PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RESTORED HEALTH AND HEALING OF REVEREND FATHER JOSEPH TERNULLO...........

I join my vioce of those of so many others in Sacramento, and our Diocese, in requesting prayers for the Intentions of Healing and Restored Health, for Reverend Father Joseph Ternullo.  Fr. Joe, like myself - a native born, locally grown, vocation of the Sacramento Diocese, was ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ for the Church of Sacramento, in 1973, having completed his ordination formation studies at St. Patrick's Seminary, in Menlo Park, California.  He is a seminary classmate of Bishop Richard J. Garcia, now the Ordinary of the Diocese of Monterey, in California.  Following bypass surgery on July 7th, Fr. Ternullo has suffered follow-up complications, and at last word, was returned to his hospital's Intensive Care Unit.  I first met Fr. Joe in 1978, as he transferred from his first priestly assignment, which I share in common with him, Holy Family Parish Citrus Heights; and I was taking Diocesan Cathecist Faith Formation Certification courses.  Fr. Joe was one of the presenters and, as I was a senior at CSU-Sacramento, and beginning to seriously discern my own potential priestly vocation, I was struck that evening, not only by the earnestness of his presentation and its content, but the happiness and positive desire he exuded as a young priest, for God, the Church, and us his audience and students.  In June 1993, when I was elected Chairman of the Diocesan Council of Priests, Fr. Joe Ternullo, was also elected to serve with me, as Vice Chairman.  For the following fifteen months we worked and served together through the transition of Bishop Francis Quinn's retirement; and Bishop William Keith Weigand's installation as Bishops of Sacramento.  So together, let us pray for Fr. Joe's quick and complete recovery.  Presently, he is serving as Chaplain to St. Francis High School in Sacramento.  Previous to that, he was a neighboring priest to Our Lady of Lourdes, as Pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish, in North Highlands.   Joseph, my brother, colleague, and priest, "May Lord Bless You And Keep You;  May The Lord Make His Face Upon You And Be Gracious To You;  May the Lord Grant You Peace";...........Fr.  Troy