Vincent O'Reilly – Biography

   Vincent O'Reilly grew up in County Cavan, Ireland. He attended the seminary in Thurles, County Tipperary, where he was ordained on the Feast of the Pentecost, 1962.

   Upon his arrival in Sacramento he was assigned to St. John the Baptist, in Folsom. This was followed with assignments at Holy Spirit and Sacred Heart parishes in Sacramento. In September, 1968 he was appointed chaplain at Loretto High School where he taught for six years. For two of those years he was also Financial Administrator at St. Francis High School. During those years he obtained Masters Degrees in Theology and Religious Studies from USF and from Seattle University. During these years he served several terms as a member of the Diocesan Priests Council, and was provincial representative on the Nation's Federation of Priests Council for three years. In the early 70's he was a member of a small group which founded the Sacramento Life Center. From 1974 - 1977 he served at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Carmichael. In September, 1977 he was appointed Administrator at St. Lawrence in North Highlands, and the following year, was appointed Pastor. During his nine years at St. Lawrence, a parochial school was opened (K-8) and a permanent church was erected. In June of 1986 he resigned as Pastor in order to take a year's sabbatical during which he completed graduate studies at the Weston School of Theology and Harvard School of Divinity in Boston. Upon his return to the diocese he served in Colfax, North Sacramento and in Auburn.

   In May of 1992 he was appointed by Bishop Francis Quinn as founding Pastor of what was to become St. Joseph Church, Vacaville. During his fifteen years at St. Joseph, a large parish center was built and a permanent church erected and dedicated in 2004.

    Father O'Reilly retired in 2007. He continues to study Theology, Scripture and History and is very grateful for the support and affirmation he has received throughout his years in the ministry. The faith of the membership has always been a source of inspiration to him and he is still amazed at the generosity of the faithful. He believes that if he has accomplished anything during his years in the ministry, his accomplishments were made possible after the grace of the Lord, through the faith, generosity and sacrifice of the faithful.