PHONE CALLS AND PERSONAL VISITS............

As I adjust to being a temporary resident of Mercy McMahon Terrace, past parishioners and some of my personal friends, are responding and communicating not just by e-mail and Facebook, but with phone calls and personal visits.  In addition to Joe Gibson's almost daily visits, Teres Mugnaini has e-mailed, Facebook-ed me, and called;  yesterday St. Philomene's parishioner Diane Jones, called, and St. Rose parishioner Ralph Merletti, visited; today my longtime friends and former fellow parishioners, Irene and Ted Dahlberg, were here to see me, and brought me a St. Patrick's Day treat of sugar free cupcakes.  These five days have also brought calls from some of my dearest priest and religious friends and colleagues.  In addition to blogging today, I have been interacting by Facebook and e-mail with some of my Irish and Irish American friends, on this St. Patrick's Day............Fr.  Troy

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PEACE............

The presence of the color green is so evident here at MMT, as it has emerged daily this week, that I wondered what today would bring.  In addition to a movie matinee today, "My Wild Irish Rose", starring Dennis Morgan;  and Irish songs with piano accompaniment yesterday and tomorrow; arriving in the dining room for breakfast told the tale.  An array of green apparel, blended with the wall decorations and the green tablecloths and napkins.  Sitting at the next table to my left, one of the male residents was dressed in a deep green tee shirt, costume orange beard, and a luck of the Irish baseball cap.  LOL !!!   No sign yet of green eggs, water, juice, or coffee, or meds.  Ha Ha !!!!!!  As you celebrate today, whether by the wearing of the green, attending Mass, a parade, eating Irish bacon / corned beef and cabbage, or drowning the shamrock, may the Peace and Prayers of St. Patrick be yours on this his Feast Day............Fr.  Troy

KHARZAI IS KRAZY.........

President Kharzai of Afghanistan, where Americans have been shedding their blood and losing their lives, for more than a decade - our longest fought war in history' had the audacity today to say he is, "at the end of his rope", over the rogue American soldier's Afghan civilian killings last Sunday.  The killings are untenable and our justice system militarily, and perhaps civilly will deal with the suspect.  But for Kharzai, whose corrupt, nepotism ridden, government, which American support has propped up the past decade in the fight against Al Qaeda, to publicly play the victim to the degree of surliness, is beyond the pale.  The continuing inability of the Afghan military to take charge of, and contain, the terrorist threat they face without our ongoing costly support, portends another Vietnam scenario, that ultimately when we withdraw Afghanistan will be overrun anyway.  Or our departure could well become interminable and turn into another South Korea support presence on the part of our American troops.  I believe the American People are far too wise to support staying beyond our current commitment, set to end in 2014.  Kharzai needs to remain cognizant on the world stage that he and his country would now likely be not under his leadership, but under the reign of terrorists, were the United States of America and other freedom committed nations providing military and economic support.  Hammed Kharzai needs to clean up his act, abolish the corruption in his government, and work with us honestly, not create a stalemate that will delay the success of this ten year plus partnership............Fr.  Troy

MEETING DAILY NEEDS FROM AN AWAY LOCATION............

Being shifted from the Mercy Rehab Continuing Care Center to Mercy McMahon Terrace instead of returning to the parish rectory, means having to have necessary belongings brought to me by friends and parishioners; such as clothing and other personal items, that are vital to daily living.  My familiar black pouch, continuing my wallet, checkbook, passport, medical cards, and keys, hasn't resurfaced in the rectory, and with Fr. Pius on vacation in Nigeria, may not be available to me for another two weeks.  Transferring perscriptions to MMT, with Costco mail order delivery, will rake ten days to arrive and so the nurses here reordered two medications from my El Camino Avenue and Del Paso Boulevard Walgreen's needing to be picked up.  As I dressed this morning I discovered among the clothes I have with me, shirts are few and laundry here is done on Mondays, so I'll have to be creative the next four days in going beyond my quarters.  These are some of the practicalities faced by anyone who is uprooted from their accustomed surroundings.  For me, not wanting to be a burden or overly dependent on others to provide for me and lose my independence is important, as I do everything I can to eliminate the perception on the part of some, that I have become one............Remembering on the eve of his Feast Day, that the faithful St. Patrick also bore more than a few crosses,   Fr.  Troy

TOWN MEETING AND BROADWAY SHOW TUNES............

After lunch the monthly MMT Town Meeting was held in the Family Room, at which Jim, the Executive Director, other members of the staff, and activity coordinators addressed and updated the residents and answered questions.  Nikki, introduced me to the assembly, just as she informed us of other incoming new residents.  Bishop Francis Quinn, who resides here, took an active part in the meeting, and graciouisly offered his own words of welcome and introduction of me to the other residents, and he told them he likes calling me, "Google", for the bits of information I come up with.  At lunch he asked me who the 106th Pope was ?  I did not have the answer immediately, but after the Town Meeting with Google's help was able to tell him, the "106th Pope was Nicholas I, who reigned 858-867 A.D., called the "Great", for his decisive leadership and solidifying the Catholic Faith in Western Europe.  A professional group of young performers who are graduates of Sacred Heart Parish School and St. Francis High School in Sacramento, now working in Los Angeles and New York City, "Singers For Seniors", were here this afternoon performing Broadway show tunes.  Joe Gibson is stopping by for a visit later, continuing his loyal presence during this period.  Time to track and Update Election 2012 and today's presidential candidates activities, as dinner is at 5 p.m., and so that I see only the final minutes of the network news on tv, catching it alternatively after dinner online............Fr.  Troy

BLOGGING, E-MAILING, AND INFORMATION GATHERING, AGAIN WITH MY INTERNET CONNECTION INTACT............

After breakfast and an enjoyable conversation with my tablemate, JoAnne, Mrs. Marco Smolich, the late Sports Editor of the Sacramento Bee; about her lifetime in Sacramento and her family, I returned to my my suite to delve into my blog and returning e-mails after three days with only limited access to do so.  Clint, from Anchor Prosthetics called about an hour ago, asking that I contact Dr. Cookson for an appointment, so that he can proceed with the order to build my new prosthetic leg.  Lunch and then a chillaxxing afternoon interneting ahead............Fr.  Troy

UP AND READY TO FACE THE IDES OF MARCH............

Day 3 in MMT begins, as I have awoke, prayed, done my morning ablutions and dressed myself, taken my first meds, watched the first half hour of the Today show, and will momentarily go down for my blood sugar count and breakfast.  I am hoping to learn today what the physical therapy assistant can do to help me, and whether it is more than walking.  Resuming pt as soon as possible is imperative, to keep my progress over the past several weeks proceeding.  Adapting to the changes being in this setting have imposed upon my daily schedule has me feeling in the familiar phrase to many of you, "like a fish out of water".  I suppose the Ides of March is a good day to pray and ponder on what that means for me in pushing forward to resuming my priestly duties............Happy George Clooney Day ! LOL,   Fr.  Troy

AFTER TEN HOURS OF TRYING AND WAITING TODAY - CONNECTION ESTABLISHED............

I lost my intermittent internet connection last night in the midst of my last blog column of the night on the results from the Alabama and Mississippi Primaries.  This morning before I could use my laptop to blog, e-mail, or otherwise use the internet, the Comcast cable and modem installer was here.  He successfully connected the cable television, but was unsuccessful in getting the internet on my laptop connected through the modem he installed.  I had to have Nikki in the front office buy me a wireless router from Office Depot, and work with Richard the maintenance man this afternoon to try to get my computer connected to the internet, as after the installer's unsuccessful connection attempts, I could not make a network internet connection at all, even on the 1st Floor in the lobby area, or in the computer room.  Richard and I following the directions the router installation cd gave us came within one step of connecting and could not, even after two more phone calls to the Comcast installer.  Hoping against hope, that getting connected I simply came back to my laptop after and futzing around I reviewed the information and options Microsoft Windows gave me for troubleshooting, and voila !, I explored an option as an administrator, given I now have a personal Comcast account, and within a few minutes established a solid and secure internet connection, allowing me to blog tonight, in a much more chillaxxed state of mind, over last night and today.  With my newly established internet connection in my personal quarters, I assure you anew I will faithfully blog daily my Insights Into Life And Faith............Hallejuah !,   Father Troy David Powers

SANTORUM A DOUBLE WINNER TONIGHT AS HE TAKES THE MISSISSIPPI AS WELL AS ALABAMA PRIMARIES............

Rick Santorum is now the projected winner of the Mississppi Republican Primary for President, having been declared the winner in the Alabama Primary earlier tonight.  The results from the Hawaii and American Samoa Primaries, aso held today, will not be available for many hours yet.  Does this now mean that Rick Santorum can now claim to be the one true conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, in the remaining contests leading up to the Convention in Tampa, Florida in August.  Newt Gingrich is vowing tonight to stay in the race for the nomination to the Tampa Convention, despite increasing analysis that he campaign, after only winning in South Carolina and Georgia, and placing second in Alabama and Mississippi, effectively faces the end of his campaign; with these results sending Santorum forward with a much stronger head of steam as the Romney alternative.  Thus another electoral round is over in this year's GOP nominating process, and the putative, Establishment favored, and next in line at his turn, Republican candidate for the Presidential Nomination, Romney - continues to struggle in gaining support and though fatr ahead, amassing the 1,144 Delegates needed to win the nomination, sooner than later............

IS SANTORUM THE TRUE CONSERVATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO ROMNEY ?............

With Gingrich placing second in both Alabama and Mississippi, behind first place Santorum, will Rick Santorum lay claim to being effectively the one conservative alternative to Romney after tonight's results ?  Politico is reporting he will credibly be able to do so, as the very to most conservative Republicans have voted today for Santorum.  Santorum has just come on stage in Lafayette, Louisiana and is starting to speak, opening with the word, "We did it again !"  After thank yous, he says the most common thing people say to him after telling him they support him, is that they are praying for him.  I am waiting to hear how the Catholic vote turned out today, because although Santorum is a practicing Catholic, last Tuesday the industrial Catholic friendly state of Ohio went for Romney, with Romney, not Santorum carrying the Catholic primary voters in Ohio............

SANTORUM TAKES THE STAGE...........

CNN, and the Associated Press have now projected Santorum the winner in Alabama, and with 70 of the Mississippi votes counted, Santorum is leading, Gingrich in second, and Romney third; as Rick Santorum takes the podium to make his victory speech and Newt Gingrich with a sparse crowd gathered is expected to speak in less than nine minutes, thus the two speeches may create a split screen speeches occurrence.  Mississipi is virtually a three way tie with three quarters of the votes counted, with Santorum ahead by 1,800 votes over Gingrich, and 2,000 votes ahead of Romney............

TIGHT RACES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI......BUT NBC NEWS MAKES AN ALABAMA PROJECTION............

Extremely tight races are shaping up as the votes come in from the Alabama and Mississippi Primaries tonight.  Rick Santorum is ahead in both states, and NBC News has projected Santorum the winner in Alabama, the only media entity to make a projection tonight so far.  At this hour Santorum is first, Gingrich second, and Romney third, in both states.  Santorum is expected to speak to his supporters in less than ten minutes time, as the Romney canmpaign is floating word that their candidate may not speak, according to the Politico coverage I am watching live on C-SPAN......ABC News has now projected Santorum the Alabama winner.  More to Come, dependent on my iffy internet connection tonight in my quarters............

PROGRESSING INTO PLACE............

Richard, the MMT maintenance man was able to get my television connection made just before lunch, which is a flat screen provided by the Penningtons, replacing my picture tube failing standard set.  So I have the local Sacramento channels and some of the digital channels, in time to see some of the coverage of the Alabama and Mississippi Primaries tonight.  Jack and Mary Lou also brought my wheelchair cushion, transfer board, and diabetic monitor, but could not find my black pouch, with my wallet, medical cards, and other personal effects in it.  Comcast will be connecting mew to cable and installing a modem for the laptop, as the lobby is the only place I can presently get a consistent computer connection.  I had a wonderful phone call with Father Oliver for the first time in seven weeks, a conversation with Roger Geach as well.  At lunch Bishop Quinn stopped at my table to welcome me to MMT, and as always we had a pleasant conversation.  The two women was at table with for lunch bring their uniqueness, one being the mother of a Jesuit priest; and the other a real life cousin of Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) of the 'Seinfeld' tv show fame............Fr.  Troy

THE START UP CHALLENGES OF BEING UPROOTED............

As I begin my first full day as a  resident in Mercy McMahon Terrace, the challenges of being uprooted, and relocated such as no television connection, limited accessibility to the internet, due to WiFi weakness, given the thickness of the walls and pipes in the facility, which means until I can establish a more solid connection I must come to the lobby to blog, e-mail, or otherwise use my laptop.  I am reminded as I contend with such frustrations, this too shall pass, but it is frustrating to lose the control and independence to do such things without extra effort being required, such as leaving my own quarters to blog, e-mail, or otherwise get or impart information on the internet.  Patience in contending with matters like this, is not one of my virtues, but alas a reality to be dealt with.  The MMT staff and residents are being quite cordial and welcoming, as I get the lay of the land and sort out what my days here will be like .  Nikki and the maintenance man are already arranging my television cable connection.  Trying my best to remember my present motto, "Push Forward", in stability to get back to priestly, pastoral, parish, ministry............Fr.  Troy

SETTLING INTO MERCY MCMAHON TERRACE............

I arrived at Mercy McMahon Terrace (MMT) at 3:45 p.m., and with the help of the intake coordinator and the staff, along with OLOL parishioners Jack Pennington and his sister Mary Lou, began the preliminary settling in process of procedures, paperwork, and paraphanalia, necessary of each resident.  The living room area includes a kitchenette and a small balcony; the bathroom is very accessible; and the bedroom roomy enough to use my walker or wheelchair as needed.  My room is on the second floor and I will be dining downstairs with the other residents, but tonight a dinner tray was brought to my room as a parade of staff came to do their part in addressing my arrival.  The laptop and a small radio will be my media companions tonight, as the television will be connected tomorrow.  Hopefully, in time for coverage of the results from the Alabama and Mississippi Primaries............Fr.  Troy

MY TEMPORARY MOVE INTO MERCY MCMAHON TERRACE............

The Assessment Nurse from Mercy McMahon Terrace across the street from Mercy General Hospital Rehab Center has met with me this morning and the move over and into a room there is underway.  Jack Pennington and Bill Shepherd have arrived to help me move in, bringing some of my basic belongings such as clothing, medications, a bed, chair, television, and tables, to furnish the room.  Organizing my therapy sessions which supposedly can be done therein, will be my next priority, as I settle in for the time being.  I will blog later with further insight into this.  Thanks to all who have shared in, and cared for me through prayers, cards, calls, and visits, the past seven weeks............Gratitude and Peace,   Fr.  Troy

MISSING PARISH LIFE AND THE RCIA MINISTRY............

I chose to answer God's Call to the diocesan priesthood, over a career in politics, government, and public service, as my life's vocation in large measure because of the opportunity to serve and lead God's People in parish life.  My experiences of parish life and interaction with diocesan priests as a  child and young adult, were so positive and impressive, that despite the equal tug and intrigue from childhood in politics and government, that includes undergraduate degrees in Political Science / Government / History / from Sacramento City College and California State University Sacramento; being a candidate for the Los Rios Community College District Board of Trustees; a two year internship at the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors with Ted Sheedy; being a finalist for one of the very first Harry S. Truman scholarships; that I eagerly answered the call to becoming a priest, and the fortieth native born, local grown, priest in the history of the Sacramento Diocese, upon my ordination in 1987.  Therefore, I greatly miss being present and involved in parish life and the ministries of servant leadership being a Priest of Jesus Christ entail as a pastor of souls.  One of the parish ministries I have taken considerable delight in the past thirty years is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults,  (R.C.I.A.).  I am greatly missing being in the parish and the expanded R.C.I.A. Catechumenate Ministry underway at OLOL.  Until otherwise informed on Friday morning, I was very much looking forward to being back there on this Sunday, graduating back into the R.C.I.A. ministry and other parish activities.  Instead, I will be residing indefinitely at Mercy McMahon Terrace, missing the parish ministry I remain committed to carrying out at age 55, please God far from retirement, or allowing the circumstances I have been dealt to sideline me.  Let me assure my present and past parishioners, my circle of friends, and fellow Catholic-Christians, I am, and will continue to do everything I can not to be marginalized, and return to full pastoral, priestly, ministry as expeditiously as is attainable.  For as Psalms 37:23 proclaims, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord"............A Continued Productive Lent,   Fr.  Troy