SAINT ANDREW, APOSTLE OF ADVENT.........

On this last day of our month of November remembrance, the second day of the new Liturgical Year 2010, we venerate St. Andrew the fisherman, brother of Simon Peter. Like his brother, Andrew was called by Jesus to follow him, as one of his primary disciples. St. Andrew is known as the, 'Apostle of Advent', and is held in great veneration by our sisters and brothers in the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Eastern Orthodox Christians consider St. Andrew the Apostle to be the, "protoclete", meaning the first called of the Twelve Apostles. Sacred Tradition teaches us that Andrew may have preached the Gospel in Asia Minor and Greece. He is thought to have been crucified on a X shaped Cross. Besides high veneration in the Eastern Rite Churches, St. Andrew is also the patron saint of Scotland, with his cross placed on the Scotland's national flag. And for golfers everywhere, perhaps the most famous golf course resort in all the world is named St. Andrew's in Scotland, the home of the sport of golf. Today's Gospel proclamation for the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle presents the Call by Jesus of His Disciples. Jesus called Andrew, Simon, and the other Apostles by catching sight of them, watching them as they did their ordinary daily labor and then boldly invited them to, "Follow Me". That same gaze, watching, inviting, by Jesus the Christ has continued to occur for more than two thousand years as He has fervently called new disciples. We too, and others have received the Call of Christ to Discipleship. The Advent Season and our preparation and anticipation for the Lord Jesus' three-fold Coming, is an outstanding time to meditate on how faithfully and fervently YOU are responding to the Call of Jesus the Christ in your life. May Andrew the Apostle of Advent, guide your efforts to discern the response you are making, or need to make, in answer to God's Call. The start of the new Church Year in Advent, is also an excellent opportunity to determine what more you will do in Liturgical Year 2010, to pray, worship, and minister, better as a committed disciple in the Community of Believers, the Church ? What are, or will you do, to be present and participating with and for others, in the spirit of, "Faith, Fellowship, Collegiality, Collaboration" ???? As Jesus Calls you here and now, YOU and CHRIST will find the answer in your open, ready, and willing Heart.........Happy St. Andrew's Day !!! In the Hope and Joy of the Advent of the Lord, Fr. Troy

MY FELLOW SOUTH SACRAMENTO PRIESTLY VOCATION : REVEREND FATHER MARTIN BRUSATO.........

I was gladly surprised and pleased at the 7:30 pm Mass at St. Rose's on Franklin Boulevard tonight to have Reverend Father Martin Brusato, who grew up and ministered as a youth in neighb,oring St. Anne's Parish, present and assisting, with the distribution of Holy Communion. Fr. Martin was ordained two years after me, and on May 14, 2009, celebrated his 20th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood..........

CONGRATULATIONS, LAUREN MUGNAINI !!!!!!!!!!!!!.............

Congratulations and Kudos to my family friend, high school senior LAUREN MUGNAINI, who finished 13th out of 135 girl runners Saturday at the State Meet for Track in Fresno. Great job Lauren !!!!!!!!!!!!! I knew you would make it happen.............Fr. Troy

COME LORD JESUS, COME - THE SEASON OF ADVENT BEGINS.........

Preparing, Waiting, Watching, Eagerly, Joyfully, Hopefully, anticipating the Coming of the Lord Jesus, that is our Catholic-Christian focus and the spirit of the Season of Advent. The Lord Jesus' Coming is past, present, and future, oriented. He came as God's co-Eternal Son, who was born as Man into the world, more than two thousand years ago. He comes again each day, each Advent, when we open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus and to other persons, in Christian discipleship. He will come again in glory at the end of time, as the Judge of Heaven and Earth and the King of the Universe.
The First Sunday of Advent begins the new Liturgical Year and summons the Church to embrace anew, the fullness of the Paschal Mystery of the Christ, in high seasons, ordinary time, solemnities, feasts, and memorials, of Word, Eucharist, and the Prayer, Worship, Ministry of the Community of Believers in Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Liturgical Year 2010, we open today, is Year C, in the cycle of Readings from the Lectionary. The Gospel of Luke, is the primary proclamation of the Holy Gospel during this Church Year. Luke's Gospel was written to appeal to the Gentiles, thus underscoring the universality of the Good News for all believing peoples throughout the world.
At St. Philomene's Church last night and today, like in Catholic-Christian churches and homes everywhere, we blessed and lit the Advent Wreath for the first time this year. St. Philomene's Music Ministry Director, Alan Nissila, composed a beautiful Advent Wreath Blessing Service, with which we opened our Sunday Masses. The introduction described the three-fold symbolism represented by the Advent Wreath which,"reminds of of our yearning for God. The wreath's circular shape tells us of God's everlasting love and faithfulness. Its evergreen branches tell us of eternal life and God's desire for us to live with Him forever. The four candles remind us of the passing of time, our human history into which God has entered through Jesus Christ". The Advent Season,"is a time of grace, a time for a new advent of Jesus into our lives". Today, as we light the first candle around our Advent Wreaths we are bidding the flame of faith to make us always ready, preparing, waiting, watching, eagerly, joyfully, hopefully, for the Lord's Coming now and at the end of time. The Second Glorious Coming of Christ is the theme of Luke's Gospel today, just as the Parousia, the Apocalypse, the End Times, have been the focus of the final Sundays of the past Church Year. And so, as members of the workaday world and secular society frontload and hype Christmas into a commercial holiday and premature season of socializing, devoid of its true meaning, let us as members of the Body of Christ, enter into and observe, with the joy and gladness of anticipation and preparation, the Advent Season, so as to be properly, spiritually, ready for the great feasting as God's Family in the Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus the Christ, when Christmas comes, in twenty six days. Come Lord Jesus, Come !!! For You are Emmanuel, "God With Us...Yesterday, Today, Forever". Alleluia, Amen.
Joy + Hope in the Coming of the Lord Jesus..........Fr. Troy

AN END OF THE CHURCH YEAR PRAYER MEDITATION.........

"It helps now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives include everything.

This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's
grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the
worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own". AMEN.

PRAYER ATTRIBUTED TO ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO, 1917-1980
the martyred Arcbbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, who was assassinated March 24, 1980.
+Oscar Romero, was a prophetic voice to his people, who preached a gospel of social justice for his country men and women, and who urged the development of popular, mass organizations, to oppose the repression of the El Salvadoran government.

As a Faithful Witness to being the priestly, prophetic, People of God in today's Church and World, I offer it to you as an end of the Liturgical Year prayer meditation. It is the same passage we prayed last week at the St. Joseph's Parish Redding, Staff Retreat in McCloud. I gratefully acknowledge Fr. Ben DeLeon, for providing it.........tdp

THE LAST DAY OF THE LITURGICAL YEAR LEADS TO A NEW ADVENT OF THE LORD.........

Today, ThanksGiving Saturday, is also the last day of Liturgical Year 2009. As Catholic-Christian Disciples of Jesus the Lord of All Creation and the Savior of the World, we have completed another year long cycle of the Paschal Mystery of the Christ. Eighteen weeks of the high seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and the Solemnities of the Lord, have again been joined to thirty four weeks of Ordinary Time, and the Feasts and Memorials of the Saints of Light in Glory. On this last Saturday of November, the Sacred Scriptures of today's liturgy speak to us of Daniel's prophetic vision of the ultimate Divine Victory over sin and death and the everlastingly established Kingdom of God for all peoples and nations. Luke's Gospel Chapter 21, has Jesus the Christ, admonishing His Disciples to, "stay awake" and to, "be vigilant and pray". By staying awake and being vigilant, Jesus is speaking of more than merely human slumber. He is alerting all Believers to avoid being lulled by the distractions and diversions of earthly concerns and to remain focused on the realm of God's Coming Kingdom. What better way to end the Church Year, than to recall our eternal destiny is to dwell with the Living and True God Forever in the Light, Love, Joy, and Glory, of Eternal Life. As the holiday season begins and the frenzyness it brings rolls out, our discipleship in Christ the King reminds us to embrace the spirit of generous self giving, in the faith and fellowship of the season, not become absorbed with the grandiosity of the presents given or received. Enjoy your ThanksGiving weekend. And remember to, "stay awake and be vigilant", for the day of the Lord's Coming and the inauguration of God's Kingdom.........Thanks Be To God As We Conclude Liturgical Year 2009, Reverend Father Troy David Powers

A THANKSGIVING THOUGHT TO PONDER.........

"Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count your gains instead of your losses,
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes,
Count your smiles instead of your tears,
Count your courage instead of your fears,
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean,
Count your health instead of your wealth,
Count on a higher power instead of yourself."

Written by ANONYMOUS

Peace and Love this ThanksGiving to You and Your Families, Friends, and Fellow Believers.....

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FELLOW BELIEVERS, FULFILL A FOCUS ON FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP.........

For the past week I have renewed my focus on my pastoral model of the Church : "Faith, Fellowship, Collegiality, Collaboration". As I have prayed and reflected on the blessings of my life for which I have reason to give thanks this year, the role family, friends, and fellow believers, have played came into further focus for me. This ThanksGiving Friday I arose at 7 am, to be ready for the 8 am Mass at St. Philomene's and then went to Labcorp for a follow-up fasting blood lab, as my Prograf anti rejection drug level was slightly high last Monday. Celebrating this day after ThanksGiving, is an excellent time to share the reflection that has resulted from my experience of family, friends, and fellow believers, in recent months. My sisters upon learning when and where my kidney transplant would take place, decided to come to Phoenix for the transplant surgery and to help provide the first month of post transplant caregiving. Three of my cousins also were in contact before and after my transplant, offering their care, concern and support. Many of my longtime friends have also been a constant presence to me during these harrowing months just past, from Ted Sheedy, Curtis Richards, Joe Gibson, Ray Riehle, Teres and Mike Mugnaini, Ramona Bugatto, Sara Nava, Pat Hornback, Frank and Sally McNamara, Joe and Deborah McNamara, Jon Salinger,David Bugatto, Bruce Mattos, Matt Cologna, Scott McKenna, Rob Allen, Doug Plazak, Mike Dremel, Rob Paoletti, Mary Carson, Carole Salerno, Christine Cologna, Katie Carlsen, Karin, Roger, Rodd, Karla, and the entire Geach Family, Ellie Radich, Lou Richmond, Rose and Jack Sapanaro, Mary and Lou Maucieri, and Jeremy Lipp, and his Family, among so many other loyal and loving friends. Fellow believers and parishioners past and present, have also been there for me through the ordeal of my pre and post transplant experiences. They include, Louise Bartridge, Donna Ransom, Steve Fischer, Elaine Massey, Mary Ravenscroft, *Shirley Reeder, Deacon Emmett and Jackie Pogue, Sister Julianna Clancy, RSM, Carl and Rose DiCapo, Wally Dondero, Paul Friedrich,Shirley Figenshu, Pat Riecks,Rose Mauro, Mike Bobo, Jon Hillegeist, Barbara Fay, Dolly Johnson, Deacon Red Cheever, Alan Nissila, Noe Perez, Mark Farmer, Julie Peila, Dave McClean, and countless others, to whom my depth of gratitude is also extended. Why do these persons and so many people in my circle have chosen to be there and come through for me, when we need them most ??? The primary reasons are Love and the interpersonal relationships we share. But I truly believe that their belief in me, an expression of Faith, and their affection for the bonds we have forged, expressing Fellowship, are also integral to the response of family, friends, and fellow believers, to my renal failure and kidney transplant experiences. Thank You EVERYONE, for being present to me and participating productively in the process of my transplant surgery and convalescence. My thoughts, prayers, Masses, and lasting gratitude are yours now and always !!! You are Awesome exemplars of the Catholic-Christian Discipleship we are meant to not only profess, but practice. Giving Thanks For You One and All With Heartfelt Gratitude. Yours In Jesus the Lord, Fr. Troy

THANKSGIVING 2009 - GIVING THANKS AS AMERICAN CITIZENS AND CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES.........

Our pilgrim forebearers marked being in our New Land for their first year, by celebrating a feast with family and neighbors, to give praise to God and acknowledge their blessings, we call ThanksGiving. ThanksGiving Day, 388 years later has become a four day weekend national holiday that brings family and friends together from near and far. My ThanksGiving Day Mass today I celebrated at St. Philomene's, offering as my personal intentions, gratitude to God, my living donor Victor, Mayo Clinic Arizona Transplant Team, and my family, friends, and fellow believers, for your help and support in seeing me through to a successful kidney transplant. Present with me at St. Philomene's this morning were some 130 persons, giving their own thanks to God for the blessings of life and faith. Included among them was my second month primary 24/7 caregiver in Phoenix, Jeremy Lipp, and his mother, Patty. As we came to the conclusion of our Thanksgiving Day Eucharist, I acknowledged Jeremy's presence and contribution to my convalescence after transplant, as well as welcomed home all our visiting loved ones, and remembered all our military men and women serving in the two wars our country is engaged in. A special blessing was then given over the foods surrounding the cornucopia displayed before the altar of sacrifice, which will be served at parishioners dinner tables today. As you and yours celebrate this ThanksGiving may you be grateful for the blessings of life, family, faith, friendship, fellowship, and fidelity, to our one true and infinite King, Jesus the Christ. Happy Turkey Day !!!!!!!!! gobble gobble !! Gratefully + Thankfully Yours, Fr. Troy

EVENING POSTSCRIPT : My dear friend Teres Mugnaini, with an assist from her mother Ramona Bugatto, and a salad by her sister in law Julie, provided a delectable ThanksGiving Dinner for her family, her college sophomore son Chris' girlfriend Clare, and yours truly. Teres, Mike her husband, and daughter Lauren, a high school senior drive to Fresno Friday morning where Lauren will compete in the State Meet for Track, Saturday morning. Lauren is a prolific runner. Good luck in your three mile race on Saturday Lauren...Meanwhile her younger brother, Alex, who is quite a baseball player and an all star champion, was notified by Stanford University that they are watching him as a baseball player. I baptized the three Mugnaini children and am Alex's godfather...Way to GO !!! CLA MUGS.........tdp

3 MONTHS TODAY AFTER MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT : CONVALESCENCE CONCLUDING.........

It is 3 months today since I received my kidney transplant at the Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona. I have been back in Sacramento 39 days, from my eight week transplant sojourn in the Phoenix desert. Coping successfully to date during the ninety two days since receiving the kidney from my living donor, Victor Herrera, I am ever grateful to him, to Dr. Ardyll Moss, my surgeon, and the entire Mayo Clinic Transplant Team, of doctors, nurses, and coordinators, for their exemplary treatment and care. I am also very appreciative of my local doctors, Drs. Ardash Bhat, James McMonagle, James Cookson; and my primary caregivers, my sisters, Alice White and Alene Powers, Curtis Richards, Jeremy Lipp, my seminary classmate, Fr. Oliver Maher, and Presentation parishioners, Joe DiMarco, and Paul Friedrich. To all of you my dear friends, past and present parishioners, and supporters, who have faithfully and loyally offered prayers, and sent cards, gifts, e-mails, and phone calls, to me over the past three months, I say thanks from the depths of my heart. While in Phoenix post transplant I contended with two urinary tract infections, which can be common occurrences for kidney transplant recipients. The Mayo Clinic's treatment and antibiotic regimen has seemed to have arrested the problem for now, Praise the Lord. My brother priests have also been very supportive. In addition to Fr. Oliver, they have included Frs. Dan Bollard, Martin Tobin, Jim Murphy, Martin Delaney, Sean O'Connor, Dermot Ryan, Rahoul Phillips, Dan Donohoo, Ben DeLeon, Eduino Silveira, Paul Schloeder, Jerry Ryle, Steve Avella, Tony Traynor, Bill Kinane, Paul Ricks, Brendan McKeefry, Msgrs. Ed Kavanagh, Jim Church, Jim Cassin, Kieron Kennedy, and Bishops Jaime Soto, William Weigand, Francis Quinn, Richard Garcia, Laurence Forristal, and Seamus Freeman.
To all my American and Irish friends, including the "usual suspects", go my salute and felicitations, for your ongoing help and support during the two and a half years of my kidney failure and dialysis and in the pre and post transplant periods of the past many months. I will remember you fondly always, for being present and providing for me in this most acute time of need in my life and ministry. Foremost, I am forever in a spirit of awe, glory and praise, to God for gracing me with this new lease on life and the potential for furthering my priestly ministry fulltime. Please God that will lead to my being appointed a Pastor of the Church in the Sacramento Diocese in the new year... Also today, a very Happy Birthday to my St. Rose's / St. Patrick's colleague, Presentation parishioner, and 30 year friend, Patricia Hornback !!!!!!!!! .........Appreciatively and Gratefully yours in Christ Jesus Our King, Fr. Troy

REVISTING OROVILLE THE PARISH OF MY SECOND PASTORATE.........

Today, I journeyed back to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oroville, where I served as Pastor from September 8, 1994 - November 24, 2000. The Funeral Mass for Shirley Reeder, a parishioner who was a liturgical and pastoral minister in the parish for several years was the occasion for my return visit. After celebrating 8 am Mass at St. Philomene's, I headed to Highway 70 and the one hour fifteen minute drive to Oroville for the 10 am funeral liturgy...Joe Anchors St. Philomene's weekday Mass sacristan informed me of the end of Arden Way extension onto I-5, to head up Highway 70 to Oroville. With heavy traffic and road construction along the highway, I arrived at the church at 9:55 am wearing my alb and stole, but instructed to put on a chasuble. I was one of four priests present to concelebrate Shirley Reeder's Funeral Mass. Father Benedict DeLeon, who succeeded me as Pastor of Oroville was the presider, and the current St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Pastor, Father Roland Pabellan, St. Thomas More Parish Paradise, Pastor Father Steven Foppiano, and yours truly, were the concelebrating priests and Deacon Emmett Pogue, was deacon of the Mass. Fr. Ben gave a wonderful remembrance of Shirley's consistency and dedication to parish ministries at St. Thomas. I appreciated his recollection that I was the Pastor who appointed Shirley as Coordinator of Pastoral Ministry, in the parish and his subsequent recollection of parish priestly vocation, Fr. Steven's work with Shirley and the parishioners, as well as how it was Shirley who introduced Fr. Ben to Emmett Pogue, as a Deacon in Training, upon his arrival there in 2001.
Her funeral taking place today, November 24, occurs on the ninth anniversary of my departure from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville, to become the Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights. During those nine years Shirley was one of a band of Oroville parishioners who have remained in regular contact with me. Shirley called wrote, came to visit, and was especially solicitous from the outset of my health problems through my kidney transplant. Today is 13 weeks since my transplant, with tomorrow being three months exactly, and the end of the initial convalescence period. Seeing and being with my former Oroville parishioners this morning was an exciting and effervescent tonic for me, as I stand at the three month threshold post transplant and gradually continue to progress in fulfilling everyday priestly ministry activities, without overtaxing my new kidney and body energy. Thank You St. Thomas the Apostle parishioners. God is Good !!! Hopefully Yours in the Living and True God, the King of the Universe, Fr. Troy

A CLASSIC GAME AND A TRULY CLASSY GUY.........

A most remarkable thing happened on Saturday at Hornet Field on the Sacramento State campus. The annual Causeway Classic between the UC Davis Aggies and the CSU Sacramento Hornets, was a fantastic football game, with a terrific conclusion, resulting in a 31-28 Sac State victory in the final twenty seconds of the game. It means the Hornets have bested the Aggies two years in a row, in this 56th annual match-up between the two teams. Congratulations and Kudos to Coach Marshall Sperbeck, players Brandyn Reed and McLeod Bethel-Thompson, and the entire Hornets Team !!!!!!!!! As a proud CSUS alumnus and someone who has known and worked with Coach Bob Mattos, during my years as an undergraduate on the Sac State campus and maintained an ongoing friendship with his family since then, it was also very commendable of the Hornets team players to wear the Mattos name on the back of their jerseys Saturday,being inspired by Coach Mattos' well known pass phrase to his players, "It's time to strap it on". The Hornet players of Team 2009, wore the Mattos name on Saturday in recognition of the immense contribution Bob Mattos has made to the Sac State Football as both an outstanding player himself and as one of the Football team's great coaches in all its history.
Coach Bob Mattos is now fighting the battle of his life with brain cancer. I ask you to keep him and his family in your prayers that God will continue to grace him and them during this challenging time. In 1978 & '79, as I attended Sac State football games on campus with the Hornets being coached by Bob Mattos, I did so as a member of both the Associated Students Inc., student government and Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, leading me to closer contact with the Coach and the Mattos Family. In ASI, I was pleased to be in a band of student leaders like Joe Gibson, Brian Welch, Kevin Stevens, Robin Blair, among others, who were fully supportive of the exceptional work Coach Mattos was doing with our Football Team. During the year and a half I was in the Student Senate, I proudly cast my votes to help fund and support the Hornet footballers. As a founding member of Lambda Chi Alpha, little did I realize that Coach Mattos' ten/eleven year son at the time, Bruce, would a decade later join Lambda Chi at Sac State, and become my fraternity brother and personal friend. I am privileged as a priest to have officiated at Bruce's wedding to his wife, Julie. And as Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville, I presided at the funerals of two of Bob Mattos' aunts, who lived in the Oroville area. That I feel so positively and strongly about Coach Mattos and his Family and my experiences with them over more than thirty years, is why my prayerful reflection led me to make Coach BOB MATTOS, today's blog focus. Thank You COACH, for, "strapping it on", productively game after game, year after year, during your five decades of playing and coaching high school and college football. The significant contribution he has made to countless players, their schools and communities, will be remembered always. I will be seeing you soon, Coach. Love + Prayers in Jesus the Lord, Fr. Troy

THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING LEADS OFF THE FINAL WEEK OF THE CHURCH YEAR.........

This Sunday, November 22, 2009, is the 46th anniversary of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first and only Catholic ever yet to be elected to the White House. The young martyred President was 46 years old on November 22, 1963, the day he died. Which means he would be double his age today were he alive, 92 years old. Like the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the end of World War II in 1945; or the Moon Landing in 1969; and the occurrence of 9-11, in 2001; the day President Kennedy died will always be remembered by those who were alive, for where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. On November 22, 1963, I was 7 years old, in the Second Grade at Woodbine School, in South Sacramento. I remember going home to lunch as usual and the weather changing to cold and overcast outside during lunchtime. When I returned to my classroom a change had occurred on the bulletin board trimming above the blackboard. Mrs. Marshman, my second grade teacher had the pictures of the previous 34 Presidents posted with President Kennedy's photograph centered in the middle as the 35th and sitting, President of the United States. But one thing was different : black paper was now surrounding JFK'S picture. She then stood at the front of the classroom and told us that President Kennedy was gone and that we had a new President, Lyndon Johnson. I also remember it hardly seems we turned the tv off, or went to bed for the next three days, as wall to wall, coverage of his death and funeral were the only thing presented.
Today November 22, 2009, being the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year is the Solemnity of CHRIST THE KING...We celebrate as Catholic-Christians the universal and indisputable Kingship of Jesus the Christ, not as a worldly monarch, or temporal political power, but as the infinite Lord and King of Creation, for eternity. Christ the King is the Saving and Redeeming Son of the One, Living and True God, the source of everlasting life for all believers. Daniel, the prophet in today's First Reading from the Sacred Scriptures, refers to the End Times and Escathalogy, the transition from this world of imperfect human nature to God's Kingdom of light, love, and Eternal Life. The Book of Revelation, our Second Reading from Scripture, speaks to us of Jesus the Christ as the, "Alpha and Omega", of Creation. Jesus as the King of Glory, is the beginning and end of everything and a, "Faithful Witness", to the Heavenly Father, who empowers us to faithfully witness to God ourselves...John's Gospel proclamation presents the dialogue over kingship between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, prior to Christ's Passion and Death. In it, Jesus affirms His is not a temporal, political, kingship, but rather inaugurates a Kingdom of Truth and Light. In this final week of the Church Year may you and your families experience the power and promise of being, "Faithful Witnesses" to Christ Our King, and as God's People live the truth of the Gospel Values and Paschal Mystery, Jesus the Christ calls us to follow and embrace everyday of the year.........Peace + Prayers in Christ The King, Our One, True, Light to God's Kingdom, Fr. Troy

THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.........

Today, Saturday is the Presentation Parish Feast Day, commemorating the fidelity of the Blessed grandparents, Sts. Anne and Joachim as Jewish parents, in presenting their infant daughter Mary in the Temple. Presentation Parish celebrated the feast day with a 40 Hours Devotion of the Blessed Sacrament. After my 33 hour trek to and from, Shasta and Siskiyou counties on Thursday and Friday, today I rested until the mid-afternoon when I went to St. Philomene's for the Saturday Confessions and the Sunday Vigil Mass. I will also be presiding at the 7 am & 9 am Masses at St. Philomene's Sunday morning. There was sad news this week from St.Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville, where I was Pastor from 1994-2000. Fr. Ben DeLeon succeeded me there as Pastor until his appointment as Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish, Redding in 2008. He informed me that Shirley Reeder, a longtime Oroville parishioner and parish minister died during the week. Her funeral is scheduled for this Tues. Nov. 24, and I am hoping to meet Fr. Ben at St. Thomas the Apostle to concelebrate Shirley's Funeral Mass with the current Oroville Pastor, Fr. Roland Pabellan. Shirley Reeder remained in regular contact with me after I departed from St. Thomas the Apostle, and was particularly faithful in checking in and checking up on me in the years since my diabetes and kidney disease. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord. May she and all the holy souls rest in peace. Alleulia Amen.........Peace + Prayers in Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

A SNOWY DAY OF FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP IN MCCLOUD, SISKIYOU COUNTY.........

We awoke to it snowing at the McCloud Hotel Bed and Breakfast, in Siskiyou County this morning, at the St. Joseph Parish Redding Staff Retreat. It was still snowing at 11 am when we walked down the street to the McCloud Parish Church, also named St. Joseph's, making the scenery a winter wonderland. Our Breakfast was one of fresh fruit, a Mexican frittata, a muffin, coffee or tea, and orange juice, served in a small, old world style, breakfast room. Our Morning Prayer included a reflection we read together by the late, great, El Salvador Archbishop and martyr, +Oscar Romero, and the song The Summons...Then after a detailed and gracious personal introduction from Fr. Ben DeLeon, I facilitated a presentation on the topic of, "Ministry", and gave the more than a dozen parish staff members, a two part, question in a question, for small group sharing. The focus of my shared reflection with the parish staff members was on the Second Vatican Council's primary model of church being, "The People of God". I also shared my personal model of church in that context as Pastor of Yreka, Oroville and Citrus Heights, "Faith, Fellowship, Collegiality, Collaboration". My small group sharing question I gave them was centered around, "the impact of their personal ministry upon the rest of the parish staff and how their individual and collective ministries empower all of the parishioners to participate in the parish". All present seemed to appreciate the experience we shared. After checking out of the hotel, we proceeded up the street to the church for Mass. Fr. Ben presided and I preached. The Mass was attended by McCloud parishioners, as well as those of us at the Redding staff retreat. Then, many of the retreatants went to lunch at the White Mountain Cafe, formerly known as, the Soda Shop. Departing through the snow plowed roads of Highway 89, to Interstate 5, Fr. Ben and I arrived back at St. Joseph's Parish in Redding at 3:15 pm, and I started my drive back to Sacramento at 3:30 pm, arriving at 'La Rosa Blanca' restaurant for dinner at 6:15 pm, Jeremy is home sick tonight, but his mother, sister, brother, and restaurant staff took very good care of me. Chillaxing time back at Presentation rectory, the past ninety minutes has been watching CNN for news of the day and The Golden Girls on the Hallmark Channel. My weekend will include Saturday Confessions and 3 Sunday Masses at St. Philomene's.........Yours in the Faith, Fellowship, Collegiality, and Collaboration, of Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

RECONNECTING WITH FRIENDS AND PREPARING TO GO UP THE DIOCESE TO THE NORTH STATE.........

Thursday November 19, 2009

DAY 86 / 87 POST TRANSPLANT ON A NORTH STATE TREK TO REDDING / MCCLOUD

Today, I drove myself up I-5 North to Redding, where I went to St. Joseph's Church on Gold and Walnut Streets, to meet Reverend Father Benedict DeLeon, the Pastor, for a trip together up to McCloud, in Siskiyou County. Once we arrived there we checked into the McCloud Hotel Bed and Breakfast, which is the site tonight and tomorrow, of the Redding Parish Staff Retreat. I am here as the facilitator of a Retreat Reflection Friday morning, on the topic of Ministry. The Bed and Breakfast is newly renovated, and is a quaint, classic style, old fashioned hotel, perfectly attuned to its Siskiyou County locale. My room looks out on the vintage McCloud-Dunsmuir train. Our Dinner tonight is being served by the Altar Society members of St. Joseph's Church, McCloud. The church and parish hall are just down at the corner and it time I head out to have dinner...After a delicious dinner of take and bake pizzas, tossed green salad, fudge brownies and Shasta sodas. But the pastoral highlight of the dinner hour was Fr. Ben arranging for everyone to sing Happy Birthday to his Parochial Vicar, Fr. John Lawrence, as a prank as it is not Fr. John's birthday !!!!!!!!! We returned to the hotel for a Parish Staff Meeting and a Sing-a-long Social, of a number of liturgical and popular songs. Calling it a day and returning to our own rooms for the night, Fr. Ben bid me goodnight. It is now a quarter to ten, and I am going to be an earlybird and go to bed, to be well rested and refreshed, to give my shared reflection on, 'Ministry'. I have decided to focus on a Vatican II / 3rd Millennium model of church I firmly believe in being, "The People of God"...>>>As I am brought this blog column to a close I heard a guitar being loudly strummed in the hallway outside my door, to the sound of Johnny Cash's, "Folsom Prison Blues". Opening the door there was Fr. Ben laughing jovially, and Eldon, the Parish Music Director, immensely enjoying pranking me. Beware parish staffers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will see what tomorrow brings. Until then, Happily Yours in the Spirit of St. Joseph's Parishes in Shasta and Siskiyou Counties, CA.........Fr. Troy

Wednesday November 18, 2009

DAY 85 AFTER TRANSPLANT - GETTING BACK INTO THE GROOVE

Not being the most prolific of morning persons, I awoke before 6 o'clock and was out of bed by 6:45 am to start my day and get ready for the 8 am Mass at St. Philomene's. At midday I will be having lunch with Karin & Roger Geach. Then I will spend the rest of the day finalizing my preparation for pastoral reflections, I will be delivering in the northern regional of the Diocese on Friday. My usual regimen of Morning Prayer, coffee, and the Today show, has me fully engaged for the day......... Back at Presentation after Mass at St. Philomene's, has me me thinking about the parishioners there I have ministered to and with, and have come to know over the past three years. Joe Anchors, the daily sacristan was there awaiting me the priest, as he faithfully does most days. Joe and I, got to know each other well when I was the weekly presider at the Monday morning Masses. Emerson Heinen, who was the parish maintainence supervisor for many years, currently battling cancer, was also there this morning, his usual congenial self. Also attending the morning Mass was Laurie Tapke, the retired parish secretary, who was very helpful and friendly to me, while I ministered at St. Philomene's as part time Parochial Vicar. During the next two weeks, I will be working with her successor, Edith Trejo, the new parish secretary working with Fr. Eduino and company. They are just some of the many wonderful parishioners it has been my pleasure to work with and serve, at St. Philomene's Parish, since December 1, 2006. I was also privileged to serve with Reverend Father Jerry Ryle, like myself, a native born, locally grown, priestly vocation of our Sacramento Diocese, who fraternally facilitated my parish ministry there. He also afforded me the opportunity to share fraternity and friendship with another locally born priestly vocation, Reverend Father Steve Avella, who is a professor at Marquette University in Wisconsin, and is now a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Since July 1, 2009, my seminary classmate and fellow May 2, 1987 ordinand, Reverend Father Eduino Silveira, is the Pastor of St. Philomene's. Thus my covering for him while he is on two weeks of vacation, I do gladly, from the fraternal friendship we have shared the past twenty seven years...... As I write this blog column, 'Andrea Mitchell Presents', has begun on MSNBC. She is anchoring from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the book tour of former Governor Sarah Palin. Mitchell reports that 1,500 persons have been lining up since overnight, to get a pass into the Palin book signing tonight. The media analysis at this point says it is not a book addressing substantial policy, but a political and personal memoir. As a lifelong student of the Presidency, with an undergraduate major concentrated in the American Presidency, and I hold a high standard for the experience and qualifications, presidential and vice presidential candidates must have. Sarah Palin's book tour response causes me to ask, has American politics become so narrowly partisan and polarized, that anyone and everyone, with or without, a record of proven experience, accomplishment, and qualification, are now viable candidates for the two highest political and governmental offices in our country and the world ?? Or is a political book tour, just that - a book selling, money making, book tour ?????????......... Have a Blessed day !!!!!!!!! Peace + Prayers, Fr. Troy

GAINING BACK TIME AS A RESULT OF MY TRANSPLANT.........

One of the initial joys of receiving my kidney transplant that continues to unfold, is not having to undergo the three times a week dialysis treatments I took 379 times from March 15, 2007 and August 22, 2009. Those more than 1,336 hours of dialysis were some of the most arduous, boring, diverting, and time consuming, trials I have ever experienced. And I am one of the lucky former kidney failure / dialysis patients, as although my transplant should have occurred almost two years sooner than it did, I dialysized for just less than two and a half years, when many transplant candidates and dialysis patients wait five to ten years or more, if indeed they are eligible for a transplant, waiting on a cadaver kidney. Were it not for my living donor, I too, would still be waiting 3-5 years longer to receive a cadaver kidney. The Mayo Clinic's research underscores the challenge. They find there are 77,000 Americans awaiting a kidney transplant and only 11,000 living donors. Available living donors to potential recipients being in the negative direction by a ratio of seven to one, is a major challenge. So too, there is a need for more persons willing to be organ donors after death, so that the wait for a cadaver kidney can be lessened for many more of those 77,000 Americans needing a transplant. Raising awareness and increasing the number of willing donors, is vitally and undeniably an important priority for the American people to meet. I am extremely grateful to my living donor Victor, for uniequivocally and generously donating a kidney to me. I will always be grateful to the Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona Transplant Team and my surgeon, Dr. Moss, for expediting my transplant, after two years of frustrating delay in Sacramento. And the generous care, concern, support and help, of family, friends, and parishioners, especially the Helping Hands Ministry and Men's Club, of Presentation Parish. Seeing Mari Farnsworth, President of the Helping Hands Ministry Tuesday morning in the rectory caused me to think anew about how good the members of Helping Hands were to volunteer many, many hours of their time, at the dinner and rush hours of the evening, to transport me from the Orangevale Dialysis Center back to the Presentation rectory. Dave McAffee, President of the Men's Club, is also the parish Communications Director at Presentation, who I see weekly in the parish office. He and members of the Men's Club stepped up during my post transplant convalescence, providing weekend relief caregivers for me, while I was in Phoenix. I offer this transplant journal reflection on my experiences four and a half weeks after being back in Sacramento, to spur deeper thought on all our parts, about how we can effectively assist and advocate for dialysis patients and kidney transplant candidates and constructively contribute to increasing the number of living donors and cadaver kidney donations available to more of the 77,000 waiting recipients for kidney transplants. What can you do to make a difference to a dialysis patient whose likelihood for a kidney transplant may depend on what you do, or do not do, to positively address and impact the challenge before us ? Prayer, Generosity, Discipleship, Gospel Values, will cause you to respond in far greater ways than you might imagine.
In Jesus the Christ, Our Lord and God, Fr. Troy

12 WEEKS TODAY POST KIDNEY TRANSPLANT AND PROGRESSING FORWARD.........

On this twelve week day mark since my kidney transplant, Dr. Bhat's assistant just called to say he has received the blood labs I did yesterday and that my Magnesium is perfect and to continue taking my daily supplement. That makes four weeks of blood labs since returning to Sacramento and a Magnesium supplement being added to my medications has been the only adjustment made. That not only makes me happy, but glad to know things are proceeding as they should. My medications, diet, walking, and gradual increase in daily activities, are succeeding as I stand eight days away from the three month mark since my kidney transplant. Occurring on ThanksGiving Eve, means I can begin to resume a normal daily schedule, right on time to celebrate ThanksGiving, Advent and Christmas, with a renewed lease on life and my priestly, pastoral, ministry. That has been my goal for the past five years plus; and is the primary reason I have perservered in my vocation despite having the frustration and limitations of having to relinquish my pastorate and have two medical leaves imposed upon me since July 31, 2004. I am confident that continuing to minister in the parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Rose's, Presentation, and St. Philomene's, either in residence or as a Parochial Vicar, has made a difference in the lives of those parishioners, despite my diminished health until receiving my transplant. The alternative options : to have allowed myself to be completely sidelined, or to walk away from my priestly vocation, or a disability retirement, were unacceptable to me. Please God, as I return to full time ministry in the weeks and months ahead and hopefully will be restored to a pastorate, the value and effectiveness of my servant-leadership will speak volumes about why I endured the pain and frustration of being marginalized and provide me the opportunity to continue being a, "faithful witness" to Jesus the Christ, and the, "People of God", I am privileged to serve as a priest and pastor of the Catholic Church.........Peace + Prayers, Fr. Troy

PREPARING TO COVER THE BASES @ ST. PHILOMENE'S PARISH FOR 2.5 WEEKS.........

Lat night's seventh episode of, 'Three Rivers', the new transplant drama on CBS, was the best one yet. Special guest star Mandy Patinkin, of Broadway, and on television, Chicago Hope and Criminal Minds, fame - portrayed a businessman with advanced ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, who decides to donate his organs to other awaiting patients, by turning life support off on himself. It was an episode of Emmy / Peabody Awards quality recognition. If it did not prove to the viewing audience and CBS-TV, that this series deserves to be picked up for the full season, what will ?? If you have not viewed it yet, catch it next Sunday at 8 pm on Channel 13 in Sacramento, or 9 pm Eastern and Pacific; 8 pm Central and Mountain time...Having taken my weekly fasting blood labs at 8 am this morning at the Labcorp on Coyle Avenue in Carmichael, I am making this a leisurely, restful, day following an active weekend and in anticipation of supplying at St. Philomene's Church for the next two and a half weeks, starting tomorrow. I am scheduled to celebrate 15 Masses, Nov. 17-Dec. 3, and be available for sick calls and funerals, while Father Eduino is on vacation. My one work activity today is doing my laundry, which along with my own meal preparation, I have assumed responsibility for, since returning to Sacramento thirty days ago. They join doing my own grocery shopping, which I have been doing and paying for, since being placed on medical leave on October 20, 2008. I am not complaining, for the Presentation parishioners have been very generous in that regard. For more than two years from April 2007 and August 2009, seven parishioners stepped up and cooked weekly dinner meals, according to the dietary restrictions of my diabetes and kidney failure. They cooked the meals in their homes and delivered them to the rectory. That allowed me to return to the rectory after my dialysis treatments, three times a week with an appropriate meal waiting for me. It also made my day off a complete day of rest, in regards to preparing dinner. I thank and salute them once more. Syd & Carl Curry; Joan Qualls; Kitty Friedricks; Julia McAffee; Irene & Bob Cervantes; were my dinner cooks for those twenty eight months, and to whom I am especially grateful, for as I am fond of proclaiming, "Food, Glorious Food". I am progressing with getting my laundry done, so as I wait to complete it, back to the, 'Situation Room' and 'Hardball', and Oprah's interview with Sarah Palin, before preparing dinner, which tonight is Spaghetti with Meat sauce.........Peace + Prayers in Jesus the Lord of All Creation, Fr. Troy

THE CONCLUDING WEEKS OF THE CHURCH YEAR FOCUS OUR FAITH ON THE END TIMES.........

On this 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, in the penultimate week of the Liturgical Year, God's Word focuses our attention on the end of the world, the Parousia. The Prophet Daniel speaks of doom as well as with hope in the end times of Creation. Mark's Gospel proclaims the solemn, but majestic nature of the end of time when all things will pass away and God's Kingdom of Eternal Life will be inaugurated for all Believers. Thus as Catholic-Christian People, we are not governed by Fear or doubt, but by the assurances of Faith and in fidelity to the Gospel values of Life. Having celebrated the 5:30 pm Mass at Our Lady of Assumption Church in Carmichael last night, I presided at the 8 am Sunday Eucharist at Presentation Church this morning and will celebrate the 1 pm November Healing Mass here this afternoon. On this 82nd day after my kidney transplant, with ten days to go in my convalescence period, I am transitioning well into a resumption of my priestly ministry, with every hope to be returned to full time ministry and the pastorate of a parish very soon. That has been my goal and intention for more than five years, since I was placed on medical leave on July 31, 2004. Despite my diabetes and renal failure, I did not stop celebrating Masses and Sacraments, or teaching Adult Faith Formation, and I ministered as best I could at Holy Family, Citrus Heights; Our Lady of Lourdes, Del Paso Heights; St. Rose's, South Sacramento; Presentation of the BVM, and St. Philomene's, in northeast Sacramento. The fear and doubt wrought by my diseases did not supplant my faith in God and fidelity to my priestly ministry and my vision to be restored to a pastorate of the Church in short order. God, my donor, and Mayo Clinic Hospital Arizona, have given me a new lease on life and the opportunity to continue my presbyteral ministry. Please God, the Diocese of Sacramento will reaffirm my priestly vocation with assignment to a parish, as a Pastor of souls in the new year. I remain a Priest of Jesus Christ in this my native diocese, because Faith and fidelity, not Fear or frustration, are the guiding light of my efforts to be a dedicated servant-leader of God's People. How is your Faith supplanting Fear, now and in anticipation of the end times ?.........Peace + Prayers in
Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

WISDOM NOT FEAR DETERMINES OUR FAITH RESPONSE TO H1N1 FLU.........

On November 5, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, issued diocesan directives regarding liturgical and worship practices in light of the flu season, and prevention of the spread in particular, of H1N1 flu. Precisely, temporarily suspending reception of the Precious Blood by the faithful, not holding hands during The Lord's Prayer, and not shaking hands or embracing, during the Sign of Peace. These steps are being taken as a precaution out of wisdom, and not fear. Faith and fear are incompatible opposites. We believe in a benevolent, gracious, God and not a vengeful, disease inflicting, Supreme Being. Therefore, we do not adapt the sacramental and ritual practices of our Catholic-Christian liturgical worship lightly. The outbreak of H1N1, swine flu, is however very real, as St. Mel's Parish in Fair Oaks, can attest from an occurrence there earlier this year. The Sacramento County Public Health Director recently prevailed upon the County Board of Supervisors to declare a state of emergency regarding dealing with the H1N1 situation. So it is very sensible that as Catholic-Christians we wisely respond to the current situation, not because we are afraid, but being sensitive to not spreading the possibility of H1N1. Persons who are sick are not obliged to attend Sunday or Holyday Mass, thus further lessening the spread of illneses. In the whole of the Holy Bible, the words repeated most are, "Be not afraid", and "Fear not". And so, as we enter the cold and flu season in coming weeks, let us embrace the wisdom of sound and sensible practices, in church and out. Not out of fear for contracting swine flu, but to prevent colds and flu from unnecessarily occurring. So dust off your best liturgical nods and greetings, as we continue to communally pray, worship, and minister, faithfully without fear and in fidelity to our Gospel values as Believers.........Fr. Troy Powers

DOES AN EGO DRIVEN, TIME AND RESOURCES WASTING, COSTLY, NATIONAL HOAX, DESERVE ONLY A PLEA BARGAIN DEAL ?????????.........

The Heene parents, those infamous self promoters of the purported, "balloon boy", are reportedly in the process of pulling off another stunt. This time it involves the penalty they will face for perpetrating their publicity hoax on the American people and fraudulently involving more than thirteen local, state, and federal agencies, in a needless wild goose chase, in search of their six year old, they knew to be hiding out at home. Despite their protestations at the time that they had done nothing wrong and their hiring of a very aggressive, Colorado defense attorney, news now breaks that they have agreed to a plea bargain and are likely to get only probation for their crimes. The father plans to plead guilty to a felony offense and the mother to a misdemeanor, in the hope that prosecutors and the judge will accept their pleas and grant them probation, not jail time or financial restitution. I feel strongly that if this plea bargain deal is exacted as their punishment, it will be a gross miscarriage of justice, as we should righteously define it. Why either of the parents can avoid imprisonment, or at a minimum, being required to repay what this nefarious episode cost the taxpayers is egregious. As Jay Leno commented on his prime time show three weeks ago, he believes they should do jail time. Not only as punishment for their deception, but because Americans are very susceptible to copycat crimes, and others are likely to emulate the balloon boy parents' antics. Another current example underscores the veracity of that statement. Take last week's despicable massacre at Fort Hood, Texas which killed thirteen persons and wounded twenty nine more. The very next day, a dismissed employee of an Orlando, Florida business, returned to his former work building and shot eight persons, an obvious, copycat crime. My deceased mother used to say, "You do those things, you get those things". I believe that proclamation should be applied in this matter. The Heene's selfishly decided to pull off this serious and wasteful hoax, now that must pay the price and that involves more than a soft plea bargain. And if probation is all they get, attached to the plea bargain and the probation needs to be an ironclad prohibition from them financially benefiting from their notoriety due to this occurrence. If I were handling this case, you would call me, a throw the book at them, judge or prosecutor........Troy David Powers

OUR NOVEMBER MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE INCLUDES DEPARTED PRIESTS OF JESUS CHRIST.........

Today is the twentieth anniversary of the death of Rev. Msgr, Eymard Gallager, a native diocesan priestly vocation, ordained for the Sacramento Diocese in 1951. A learned scholar, preacher, and writer, Msgr. Gallagher was not only successful at his priestly ministry and pastoring of souls, but was a renowned Editor of the Catholic Herald diocesan newspaper for many years. His Herald editorials were some of most outstanding and prophetic offerings of opinion on pertinent issues of the day ever authored in our diocesan history. During the last two decades of his life and ministry, Msgr. Gallagher brought that same outstanding leadership and service to the pastorates of Our Lady of Grace Parish, West Sacramento, 1968-1975; and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in northeast Sacramento, 1975-1989; where I have been assigned and resided for the past three and a half years. In his fourteen years as Pastor of Presentation Parish, Msgr. Gallagher fully emulated the teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council,developing a collegial, collaborative, consensus building, model of church with the parishioners. He placed the great focus of his parish ministry on Liturgy and Worship and powerfully and ever prophetically, Preaching the Word of God to the faithful, in season and out of season. He is rightfully, fondly remembered and recalled with esteem by the People of God he served as Pastor. The third anniversary of his predecessor as Pastor at Presentation, Rev. Msgr. Patrick Nolan also occurs in December, just as the eighth anniversary of Presentation's founding Pastor, Rev. Msgr. Cornelius Higgins occured in May. It is also less than two and a half years since the passing of Rev. Fr. Anthony Gurnell, for whom Presentation was his first assignment as a priest in 1964, and was his final residence in 2007, when he returned to reside with us here for the last three months of his life. As we pray for the Holy Souls, we commend the souls of these and other priests we have also known in November remembrance. May their souls and the holy souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.........Alleluia ! Amen !! Fr. Troy

VETERAN'S DAY 2009 : REMEMBERING THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY.........

As we honor in remembrance the men and women who have served, and are serving, in the United States Miltary on this Veteran's Day 2009, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, make it a somber commemoration and the despicable tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas last Thursday makes this an even more poignant day. My deceased father, Troy Doil Powers, served in the Seabees during World War II. My late oldest brother, Harry George Feusi, served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, from 1965-69, including service on the USS Enterprise, the Presidential crisis command ship. Harry was one of only two sailors on board the Enterprise who had access to the Presidential quarters and were responsible for maintaining them. My brother Gerald Marshall Feusi, was in the Army during the latter years of the 1960's and also served in Vietnam. Their military service has been replicated by generations of Americans, living and dead. From our Revolutionary War in the 18th Century to the War on Terror today in the 21st Century, service in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard, has been one of the constants of American society. Overnight watching the BBC World News and CNN this morning, I learned that the last three British World War I veterans died this year. If there are any left in the United States they are a scant trace, as they would now be well into their 100's circa 109, or more. There are 2.27 million World War II veterans surviving in our country; 2.6 million Korean War veterans; and 7.6 million Vietnam and Gulf War veterans alive. That is nearly twelve and a half million living American veterans, not counting those of the current Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. My CSU-Sacramento classmate friend Teri Tenenbaum Currier, has her husband, Brigadier General Don Currier, currrently redeployed in Baghdad, on one of his multiple tours of duty in Iraq the past six years, with her college age son, Brett , due to deploy in January. My Sacramento State Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brother Rob Paoletti, is also serving in Iraq, and is serving as an area chief of police operations. To all of American vets and those throughout the world who have served the causes of liberty, freedom, peace, God Bless You and Thank You, for defending our democracy and the safety and security of our nation and the world.........Peace + Prayers in Jesus the Lord of All Creation, Fr. Troy

11 WEEKS POST TRANSPLANT IS THE BIRTHDAY OF TWO DEAR FRIENDS.........

On this seventy seventh day following my kidney transplant and feeling fine, two of my three decade friends are celebrating their birthdays today. They are a mother-daughter duo, which makes the date even more special for them, their family, and we who are their friends. The mother of the duo, is Ramona Bugatto. She is mother to Teres and David, and grandmother to Chris, Lauren, Alex, and Ella. For over 40 years she was the wife of Archie Bugatto, who like herself, was a native Sacramentan. Archie passed away in January 2000. Together he and Ramona owned and operated Archie's Hardware and Gifts in East Sacramento, for three and a half decades, the hardware business being Archie's profession for 55 years. In the three decades I have been blessed to know Ramona and her family, it has been my pleasure to spend everyday events, special occasions and holidays, with them. Happy Birthday, Ramona !!!!!!!!!
Her daughter Teres, is the other birthday celebrant today. Teres and I met on September 8, 1979, at a CSU-Sacramento Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity recruitment (rush) party. We struck up a conversation that night, became friends, and have remained the best of friends ever since. As a seminarian, I was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at her wedding to my fraternity brother, Mike Mugnaini, at St. Mary's Church in East Sacramento, on June 8, 1985. I also presided over their three children's baptisms, with first son Chris' Baptism occurring nineteen years ago today, November 10, 1990. Youngest son, Alex, I not only baptized but am godfather to. Being mother to a college sophomore son, a high school senior daughter, who excells in track, and a high school sophomore who is an all star baseball player, life is ever busy, as well as in transition, considering Teres completed a teaching credential last year and Mike continues his nearly thirty year work as an engineer at Aerojet. Teres and Mike's 25th Wedding Anniversary is now less than seven months away...Happy Birthday, Teres !!!!!!!!!
For my daily walk today I did something I had not yet done since returning to Presentation and went over to the parish school grounds at 3 pm to mingle with the departing students, parents, faculty, and staff. Then I made a visit to the church to pray, before returning to my quarters and writing this blog column. I am broiling bbq chicken breast fillets with corn, for dinner and will chillax tonight to, 'Dancing With The Stars' quarter final results show, and this week's episode of, 'The Good Wife'.........Enjoy your Evening...In Jesus the Lord, Fr. Troy

FIRST PATIENT THIS MORNING @ LABCORP FOR MY WEEKLY FASTING BLOOD LABS.........AND THE FEAST OF JOHN LATERAN.........

Taking the back roads instead of the freeway to Coyle Avenue, meant I arrived at Labcorp at 7:40 am, to be the first patient draw of the day. My ever elusive veins gave the technician a challenge at my most popular site my right mid-arm, so she warmed up my right hand and drew the three vials of blood from there. After my birthday celebrations last week, I am continuing to catch up with my body and will amply rest this week to be ready for my substituting at St. Philomene's as of a week from tomorrow, through the first days of December... Today, is the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, one of four major Roman basilicas, that bears an inscription at its front that reads, "Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head". The Lateran Family palace served for many years as the residence of the Popes. That is, until after the Pope returned to Rome after exille in Avignon, France, when Popes began to reside at the Vatican. The Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, also represents the Church being built on the, "living stones", of God's People. Therefore, it is secondarily a celebration of the dedication of every church in the world. Here at Presentation of the BVM, it is also the twelve day countdown to the Parish Feast Day on November 21. During the twelve years I was Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish, Yreka, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville, and Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights, I led the parishes in a special Feast Day Liturgy, that included the annual 'State of the Parish Address', and that was followed by a potluck, barbeque, luncheon reception, or games day. I firmly believe all parishes should do something special to annually celebrate their feast days. Happy Parish Feast Day to you, whichever parish you attend...................................................
Peace + Prayers in Being the Living Stones of Jesus the Christ, Fr. Troy

DAY 75 POST TRANSPLANT AND MY 6TH PARISH MASS BACK IN SAC.........

It is the diamond day (75th) since my kidney transplant in Phoenix, and today on my twenty second day back in Sacramento, I presided at the sixth parish Mass I have celebrated since coming home on October 17. The 10:30 am Mass at Presentation today, follows my celebrating the 8 am Mass here last Sunday and the School Mass this past Friday. I also have celebrated three Masses since returning, at St. Philomene's, two weekday Masses and one Sunday Mass. Today's Mass at Presentation was my last here for November. This Thursday I will celebrate the 8 am Mass at St. Philomene's and will supply there for my classmate, Father Eduino, from November 17-December 4, while he is on vacation. The Sunday Masses at Presentation this weekend included a longstanding parish custom, during the month of November remembrance. After the General Intercessions and before the Presentation of the Gifts, the names of deceased loved ones of the parishioners present are called out individually, and a family member, friend, or fellow parishioner, brings forth a white carnation and places it in a vase in the sanctuary. At the 10:30 am Mass, 62 persons names were called and 62 white carnations placed. Replicated over 4 Sunday Masses, means some 240 plus carnations were offered in remembrance of the Holy Souls. It is Sunday night, so I have had an eary dinner as required for my fasting blood labs in the morning. I have already transitioned to water only until after the draw at 8 am, or thereabouts. As I await episode 6 of, "Three Rivers", at 8 pm, I am continuing to watch the Hallmark movies, based on the novels of Janette Oke. Again, I strongly recommend you view "Three Rivers", and experience this fine transplant drama.
More soon...Peace + Prayers in Jesus the Lord, Fr. Troy

3 WEEKS BACK IN SACRAMENTO AND THE COMPLETION OF MY AMPICILLIN ANTIBIOTIC.........

My first three weeks back in Sacramento have gone exceedingly well, as I have found it possible to accomplish everything I have attempted. From monitoring and taking my medications, preparing my meals,walking, bathing, grocery shopping, driving to my weekly fasting blood labs and doctor appointment, attending lunches and dinners with my circle of friends, and most importantly, celebrating Masses and the Sacraments. Today, I complete my month long Ampicillin antibiotic regimen, which I have been taking to arrest recurring urinary tract infections. I will not miss having to take one of the four daily doses at 2 a.m. !!!! A daily afternoon or early evening nap, has also become a part of my daily routine as I complete my convalescence, so that I am progressing with regular activities gradually, and not overextending myself. In about two and a half weeks, at the 3 month mark after my kidney transplant, I will be allowed to return to a normal schedule of work and other activities, including exercise, beyond my daily walking. Enjoy your Saturday.........In the Faith + Fellowship of God's Spirit,
Fr. Troy

FIRST FRIDAY OF NOVEMBER BRINGS ME A SCHOOL MASS AND LUNCH AT THE TERRACE.........

This morning I presided at the 8:15 am Mass with the Presentation School students. Their theme was, 'Giving God Praise'. Being it is November, the month of the Faithful Departed, I used one of the three All Souls Masses as my liturgical propers. Before the end of Mass, I conducted a brief open forum with the students I call, Ask Father Troy. I specifically asked for their questions about my kidney transplant. I received about six questions, focused mostly on the amount of pain my transplant caused me and why I needed to get a kidney transplant ? After resting for ninety minutes after breakfast, I watched some of News 10 Midday, with my friend Dan Elliott. Then I drove down to Town & Country Village and met my dearly beloved friend Ramona Bugatto, at The Terrace restaurant for a wonderful welcome home / happy birthday lunch. As always during the past three decades of our friendship, the conversation of the ninety minutes we spent there, was fantastic. I have made it a casual, restful afternoon and evening since returning to my rectory quarters. Tomorrow will be pretty much the same and then I celebrate the 10:30 am Mass Sunday here at Presentation.........Peace + Prayers in Jesus,
Fr. Troy

DAY 72 POST TRANSPLANT AND MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE.........

My grateful thanks to the four dozen persons who remembered me yesterday on my birthday, with visits, gifts, calls, cards, e-mails, and Facebook messages. The fun continues today and tomorrow with lunches and dinners with some of my personal friends, as my welcome home get togethers also proceed. "God is Good", not only in providing me with this kidney transplant and a new lease on life, but with such a wonderful circle of friends..Today's highlights were my 11:30 am lunch the man for whom I served as a student intern in college for two years, my friend and former Sacramento County Supervisor, Ted Sheedy. We lunched at the Cheesecake Factory in Arden Fair mall. It was a an enjoyable ninety minutes reconnecting and catching up. Tonight after more than an hour's visit with Msgr. Kavanagh, I went to dinner at the home of my friends Joe and Deb McNamara, in Curtis Park. Their friend Becky was also there. The four of us had a delightful conversation and ate a home cooked meal of Deb's distinctive French onion soup, Joe's delectable bbqed rib eye steaks, and Becky's deliriously fluffy and puffy apple pie. I washed it down with my mocktail for the evening, which was delicious apple cider.........It was a day and a night I will remember fondly.........Very Truly Yours in Jesus' Name, Fr. Troy

BIRTHDAY 53 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 71 DAYS POST TRANSPLANT.........

On this my 53rd Birthday, the Memorial Feastday of St. Charles Borromeo, who I claim as my patron saint, "GOD IS GOOD"...Ten weeks and one day after my kidney transplant I am celebrating my personal solemnity and the beginning of my new year of life, successfully transplanted and progressing each day. It is not yet Noon, and I have already received 1 telephone call, 2 e-mails, 3 cards, and 15 Facebook messages, all imparting Happy Birthday greetings...21 remembrances so far, in less than 12 hours, with twelve to go, is wonderful.........The Direct TV four hour repair technician window is about to open. I survived last night and my limited access to election night coverage, as the local and networks coverage is more a headline service lacking the depth of coverage and analysis the cable news networks provide. And today's newspaper is incomplete, requiring waiting until tomorrow for full coverage. Considering I cannot go out to lunch given this tech window, I am debating with what to have for lunch that is different from my usual soup and sandwich. I had planned to go to the Buggy Whip restaurant for my birthday lunch, but may end up there for dinner instead, as other plans haven't materialized. Once the tech has departed I will make my daily outing beyond the parish plant to get in a quality walk. Walking around the parish grounds is okay, but has gotten old after two and a half weeks, when I have the mobility to journey beyond it.
Enough opining for today. With my health and energy so wonderfully on the uptick, with my circle of friends continuing to come through with their communications of caring and concern, and the anticipation that I may well be back to fulltime parish ministry again soon, has me jazzed, hope filled, and optimistic; that the very thing God intends for me to be doing with my life as a Priest of Jesus Christ, I will be actively able to do for years to come.........Peace + Prayers in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...
Father Troy David Powers

LAST DAY OF MY PERSONAL YEAR IS DAY 70 AFTER TRANSPLANT.........

It is Election Day '09 in the USA, and my politically educated and enthralled self, is having to settle for minimal local stations coverage, as my Direct TV package is not functioning again for the third time in two days. Twice their telephone technicians got my system restored briefly, but as soon as I changed channels, it was gone again. The third attempt led me right down primrose lane, as I was transferred to a supervisor, who told me either I would have to personally check and repair the connection problem or pay $120.00 for a technician to come out and repair it. I refused to pay that exorbitant a fee to have them do something of this nature and when I told her if the parish agreed to have their tech come out at that cost, we would be changing companies immediately, she changed her tune. Protesting my lack of nothing other than local service until the repair, a tech is scheduled to come tomorrow (my birthday) between Noon-4 pm. So much for going out for a birthday lunch !! But good news also arrived today in the form of a telephone call from the Mayo Clinic Arizona, informing me my 4 month follow-up evaluation visit has been scheduled for Monday December 21, Tuesday December 22, Wednesday December 23, the week I requested that they schedule it...Ten weeks following my kidney transplant, I am continuing to do well and getting through my daily activities. Today that included a pastoral counseling / Anointing of the Sick appointment, and a trip to the bank and the grocery store. Time to see if I can find a Election '09 update. Thanks for reading and sharing in ,my November post transplant convalescence experience.........Peace in Christ,
Fr. Troy

OUR NOVEMBER MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE.........

All Saints Day yesterday, leads to All Souls Day today, known in the Hispanic culture as, The Day of the Dead, It is the start of our annual Catholic-Christian month of rememembrance of all the holy souls of the faithful departed. So today and throughout this month of November, I am especially thinking, praying, and celebrating Masses for, my mother, father, brother, grandparents, and so many family members, friends, neighbors, and parishioners, who have filled my life and gone forth from this world to the next. My day started early as Mondays are now my weekly fasting blood labs day. I arrived at the Labcorp office on Coyle Avenue in Carmichael at 8 am and with four draws ahead of me, had a thirty minute wait. I returned to Presentation, made my breakfast, checked my e-mail and have kept myself in prayerful remembrance of the holy souls throughout the day. Rising at 6:45 am, meant I was ready for my afternoon nap at noon, which I took for just over an hour and have spent some time now trying to get to the bottom of the bummer of the day. All of the Diredt TV channels,except for the local stations are appearing blank, as though they are pay per view. Thus no CNN / MSNBC / C-SPAN / History Channel / TCM / AMC / or HALLMARK Channel / and I am having withdrawal pangs...The parish secretary is contacting Direct TV to determine the source of the problem...On this Day of Prayer for our beloved dead, I am also including the members of our military, especially those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the victims of the air collision in San Diego last week that cost local lives....EUREKA !! The Direct TV technician has just successfully walked me throughthe process of restoring service, by taking out the sim card, giving her the last four numbers on the card, re-inserting it, and hitting the re-set button. That's my Day 69 post transplant to the 4 pm hour. More soon.........Peace + Prayers in Christ Jesus, Fr. Troy