The following are excerts from the publication:

A Short History of

The Diocese of Stockton

1962 - 2002

ST. JUDE, CERES

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Before 1921 , Catholics living in the Ceres area belonged to St. Stanislaus in M odesto then to the new St. Anthony's in Hughson' They became a mission of St. An thony's when they started celebratibng Mass in the American Legion Hall. Father John Hayes worked with the Altar Society, the Holy Name Society, and the Knights of Columbus raising funds for a church and parish programs.

Bishop Merlin Guilfoyle dedicated St. Jude's first church in 1953. The community became a parish in 1962 1962, as soon as the D iocese of Stockton was formed. During the week the church served as a meeting hail and classroom for religious instruction taught by the Holy Family Sisters of Modesto.

As Ceres grew, the parish church was moved from Center Street to Mitchell Road. and classroom size was increased to accommodate hundreds of

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 As the only Catholic parish in a city whose early history was marked by anti-Catholic sentiment, St.Jude's has grown to civic, educational, political, and cultural leadership in the community. Parish life has deepened through the years in Renew, scripture study RCIA Grupo de Oracion Eucharistic Adoration, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Parish organizations now include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Neo Catecumenado. Ladies Guild Apostles de la Palabra the Knights of Columbus Escuela de Evangelizacion several youth groups in both English and Spanish, and many others.

In the annual festival. the parish celebrates its ethnic diversity: Hispanic, Portuguese, Filipino, Samoan, Italian, Anglo- American and many other cultural and national groups.

Father Octavio Escobar, pastor.

 

children in the CCD program. Parish leaders Gary Sorlien and Jim Casey and hundreds of volunteers raised $750,000 to build the present church, dedicated on Pentecost Sunday, 1981.

The wooden part of the cross of the large crucifix over the altar was made from the communion rail of the old church, Spectacular stained-glass windows illustrating scenes from Creation to Mary's coronation as Queen of Heaven were designed by Fr. Coghlan
 


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