The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-01
REVEREND CLAUDE GEMS

In 1867, yielding to the reiterated
calls of his aged father and mother,
he returned to his native Diocese of
Belley, France. There he served as
pastor Of the parish of Charencin for
two years, at the end of which time,
his father dying, he returned to Amer
lea.
Back in Minnesota, he took to him.
self one after another many fields of
labor. This much must be said of
him-he loved newness of work, and
after time in one place, he ambi-
toned another, and as in these days
fields were many and priests were
few, he found little difficulty in spy
ing out vacant spots where his min
istry was welcome. The Ordinary,
too, who knew that wherever he went
all should be well and who was
pleased to crafty, his wishes, easily
acceded to his requests for changes.
But wherever he set foot his ministry
bore rich fruit, and whencesoever he
departed, the regrets and the affec-
tions of the people followed him to his
next post Of duty. On his return from
France in 1869, he was assigned to
the mission of Austin. In succeeding
years, for periods greater or lesser,
he was in charge of Faribault, Rose
mount, Graceville, the Church of st.
Louis in st. Paul, and Church of st.
Lawrence in Minneapolis, Waverly
and White Bear. At last, in 1908, his
health beginning to break, he went as
resident Chaplain to st. Mary's Hos
pital in Minneapolis. His appoint
ments to Rosemount and to the
Church of st. Patrick in st. Paul
were, it must be said, more or less
temporary. The posts that held him
the longest, where he left the deepest
marks of his ministry, were Austin,
Faribault and Graceville.
Wherever he was found, buildings
rose up, schools were established, So
cieties and confraternities were insti-
tuted. His activity was tireless-
marvellous in it's promptness and it's
output of energy. A new church was
erected in Dayton, upon most beau
tiful site, chosen through the pastors
own wise judgment. At Mendoza the
church underwent notable ameliora-
tions. At Austin the mite of church,
put up by the early settlers, was ex-
panded into what people of the time
called stately and commodious
building, and the Sisters of st. Dom
inic were brought thither to open a
parish school. In Faribault the
church underwent a transformation
that made of it almost an entirely
new building. In the Parish of st.
Louis, st. Paul, the splendid school
edifice, still today the pride of the
parish, was erected. In the Parish of
st. Lawrence of Minneapolis a house
was purchased to serve as a presby-
terry. In Graceville, splendid church,
at the time the wonder of the prairies,
sprang up on the shores of Lake
Toka. Father GEMS simply had to be
at work, building, improving, institut-
ing; and under the spell of the lead
er's activity, the people had to be at
work, cooperating with and fastening
example was set out before them.
And with the exterior growth, the
interior and spiritual growth kept full
pace. Societies and sodalities -four
ished. Whatever was seen in other
parishes under other pastors was at
once copied into Father GEMS charge.
The young were instructed sedulously
in the catechism. Young and old re-
ceived frequently the sacraments.
Total abstinence was preached by
word and example. The general
moral and civic betterment of the
community rose high; religion was
loved and practiced by Catholics, es-
teemed and respected by non-Catho-
lies. When the Ordinary was visiting
In mission ruled over by Father
GEMS, the only admonition deemed
necessary was-go slowly, do not
over-tax your strength of mind and
body.