IF YOU WERE IN SACRAMENTO 30 YEARS AGO,, WHAT WERE YOU DOING ON FEBRUARY 18, 1980 ?..............................

30 Years ago today, February 18, 1980, was a day of welcome and succession for the Catholic-Christian Church that comprises these twenty counties of the Diocese of Sacramento, as the faithful, prelates, priests, other dignitaries, and thousands of the people of God, gathered in Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium and Community Convention Center for the Episcopal Installation of the Most Reverend Francis Anthony Quinn, as the 7th Bishop of Sacramento. Born in Los Angeles on September 11, 1921, and growing up in Napa as a boy, young Francis Quinn attended seminary at St. Joseph's College, in Mountain View; and St. Patrick's Seminary, in Menlo Park; being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, on June 15, 1946. As a young priest he completed higher studies at the Catholic University of America, in Washington D.C. Father Quinn served as a priest of the San Francisco Archdiocese for 32 years, including as Editor of, 'The Monitor', the archdiocesan newspaper; and as Pastor of St. Gabriel's Parish. He was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco on June 29, 1978, and was appointed 7th Bishop of Sacramento, on December 12, 1979, as the successor to Bishop Alden J. Bell. After being installed it was soon evident to all that Bishop Quinn is a masterful communicator, with a meaningful and insightful message for the young through to the old. And he effectively preached the Gospel not only in words, but by his humble, collegial, and collaborative, way of life. A faithful correspondent, it is said that the file cabinets in the Bishop's Office increased by more than ten fold, filled with his correspondence during his tenure here. Highlights of his fourteen years as the Chief Shepherd of the Church of Sacramento included : Pastoral Planning and a Ten Year Diocesan Plan that led to a Diocesan Convocation; (1982-1984) the Celebration of the Centennial of the Sacramento Diocese; (1986-1987) and the Spiritual Renewal Ministry, "RENEW"; (1988-1992). I am privileged to be one of the first three priests ordained by Bishop Quinn in the second century of our diocesan history, as Fathers Eduino Silveria, Paul Schloeder and I, were the Centennial Year ordinands on May 2, 1987. Bishop Quinn retired from the See of Sacramento in 1993, just months after appointing me Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish Yreka, in Siskiyou County on March 17, 1993. After being succeeded by Bishop William K. Weigand on January 27, 1994, Bishop-Emeritus Quinn continued his active ministry in Arizona among the Native American peoples. And he ministered to them not with the mini Le Car he had driven through these twenty counties of Northern California, but in a new RV he was given as a farewell retirement gift by the priests and parishes of the Sacramento Diocese. Returning to Sacramento to live in retirement following his 60th Anniversary as a Priest of Jesus Christ, he is presently my neighbor here in East Sacramento across the street from Sacred Heart Church and School, and Mercy General Hospital, in Mercy McMahon Terrace. It is a continuing joy to be able to visit with him during my time in residence at Sacred Heart. The Bishop who encouraged me to become a seminarian for our Diocese, who ordained me a priest, and appointed me to my first pastorate. As I think of, pray for, and visit with, Bishop Quinn today, it is my hope the vision he had of me 30 years ago as a Sacramento State graduate student and St. Rose's Parish, South Sacramento parishioner, when I was still discerning whether I would follow the political or priestly path as my vocation, has been borne out in my priestly ministry. HAPPY 30TH ANNIVERSARY BISHOP QUINN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND INSPIRATION TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD, JESUS OUR LORD HAS CALLED YOU TO SERVE.............................
Father Troy David Powers