MEMORIAL DAY USA - PRIESTS JUBILARIANS DAY 2011, IN THE DIOCESE OF SACRAMENTO...........

For 145 years American citizens have remembered our War dead, from the Civil War Between the Union and the Confederacy, in the 1860's, to the fatalies incurred in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, during the past decade.  Memorial Day USA,  a national holiday, and the unofficial start of the Summer season, is a day of remembrance, cemetery visits, parades, picnics, barbeques, and in Sacramento for the thirty eighth consecutive year, Jazz Jubilee weekend.  Memorial Day, as it is now known, was originally called, "Decoration Day", for each year at the end of May, American Civil War familes went to their local cemeteries, to decorate the graves of their beloved.  Catholic Cemeteries today throughout the country, will be celebrating Masses on the burial grounds, in remembrance of all who have served our nation, in the Armed Forces : Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, et al.  This year we also honor the Navy Seals, although fortunately, all living - who successfully executed the mission to get Osama Bin Laden, four weeks ago, as this month of May opened.  Please God, the dedicated and fearless service of the millions of Americans who have given themselves to fighting in war to bring about peace, be always honored, acknowledged, appreciated, and commemorated.  This evening the Bishop and Priests of the Sacramento Diocese, will honor our brother presbyters, who are this year's Jubilarians, marking 25, 40, 50, and 60 Years of Ordination in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.  Among those being feted for their milestones in priestly ministry this year, are Reverend Father Stephen Borlang, Pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Vallejo, 25 Years;  Rev. Fr. Daniel Looney, Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, Land Park, Sacramento, 40 Years;  Rev. Fr. Michael Dillion, Founding Pastor-Emeritus of Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Rocklin, 50 Years;  Rev. Fr. William Storan,  Pastor -Emeritus of St. Basil's Parish, Vallejo, 50 Years;  Rev. Fr. Sean O'Leary, Pastor-Emeritus of St. Joseph's Parish, Yreka, 50 Years; where he was my successor as Pastor, two after me, and from where he retired back to Ireland.  Retired Salt Lake City, Utah priest, who came to Sacramento as a senior priest, after his retirement celebrated 60 Years of Ordination tonight, and he was a seminary classmate of two of our deceased Sacramento priests, Rev. Msgrs. Eymard Gallagher and Valdemiro Fagundes.  Ad Multos Annos Faithful Priests of God's People.  The Chrism in April, my Ordination Anniversary May 2, and tonight's Jubilarians' Dinner, passes the baton to Rev. Frs. Eduino Silveira, and Paul Schloeder, and yours truly, as three of the Silver Jubilarians of 2012, in the Diocese of Sacramento.  Fr. Eduino sat next to one another at dinner.  To the Silver, Ruby, Golden, and Emerald Jubilarians in this Year of the lord, 2011, Our Heartfelt Gratitude.........Let Freedom Ring In The United States Of America And Around The World, As We Pray And Sow The Seeds Of Many More Priestly Vocations, Especially Local And Native Vocations,   Fr.  Troy