Capuchin Fathers Open Mission at St. Gertrude’s, Stockton, California

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CAPUCHIN FATHERS' OPEN MISSION AT ST. GERTRUDE'S SUNDAY SERVICES LARGELY ATTENDED Father Joseph and Father Clement Stress Need of Keeping God's Word Opening of the mission of the Capuchin fathers at St. Gertrude's church was celebrated yesterday morning by the singing of high mass by Father Clement. The opening sermon was preached by the Very Rev. Father Joseph, who took for his text "Blessed are they who hear the word of God and who keep it." In addition to the high mass and sermon, there were a procession, invocation of the Holy Spirit and special prayers for the success of the mission. The sermon in the evening was preached by Father Clement on the text "Christ hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood." In the morning Father Joseph told of the omnipotent power of the divine word in the order of nature and of grace, explaining the magical power of the nature of the word. Not he said, that the divine word has changed from what it was in the time of Christ and His apostles, or that the one appointed authority, the Catholic church, has failed in performing this one of its many sacred functions, but because the people of the world hear the word and do not keep it. Father Joseph emphasized the necessity and importance of eagerly and closely hearing God's word during the mission and also the necessity of the hearers applying the word to their daily lives. The time of the mission, he said, was a time of special grace, and the missionaries had come to the people to convey to Catholics and non-Catholics alike the message of God to His people on the necessity of attending to the welfare of their souls. Before a large audience in the evening Father Clement dwelt in an impressive manner on the life of the soul. If Christ came among us today, he said, His first message to us would be that we each have a soul. This was the fundation of His teaching, he said, the dream of His life, the hope and regard of His death—the teaching to men the value of their souls. At the services this evening, commending at 7:30 o'clock, Father Joseph will preach on "The Necessity for a Mission." WESTERN STATES FAMILY ENJOY SOCIAL SESSIONMore than 200 members and guests of the employes' association of the Western States Gas & Electric company ("happy family of the organization") held an enjoyable social in the Native Sons' hall Saturday evening. High class talent was displayed at the social and an enjoyable evening was experienced by all who attended. Samuel Kahn, general manager of the Western States Gas & Electric company, was unable to address the employees, as he was unexpectedly called to San Francisco, due to the illness of his daughter.