, gloves, etc. Most of our equipment is missing following the gutting of our facilities.
The Ladies Altar Society will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday April 10th following the 10AM Mass! Gather your children and grandchildren and come on out for the fun!
Reconciliation Confessions will be available in all parishes from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on the following Wednesdays during Lent: March 23rd, March 30th, & April 6th. Fr. Ray will hear confessions on the scheduled dates in the Fr. Mac Center.
There will be a parish wide meeting on Feb 23rd in the Fr. Mac Center to provide updates on our parish and to gather input from parishioners! The meeting will begin at 6PM! All parishioners are encouraged to attend!
Info from Last Night's Meeting with the Archdiocese! 1. The Archdiocese is not closing St. Gertrude yet! 2. No Reconstruction is happening because the Archdiocese is waiting on Insurance and FEMA both are very slow processes! 3. We are required to do a feasibility study to determine if it is feasible to continue as a parish. A committee has been established to do this of parishioners. More information is coming. 4. We were told to think out the box, to be less dependent on the priest and archdiocese for our spiritual needs, community needs, family needs and more dependent on ourselves. (we have always been independent). We have build this little parish on our own with little to no help from the Archdiocese! All the grounds and buildings were purchased and built without borrowing money and we always pay our Archdiocese Assessment unlike many other parishes! The key to keeping St. Gertrude alive in the future is for her parishioners to take ownership! True ownership! That means, giving more time in service, money, and prayer! If you are not willing to do this there is no future for St. Gertrude! We are operating in the red right now even with only a few bills and little to no power! So, it is up to YOU, not somebody else! IT's time for you to do your part if you want it to survive! More information will be shared as we begin the Feasibility Study in the coming weeks!
PECIAL MEETING NOTICE! There will be a meeting on Tuesday, February 15th at 6PM at Holy Family Catholic Church in Luling with Fr. Pat Williams and other representatives from the Archdiocese to discuss the future of St. Gertrude Parish. All interested parishioners are invited to attend the meeting. The meeting is being held at Holy Family because of space, power, and restroom facilities.
St. Gertrude received extensive damage from Hurricane Ida! We currently do not have any buildings in operation. Over the past 5 months, we have had our properties gutted and ready for rebuilding. We have no water, no electricity, no gas, no phones or internet! Our Pastor Fr. Ray Hymel is living outside of our parish 30 minutes away. We have only Masses on Saturday at 4PM or Sunday at 10AM if it is not too cold. Should you need assistance, please call Fr. Ray on his cell or if not emergency e-mail or mail you r questions to us. Thanks