PACKING FOR.....MOVING TO.....ARRIVING AT.....OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH; AND SAYING FAREWELL TO SACRED HEART PARSH..........

After 6 months, 181 days and nights, In Residence at Sacred Heart Parish rectory in East Sacramento, I am finishing up the packing and my friends Victor and Hernon, will arrive mid morning to help me move my belongings to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish rectory in Del Paso Heights / Rio Linda. .....Victor, his nephew Alex, and Hernon had me moved out of Sacred Heart rectory and into Our Lady of Lourdes rectory in just three hours, my fastest parish move in the eleven of my ordained life. Moved in is one thing, unpacking and organizing is another. And what I have with me is only a fraction of my belongings, as most is in storage. I am settling into my OLOL surroundings just after 4 pm and await Father Anthony Traynor's arrival, as we going to dinner and then downtown to the Crest Theatre on the K Street mall for the Cottage Housing Inc.'s first ever 'Beacon Of Hope', Testimonial Tribute to retired Sacramento Bishop Francis Anthony Quinn.....Returned from the truly fabulous Beacon of Hope event feting Bishop Quinn, I return to today's blog column as I unwind and prepare for Day One as Pastor of Our Ldy of Lourdes. The 8 am Mass should feel real good, knowing after six years to the month I have reached my goal to be reactivated to fulltime priestly parish ministry as a Pastor to the Church. Now for the practicalities of setlling in and sorting out who's who, where's where, and what's what, as the first weekend of my fourth pastorate, the 4th of July weekend at that, comes into focus..........Anticipating The Joy Of Servant Leadership At OLOL, As We Enter The Second Half Of 2010,
Fr. Troy

THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL - PRINCIPAL APOSTLES OF JESUS THE CHRIST..........

Today the Universal Church commemorates the two men who before their call as Apostles of Jesus, or canonization as Christian Saints, were known as Simon Bar Jonah and Saul of Tarsus. These two principal apostles along with John the Evangelist and the others formed a foundational nucleus of faithful witnesses to proclaiming the Good News of Jesus' Resurrection and a Baptism of Faith in Christ and Fidelity to being joined to the Community of Believers in the Risen Christ. As we honor their apostleship, leadership, and evangelization, of the early Christian Church, even unto laying down their lives and dying as martyrs for the Faith, may we will strengthen our our own personal and communal discipleship, to be faithful witnesses to and for Christ TODAY, here and now in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, wherever we are, whatever we do, to live the Gospel values we profess as followers of Jesus the Christ..........Saints Peter And Paul - Pray For Us, Fr. Troy

p.s. : On this day 32 years ago, our beloved Bishop Emeritus Francis Anthony Quinn, was ordained to the episcopy and made a Bishop of the Church as an Auxiliary Bishop in San Francisco, seventeenth and a half months before being appointed the 7th Bishop of Sacramento..........

CELEBRATING THE BIRTHDAY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WITH THE SACRAMENTO PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY..........

Yesterday, the liturgical Solemnity of the Birthday of John the Baptist, which is a special patronal feast for my Portuguese Cape Verdean ancestors, I visited the home of the Vincent Family in South Sacramento for the annual celebration their family hosts. Since the late 1940's when Mr. and Mrs. Louis and Jeanette Vincent migrated from Fall River, Massachusetts to Sacramento, the Birthday of John the Baptist has been celebrated on June 24, with special Masses, processions, festas, and fun. More than one hundred persons representing five generations of the Vincent Family and the local, Sacramento Portuguese Community, were gathered throughout the day for Mass at St. Elizabeth's church, followed by a special breakfast, and then in the mid afternoon into the evening at the family home in Parkway Estates an outdoor Mass, followed by a festa dinner of traditional Portuguese foods, prepared annually by differently designated members of the Vincent clan. As it has been for six and a half decades, the Birthday of St. John the Baptist, whose God given mission and ministry being the Final Prophet and the Ultimate Herald to the Birth of Jesus as the, Christ, the true Messiah of God's People, was again wonderully celebrated..........As We Continue To Behold The Lamb Of God Proclaimed By The Baptizer, Fr. Troy

MEETING WITH THE BISHOP ABOUT MY APPOINTMENT AS PASTOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH..........

This morning I had a cordial and affirming twenty minute meeting with Bishop Jaime Soto, in his office at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, at 2110 Broadway. We met to discuss my being appointed as the next Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Del Pao Heights / Rio Linda, in North Sacramento in eight days time. After discussing my taking up the pastorate and return to fulltime priestly pastoral ministry, in that parish community and what I bring to it and can expect, we also talked about my current state of health since the kidney transplant, and my readiness to proceed in serving and leading OLOL, as the perfect fit for me and for those parishioners as I am reactivated to being a Pastor of the Church. On Saturday I will have my second meeting with Rev. Fr. Mitch Malezyk, the outgoing Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, and make my third visit to OLOL, since being appointed Pastor-designate last month, to receive the keys to the parish plant and other transitional directions regarding parish operations. Then on Monday to Wednesday, the packing and moving from Sacred Heart in East Sacramento begins. I am looking forward to this new chapter in the book of my priestly life and pastoral ministry and am blessed to have the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes as my next community of believers to serve and to lead, as a Priest of Jesus Christ and the Diocese of Sacramento and a Pastor of the Church..........Mary Our Mother, "Our Lady of Lourdes", Pray For Us, Fr. Troy

12TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME : AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD THE FATHER AND OUR HUMAN FATHERS..........

Today is Father's Day in the United States. It is also the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It the day each year we celebrate and commemorate our human fathers, grandfathers and father figures, by honoring our relationships with them. Our Sunday Scriptures proclaim the relationship we share with God the Father, through Jesus the Son and our Baptism in Christ. May we strive everyday in developing and increasing the relationships we share with our biological and human fathers and building and growing the relationship we are blessed by grace and faith to have with the Heavenly Father, the Living and True God of the Universe. As we remember and honor our earthly Fathers today living or deceased, take time as well to include the One Father of All, God the Eternal Father of Creation..........A Very Happy Father's Day To All Our DADS, Fr. Troy

CONCLUDING THE UNIVERSAL, "YEAR OF THE PRIEST"..........

For the past year the Catholic Church around the world has been celebrating the, "Year of the Priest", as declared by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. The primary purpose of this year long observance has been the spiritual renewal and perfection of the Priests of Jesus Christ, who are ordained by the Catholic Church to serve and lead the People Of God. It has been a source of affirmation, appreciation, respect, and remembrance, expressed by the Faithful, towards those of us who are Priests. To my family members, personal friends, fellow believers, parishioners past and present, and all the persons who have generously supported me in my priestly ministry over the past twenty three years and especially through my medical issues and experiences of the eight years, I am grateful now and into the future..........Peace And Prayers As Members Of God's Priestly People,   Fr. Troy

BIDDNG FAREWELL TO THE MORE THAN A CENTTURY OLD SACRAMENTO DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER : "THE CATHOLIC HERALD"..........

The final edition of the Sacramento Diocesan Newspaper, 'The Catholic Herald', is being published today, and after 102 years, will give way to a new, bi-monthly, Catholic Herald Magazine, which begins in September. For more than a century the Catholic Herald newspaper has been our reliable and trustworthy diocesan communications link in parishes and homes throughout the geographical expanse of the Sacramento Diocese. In my lifetime which encompasses more than half of the Catholic Herald newspaper history, the Editors of the Catholic Herald have been Reverend Monsignors Richard Dwyer, John Terwillger, Eymard Gallagher, James Murphy, and Mr. Patrick Joyce, and Ms. Julie Sly. From reading it from the front porch as a child to eagerly awaiting it as a seminarian and priest studying and ministering in places near and far, to my favorite annual editions, which included the Easter and Christmas Schedules of diocesan parishes, I like many others throughout these 20 counties will miss receiving and reading The Catholic Herald newpaper. As we await the September premiere of the new, bimonthly, Catholic Herald magazine, we must hope the cessation of our diocesan newspaper will not mean a lessening of timely and effective communicating and evangelizing with our far spread, diocesan family.........In Gratitude For The Presence Of The Catholic Herald Diocesan Newspaper; 1908 - 2010, Fr. Troy

TRANSITIONING : MY CLOSING WEEKS OF MINISTRY @ SACHEART; AND PREPARATIONS FOR BECOMING PASTOR OF OLOL PARISH IN 2 WEEKS..........

As I wrap up my 6 month stay as a priest In Residence at Sacred Heart Parish in East Sacramento, and prepare to become Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, in Del Paso Heights / Rio Linda, two weeks from today, my life and priestly ministry are in transition. Although I am still fully keeping my schedule of celebrating Masses, Confessions, Anointings of the Sick and Dying, and pastoral counseling appointments, at Sacred Heart, I am also spending a fair amount of time planning and preparing to assume the pastorate of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, in North Sacramento. Meetings at the parish and the diocese, as well as attending their parish festival, and pondering my initial introductory themes and ministry focus, as Our Lady of Lourdes next Pastor, are all on my plate in these exciting and transitional days. And then there is saying thank you and farewell to Sacred Heart parishioners and staff next over the next week and a half, and
packing, and moving, the last three days of June. But as busy as these coming days will be I vow to be as loyal as possible in writing my blog on a daily or every other day basis, until I arrive in my new appointment as Pastor. Thank you for patiently, perseveringly, loyally, and lovingly, reading my blog and sharing your comments. It is a joy to serve you in this way..........In The Prayers And Peace Of Jesus The Lord, Fr. Troy

THE BP TRAGEDY DAY 58 : FORGING A WAY FORWARD TO END THE OIL SPILL AND SOLVE THE CRISIS.....

For almost two months, crude oil from a British Petroleum well, deep underwater on the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mexico, has spilled spoilingly and unstoppably, into the ocean and the gulf. It is now estimated that at least 3.5 million gallons of BP oil has flowed into the waters and attempts to cap this gravely polluting leak have failed and it may be weeks and months more before succeeding. Meanwhile, the uncontrolled spilling oil is showing up on the beaches of the Gulf Coast. After more than eight weeks of unsatisfactory responses by British Petroleum and The White House, the latest Associated Press poll shows Americans by 52% blame the Obama Administration, and by 83% blame BP, for the oil spill and the crisis in the gulf. Many of the members of Congress and much of the American public feel this oil spill tragedy was preventable. It is indeed highly inexplicable how such a ruinous situation occurred, when oil companies like BP, have responded indifferently and failed to develop more effective means to arrest such a crisis. It is nothing more than an indictment of their focuses, as the same technology is being used in the BP Crisis, as was being used forty years ago, with no advancement invested in since the 1970's. Please God, as this current imbroglio underscores, the protection and safety of people and ecology, must be our foremost concerns; not corporate convenience and profits. In the past few days as President Obama's Administration has excelerated its addressing of accountability and a concrete solution to this tragedy, hope filled decisions and directions are being arrived at. The high profile involvement of President Obama in recent days in a directional, resolution driven manner, of deliberatins that have propelled a a more exact and necessary response of accountability and financial compensation for renumeration of the Gulf Coast families, businesses, and communities, victimized by this unbridled, precedent shattering, oil spill. Requiring BP to agree to disburse $20 billion in compensatory and clean up funds is a just and important response to the irresponsibility and indifference of British Petroleum's ownership and management that led to this grevious, life altering, occurrence. And the current political, " Drill baby drill", laissez faire proponents are being proven wrong with each day the oil spill continues; while the more than thirty five year California policy in opposition to off coast oil drilling is being vindicated. May our national leadership continue to raise the standards of business conduct required of BP and all oil companies, so that please God, another oil spill tragedy of this magnitude never happens again..........In The Spirit Of Conservation, Ecology, Responsibility, Accountability, Fr. Troy

64 YEARS A PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST: CELEBRATING BISHOP FRANCIS ANTHONY QUINN's ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY..........

June is a month traditionally replete with wedding anniversaries and graduations. Joined with them are Ordination anniversaries, such as that of the Most Reverend Francis Anthony Quinn, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Sacramento. Today is the 64th Anniversary of Bishop Quinn's Ordination to the Priesthood for the Arcdiocese of San Francisco, on June 15, 1946. As an archdiocean priest, educator, newspaper editor, pastor, and auxilary bishop, + Francis Quinn was a faithful and fervent servant-leader and shepherd of the Church of San Francisco for over thirty three and a half years. On December 12, 1979, he was appointed the 7th Bishop of Sacramento, and was installed as the Ordinary of the 20 counties comprising the Diocese of Sacramento, on February 18, 1980. During the following fourteen years Bishop Quinn served as the Chief Shepherd of the Church of Sacramento, his compassion and collaboration for and with, the People of God shone brightly. The esteem and affection he garnered continues to flow for him in the hearts and minds of those of us whose lives he has transformed. In the past sixteen years in active retirement, Bishop Emeritus Quinn has inspiringly ministered to the Native Americans in Arizona. Having returned to reside at Mercy McMahon Terrace in Sacramento, he is in his own words, serving his felow residents,"as a parish priest". I like so many others, am grateful to Bishop Quinn for his many kindnesses the past thirty years. Especially memorably meaningful to me is being asked, ordained, and appointed, as a priest and pastor, of this my native born Sacramento Diocese. We are truly blessed to have him as a a priestly and episcopal presence presence among us. Thank you Bishop Quinn for your example and encouragement through these past 64 Years. Ad Multos Annos Good Shepherd.......... Fr. Troy

..........Also marking their Ordinations to the Priesthood today and tomorrow, are Reverend Father Anthony Traynor, who was ordained 52 years ago today; and Reverend Father William Kinane, who was ordained 53 years ago tomorrow...........

FLAG DAY USA - BETSY ROSS SEWED THE STANDARD OF OUR NATION..........

"It's a grand ol' flag, it's high flying flag, and forever in peace may it wave"... These are the opening lyrics of a patriot song honoring our American Flag. Today is Flag Day in the United States, when we commemorate the creation of the Stars And Stripes as our national flag, by the Continental Congress, in 1777. Patriot Betsy Ross then sewed the first American Flag, our foremost national symbol, the past 233 years..."It's the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave"...Our Flag not only signifies the United States hard fought for freedom and liberty, and independence, but our indivisible Union as 50 sovereign States and 3 affiliated Trust territories. President Woodrow Wilson declared Flag Day an annual national observance in 1916. In 1948, President Harry Truman signed Congressional legislation designating Flag Day each year on June 14th. And so, as unfurl or see the Stars and Stripes flying on this Flag Day 2010, may its national symbolism renew in you and all our citizens, the patriotism we need to express and further, now as ever in our history...May, "Every Heart Beat True Under 'the' Red, White And Blue",..........Fr. Troy

11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME : THE GREAT LOVE OF GOD WE EXPERIENCE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS..........

Every Sunday and Holyday, we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass. As tempted as we might be on hot summer days to skip over it, we don't for the Creed, which is our Profession of Faith, essentially defines who we are and what we believe as Catholic-Christian Disciples. One of the articles we proclaim in reciting the Creed is our faith belief, "in the forgiveness of sins". Our personal and communal need for the forgiveness of our sins is equal to the Israelites need for forgiveness in today's 1st Scrpture Reading, 2 Samuel 12: 7-10, 13; and that of the Sinful Woman, in the Gospel Proclamation, Luke 7: 36 - 8: 3. David was anointed King of Israel by the Lord God to be faithful leader of God's People. Yet King David sinned, and was in need of the Lurd's forgiveness. But equally important is that David confessed his sin and sought the Lord's forgiveness. The Sinful Woman sought to come to Jesus, despite her failings in the house of a Pharisee who would only be critical and condemning of her no matter her sincerity and sorrow for her sins, because she believed Jesus would help her and forgive her. The Sinful Woman's love for Jesus she expressed in her tender and attentive ministrations to Him, bathing his feet with her tears and toweling them dry with her hair. Her humbleness in kissing Jesus' feet, was a further sign of her love and atonement. We too, have the need to be forgiven and to seek forgiveness. Our fallen human nature and weakness to sin, contends with our discipleship of Jesus, the former causing our need to be forgiven, and the latter requiring our need to seek forgiveness. As you journey into the wider world this 11th Week of Ordinary Time may God's Sunday Word and Eucharist, strengthen and increase in you the desire to be forgiven your sins and the resolve to seek and grant forgiveness..........In The Love And Forgiveness Of Jesus The Christ, Fr. Troy

A TRICYCLE THEFT IN WOODLAND THAT IS A FELONY OF CRIME AND HEART..........

Earlier this week a disabled Woodland woman Jenny Kreiger, who rides an adult tricycle as her mode of transportation around town, came out of her house to go to her job as a bagger at Raley's to discover her tricycle had been stolen. Jenny, who is a loyal and hardworking employee has never missed a day of work in her many years as a bagger at the supermarket. Thus the theft of the adult tricycle strikes at her livelihood and independence. Stealing Jenny's adult tricycle is not only criminally wrong, but an offense against the dignity of a marginalized person with special needs. As Jenny told KOVR CBS 13 News, anyone who does a bad deed like this, "Has no heart for people like us". The theft committed against Jenny is not only morally wrong, but a felony crime. The monetary value of her adult tricycle is more than $600.00. That is where the sadness of this story intersects with a positive outcome for Jenny. Jenny is considered such a gem at work that her co-workers, customers, and friends, have united in response to her loss and donated $800.00, to replace her adult tricycle. Kudos and commendations to them. As the Woodland City Police search for the thief, with the possibilty of imprisonment for the perpetrator, what else does a criminal like this deserve, who exacts such a personal and social injustice against a person like Jenny Kreiger, with special needs ?.......... Advocating For The Equal Rights And Dignity Of The Disabled, Fr. Troy

IN TRANSITION FROM BEING IN RESIDENCE IN EAST SACRAMENTO TO BEING PASTOR OF DEL PASO HEIGHTS / RIO LINDA..........

With twenty days remaining before I assume the pastorate of Our Lady of Lourdes P arish, in Del Paso Heights / Rio Linda in North Sacramento, my priestly ministry continues even as bring it to culmination at Sacred Heart Parish in East Sacramento, and prepare to move, on July 1, the transition fully unfolds. I met yesterday with the Diocesan Chief Financial Officer Thomas MNamara, for the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Financial Overview Meeting. Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patronal feast of this parish. I am lunching today with my former Presentation Parish colleague, Mercy Sister Julianna, and speaking this evening to the Catholic Life Group of Young Adults in Sacramento. Iwill talk on the topic, "Living Our Discipleship Of Jesus In The Vatican II, 3rd Millennium, Church And
World". Today is also Rev. Fr. Oliver Maher's 22nd Ordination to the Priesthood Anniversary. Ad Multos Annos And Thank You For Your Priesty Ministry, Friendship, And Fraternity,
..........ODM The ADM,.......... Troy fr.tdp

NOMINEES SELECTED; NOW LET THERE BE A TRUE DIALOGUE BY THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA 2010..........

After nearly a year of more than $110 million in primary campaign spending, a new record level of expenditure, some thirty percent of all California voters cast ballots to choose party nominees yesterday. $80 million spent by Meg Whitman ($71 million of it her own money) garnered 64.2% of the Republican gubernatorial nomination vote for the former E-BAY CEO. Democrat Jerry Brown, the current California Attorney General and former Governor,with minimal opposition, received 84.1% of the primary vote for the gubernatorial nomination, while spending $204,000, of the $22 million in his campaign treasury on his primary nomination. What kind of General Election campaign for Governor 2010 will Californians get ? The one they deserve, with ample discussion of the real and most serious issues facing the citizens and next Governor with extensive debates, town halls, and questions and anwers given to pertinent policy positions advocated by each of the candidates; or an obscene money war media onslaught, with 24 / 7 saturation of 30 second ads recreating, misrepresenting,and attacking, their opponent ? Unbridled spending and mudslinging, will not elect the Goverbor so greatly needs to effectively and efficiently lead California forward. A $250 million campaign for Governor is no guarantee of choosing the best candidate. Only discerning the better choice by an objective analysis of the candidates qualifications and positions on the central questions facing us, will determine the better choice..........Fr. Troy

CALIFORNIA PRIMARY DAY 2010 - $110 MILLION SPENT TO DECIDE A NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR

The poltical enthusiast I am, my, " other life ", so to speak - means Iwill be stationed at the television, radio, and internet, and telephone tonight, monitoring the election results. The focal point in the California Primary being the outcome of the record setting, $110 MILLON spending for the Republican nomination for Governor, by Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner. Will the expending of unbridled personal wealth produce a better gubernatorial candidate for California in Crisis ? Or will it do anything more than buy entree to election of a nominee, with little if any governmental experience ? Despite the critical issues facing the Golden State and the unprecedented campaign spending just to get through the nominating primary, a record low statewide voter turnout of about forty percent is expected. So is massive campaign spending benefitting or hindering the governance of California ? The $110 million spent on the primary for Governor, is equal closing the budget deficit facing the City of Sacramento, this year - three times over. As we await the primary election results, what will the general election campaign portend for the future leadership and problem solving in the effective governance of California ??.......... Fr. Troy

THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI : THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, THE EUCHARIST..........

Today, two Sundays after Pentecost and the conclusion of the Easter Season, we as Catholic-Christian Believers in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus the Christ celebrate Corpus Christi, the Memorial of the Body and Blood of Jesus, we share as the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Why do we set aside an additional Sunday each year to focus in on the Eucharist, when faithful Catholic-Christians participate in the Memorial of the Body and Blood every Sunday since Jesus' Resurrection , two thousand years ago and daily since the 4thCentury of Christianity ? The answer is because our sharing in the breaking of the bread of life and the drinking of the cup of salvation, is not just an empty obligation or rote ritual, that we should ever take for granted, but the renewable opportunity to glorify God and strengthen and sustain ourselves and the community of believers, in the most Blessed Sacrament, the Memorial of Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection, by doing what Jesus commanded us to do, "Eat this bread, my Body - and drink this cup, my Blood, in memory of me". May your partaking in the Holy Eucharist which the Second Vatican Council declared is the, "Source and Summit", of our lives always be for you and your families and fellow believers, a renewed opprtunity to grow ever closer to being the Body and Blood of Christ for others..........Peace, Prayers, And Worship, In Our Eucharistic Lord, Fr. Troy

******HAPPY 62ND ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD, TO MSGR. EDWARD J. KAVANAGH, WHO WAS ORDAINED IN ST. MARY'S / ST. KIERAN'S CATHEDRAL IN KILKENNY, IRELAND ON JUNE 6, 1948, FOR THE DIOCESE OF SACRAMENTO. ALL 62 YEARS OF HIS PRIESTLY MINISTRY HAVING OCCURRED AT ST. ROSE'S PARISH, AND ST. PATRICK'S HOME AND SCHOOL, ON FRANKLIN BOULEVARD IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO. HE IS MY CHERISHED FIRST PASTOR, MENTOR, COLLEAGUE, AND FRIEND..........AD MULTOS ANNOS, MSGR. K. !!!!!!!!!!

DEDICATION DAY FOR THE NEW SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL..........

For the past five months I have lived In Residence and ministered at Sacred Heart Church at 39th and J streets in East Sacramento. For nearly the past ten years Sacred Heart Prish School, Mercy General, and East Sacramento neighborhood groups, have been negotiating, fundraising for, planning, and then building, a new Sacred Parish School, to make way for the new Mercy General Alex Spanos Cardiac Care Building on the old, original parish school site for the past 75 years. Today, was the Dedication Day of the new, state of the art, Sacred Heart Parish School, on 39th Street between J and H Streets. Sacred Heart Pastor, Reverend Monsignor Robert Walton, and a legion of Sacred Heart parishioners and school families, along with Mercy General Hospital / Catholic HealthCare West, and the City of Sacramento, brought the project to fruition and made this Dedication Day possible. A festive and celebratory day it has been. Tours of the New School campus were conducted by parish school volunters and students from 2:30-5 pm. Then a celebratory Mass of Dedication was concelebrated with Msgr. Walton officiating, Bishop Emeritus Francis Anthony Quinn formally presiding and preaching the homily, and myself and Sacred Heart Parish School alumnus, Reverend Father John Lagomarsino, Pastor Emeritus of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Carmichael, as concelebrants of the Mass, and Deacon Mr. William Riehl, assisting. At the Dedication Ceremony on the New School campus, which followed after a procession from the Church, Sacred Heart School 1978 graduate, Kelly Brithers was Master of Ceremonies, and featured remarks by Msgr. Walton, Mayor Kevin Johnson, and the Prayer of Dedication and Blessing, by Bishop Quinn, with assistance from current Sacred Heart students. A BBQ on the old school campus and final tours of the original school buildings followed
with music by the band, 'The Q Balls'. 850 persons turned out for the gala festivities. What a meaningful and wonderful day it was capping off Sacred Heart Parish School's 75th Anniversary. Starting in September 1934, under the leadership of Sacred Heart's 2nd Pastor, Rev. Msgr. Michael Lyons, the mothers of the parish, and the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn, who provided two Sisters as teachers to 68 students, it has continued to its Diamond Jubilee Year to provide stellar Catholic education. The Sisters of Mercy staffed and were Pribcipals of Sacred Heart Parish School for many, many, of these seven and a half decades. I have been privileged to be at Sacred Heart at this historic time in the parish school's legacy. JESUS MEEK AND HUMBLE OF HEART, THANKS, GLORY, AND PRAISE, TO YOU FOR THIS DAY OF DEDICATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR SACRED HEART PARISH SCHOOL, Fr. Troy

*****Were I not committed to being here for the New School Dedication today, I would be in Yreka, celebrating the Golden Jubilee - 50th Wedding Anniversary of DAN and JUNE GIRDNER, my former St. Joseph's parishioners and beloved friends..........

RECOGNIZING THE SUCCESS OF SACRAMENTO'S CRISTO REY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL..........

On Wednesday night the First four year graduating class of Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Sacramento, held its Commencement ceremony at St. IgnatiusLoyola Church on Arden Way. Cristo Rey's 53 graduates of the Class of 2010, have accomplished a milestone achievement. 53 out of the 53 graduates, will be attending college. Cristo Rey High School in Sacramento started four years ago in the former site of the parochial school at St. Peter's Parish on McMahon Drive between Stockton Boulevard and 65th Street in South Sacramento. The concept behind the Cristo Rey High School is a work / study curriculum in which familes pay a much lower high school tuition and local business underwrite and hire the students to work 5 days a month in their businesses. Thus a Catholic high school education is made more accessible to lower income students and in addition to an excellent education they receive invaluable professional work experience in the process, The businesses in the Sacramento area, like in Chicago and other cities in which Cristo Rey high schools exist are well served and provide outstanding opportunities for students to learn proper working skills. The milestone accomplishment celebrated by the Class of 2010 at Cristo Rey High School in Sacramento, that is so laudable is that everyone of the 53 graduates will be attending college. This 100% achievement shows the quality academic and work study curriculum and education Cristo Rey students receive and are inspired by. Grateful thanks to the faculty, staff, business professionals, board of directors, benefactors, and the parents, who have supported and made these 53 graduates a true high school success story. And to the graduates all the best in ever yet higher attainments in their college educations and beyond. At a time when schools whether they be public, parochial, or private are struggling to maintain quality education, it is an optimistic experience to know that Cristo Rey High School is succeeding in making a Catholic-Christian Educationaffordable and producing such exemplary results. KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES OF CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL SACRAMENTO 2010, Fr. Troy

A BELATED, AFTER THE END OF THE TELEVISION SEASON RETURN OF, "THREE RIVERS"..........

There was a time only two decades and more ago, when Saturday nights prime time was all but golden programming. "Your Show Of Shows, Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams, Hollywood Palace, All In The Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, the Golden Girls, and Carol Burnett", were among the shows that provided enjoyable quality entertainment on Saturday nights. In recent years the major networks have not provided fresh programming, but reprised already aired shows from earlier in the week. Last fall CBS-TV aired nine episodes of a first season transplant drama, "Three Rivers", on Sunday nights, before pulling it off the schedule, due to low ratings against Football and Desperate Housewives. Four of the initial order of thirteen episodes were left unaired, until now. Having found it excelent and accurate, I have advocated for it and officially protested the premature "Three Rivers", cancellation . CBS is burning off the final four episodes on the summer schedule. But where have they placed its return, except in the wasteland that is currently Saturday night television. With reruns abounding, there is little chance it will find more of an audience. Besides being cancelled, the cast member, Alex O'Loughlin, has been recast to star in the role of Steve McGarrett, in the 2010 version of the classic television series, "Hawaii Five-O", this Fall. Once again, I encourage you to watch the final episodes of,"Three Rivers", and discover for yourselves why I think and feel so strongly about its merits..........Advocating For Greater Transplant Awareness, Fr. Troy

21 ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES : BLESSINGS AND CURSES..........

My previous blog update regarding my Yahoo e-mail and Facebook page being hacked into overnight, has had me thinking all day as I deal with the frustration of addressing it, about the wonders of the technological developments of the current age from the internet, e-mail, ever more sophiscated computers, cell phones, i-phones, blackberries, i-pads, and i-pods, which along with global satellites and cable, have made communication innovative, instantaneous, efficient, and effective. The positive benefits derived from these advances are a major blessing in making both the work and recreation of our lives more efficient and enjoyable. That is the result produced by honest and honorable people who use the new technologies for the common good and not manipulate it for personal greed. Dishonest and criminally minded persons however, see it as a means to an end, reaping an illicit benefit from others by hacking and hijacking the technology for their own illegal gain. This is the curse many of us who us who use these advances are forced to confront, when like myself, we discover our personal accounts compromised by others with self serving agendas. My circle of personal friends on Yahoo and Facebook received a bogus message from a hacker very early this morning claiming he or she, is me and feigning to be stranded in Edinburgh, Scotland needing 1,300 pounds to pay my hotel bill and get home. Yet here I am in Sacramento, not stranded or in financial need, sorting out this snafu, with my access to both accounts, blocked for at least 24 hours. Yet as of mid morning, the hacker was still appearing on my Facebook page impersonating and chatting with others in my name. At least one of my many friends who has called me in concern about this malfeasance today, said the hacker was chatting with her pretending to be me. I am a glad Yahoo e-mailer and Facebooker, and I will not abandon them, but I do think that the safety, security, and privacy controls, must continue to be advanced and upgraded to make it increasingly more difficult to compromise online social network pages. And the criminals who invade the privacy and personal possessions of others online should be prosecuted. The same is true of interlopers who vandalize and steal from schools, churches, and businesses, in our communities, whether it be tagging, breaking windows, theft of resources, or the stealing of copper wiring, which is so wantonly occurring, and increases during the summer. All of us must be good neighbors and report suspicious activity taking place around us. The dishonest and criminal must be dealt with with the certitude of punishment to discourage others from even attempting this kind of malfeasance. In The Words Of Jesus,...SIN NO MORE..........Fr. Troy

FOR YOUR INFORMATION..........

This update is to inform you that my Yahoo e-mail and Facebook page were hacked into overnight, so they are not accessible to me for the time being, as it is being investigated and hopefully resolved. Whoever is responsible e-mailed a bogus message that is nothing more than a money scam. I am in Sacramento, not in Edinburgh, Scotland and I am not in need of money. Secondly, the hacker is reportedly impersonating me today on my Facebook page, as he has had a chat with at least one of my personal friends earlier today. I will keep you posted and am very grateful to the half dozen friends or so, who telephoned me with their concerns about this today..........The curse as well as the blessing of our wonderful technology !! Love, Prayers, + Appreciation, TDP