Rev. John Hannan
Fr. Hannan was our Parochial Administrator for a short period of time from May of 2005 until August when Fr. Bong was assigned as our Pastor. Fr. Hannan provided his biographical sketch below.
Fr. Hannan writes:
Birthplace:
Granagh, County Limerick, Ireland
Ordination:
June 12, 1955 at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral in Thurles, County Tipperary, IrelandPresent ministry:
Retired as Pastor Emeritus of St. Philomene Parish in Sacramento since June 15, 2004; filling in as a supply priest at parishes as needed.Past service: Associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Sacramento, Holy Family Parish in Citrus Heights, St. Patrick Parish in Sonora, St. Joseph Parish in Marysville, Presentation Parish in Sacramento, Sacred Heart Parish in Susanville, Our Lady of t he Assumption Parish in Carmichael, and St. Peter Parish in Dixon. Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Susanville (1967-74), Sacred Heart Parish in Alturas (1975-76), St. Paul Parish in Sacramento (1976-86), Corpus Christi Parish in Tahoe City (1986-87), Immaculate Conception Parish in Sutter Creek (1992-96), Holy family Parish in Weed (1996-99) and St. Joseph Parish in Rio Vista (1999-2000). Chaplain in the U.S. Navy . (1987-90).
During my last year at St. Munchin's College in Limerick, I began thinking of becoming an officer in the Irish Army. I fantasized about how sharp I'd look when I got back to my small rural I; parish in County Limerick. I would really impress the people I grew up with, especially the girls, I thought. But God dispelled my fantasy through a visiting missionary priest who spoke to the student body at St. Munchin's about vocations to the priesthood. One thing he said to me really struck home. He said, "Remember, as a priest, you will be an officer in the greatest army there is - the army of Christ." It was then I started thinking about the priesthood. After a lot of prayer, reflection and consultation with the priest teachers, I decided to follow that vocation. In September 1949 I entered St. Patrick's Seminary in Thurles.
Early in my first semester at St. Patrick's, the rector asked me where in the English-speaking world I would like to serve. As I had a priest uncle serving in the Diocese of Sacramento and knowing no other, I chose it.
As I look back over my 50 years as a I priest, I am grateful first to Almighty God for having called me to the priesthood and for the health to have been able to serve the diocese for five decades. Second, I am I grateful to the bishops and fellow priests with whom I have served, for their support and encouragement.
I am also grateful to the people of the many parishes in our diocese in which I served. They made my ministry so fulfilling through their love and hospitality. A great benefit of my many assignments - from the Siskiyou Mountains in the north to the southernmost tip of the fertile Sacramento Valley - was getting to see the natural and often awe-inspiring beauty our diocese.
I found many aspects of my priestly ministry rewarding. First, of course, was the privilege of celebrating the Eucharist on Sundays and weekdays. I also enjoyed pastoral visitation of families in their homes. Msgr. Vito Mistretta, my second pastor, assigned this as my principal ministry at Holy Family Parish in Citrus Heights. I called upon non-Catholic as well as Catholic homes. This experience proved to be a real gift for me.
In all of the parishes in which I later served I enjoyed this ministry so much because the fruits were obvious - people deciding to baptize their children, to enroll them in religious education classes, lapsed Catholics returning to the practice of their faith, and some non-Catholics coming the faith.
Another rewarding ministry was my promotion of and participation in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. At each Easter Vigil it was edifying to baptize; confirm catechumens, to receive candidates into full communion and offer them Communion, and to witness the joy of those joining the church.
Now, as a retired priest, I enjoy helping out where needed in different parishes. To all the people I have served, my prayer for you is: "May God hold you in the palm of his hand."