Bishop Quinn, 86 and retired, comes home to Sacramento

His flight was delayed nearly five hours and his baggage still hasn't arrived, but Bishop Francis Quinn doesn't mind. He's happy to be home.

"I'm taking it easy until everything gets here," says Quinn, relaxing the day after his arrival. "I'm just finding my way around and meeting a few people."

On Wednesday, after 13 years away, the former Catholic bishop of the Sacramento Diocese finally gave in to family pressure and moved back to the state capital.

He's 86 now. His health is still strong, except for a quadruple bypass he had about five years ago.

He has nothing to complain about.

"God has been good to me," he says.

With help from his great- nephews, Quinn moved into Mercy McMahon Terrace, a residence for seniors run by the Sisters of Mercy in midtown. Quinn had offers from others to live with them, but the man who once lived in a modest apartment in the cathedral basement says he didn't want to bother anybody. At his new home, he can come and go as he pleases.

"And they provide all the meals," he says. "So I don't have to worry about that."

Quinn served as the spiritual leader of the Sacramento Diocese from 1980 to 1994 and became known for his out- spoken views on social-justice issues. Among other things, he criticized local officials for raids on the homeless, led a prayer vigil for immigrants in front of the U.S. District Courthouse and celebrated Christmas behind bars with prisoners.

After he retired as bishop, Quinn moved to Arizona, where he ministered to American Indians. In his motor home, he became a familiar sight at various reservations.

"I'm really going to miss the people I've been serving," Quinn says. "Being a part of their parish has been a real joy."

He gave his former parish- ioners the RV as a farewell gift.

"They'll have more use for it than I will," he says.

Quinn says he'll also miss the desert weather.

"At least from October to May," he joked.

The bishop of Tucson, Ariz., praised Quinn in a column on the diocesan Web site.

"He is a deeply spiritual man who has left a permanent impact on all of us," wrote Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas.

One of the reasons Quinn returned to the Sacramento area is to be near family. He's also happy to be back in the diocese where, he says, he spent some of the happiest days of his priesthood.

He praises Bishop William Weigand and is excited about incoming Bishop Jaime Soto.

"I've heard good things about him," he says.

Quinn is officially retired but has lots of plans.

"I don't think a priest ever retires," he says.

Several parishes have already asked him to help out. He'll probably preside at Mass at his new home.

Right now, he's waiting for his belongings to arrive so he can unpack. It won't take long.

"I really don't have much," he says.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Jennifer Garza can be reached at (916) 321-1133 or jgarza@sacbee.com.