Rev. Father John Joseph Folmer

The Reverend John "Jack" Joseph Folmer died at Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento on October 10, 2013 among loving friends and family after a brief illness. Father Folmer, beloved only son of Harry and Agnes Folmer, was born June 15, 1942 in Sacramento. He came of age in a time of great social change and lived his life helping others. Father Folmer was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1969, after studying at St. Pius X Seminary (Rio Dell), St. Patrick's Seminary (Menlo Park) and in Tbingen, Germany. He held a doctorate in canon law from Catholic University, a J.D. from UC Davis and also studied at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. He was a member of the California Bar for more than 20 years and practiced law in San Francisco for several years. Father Folmer served as a canon lawyer for 30 years in the diocesan tribunals of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Dioceses of Sacramento and Monterey. He was president of the Canon Law Society of America in 1985. His career included early pastoral work at Holy Spirit Parish in Fairfield, St. Basil Parish in Vallejo, Newman Centers in Davis and Sacramento, St. Robert Parish in Sacramento and St. Agnes Parish in San Francisco. He served as Rector of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento and, more recently, as Parochial Vicar at St. Mel's Parish in Fair Oaks. Father Folmer was also active as an educator, serving as a teacher, counselor and chaplain at Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento. He spent two years with the Sulpicians, a community of diocesan priests dedicated to educating fellow priests. He taught canon law and served as Treasurer at St. Patrick's Seminary. He was chaplain at St. Francis High School in Sacramento from 1999 until 2005 and was delighted to serve as faculty advisor to the young ladies' Culinary/Cooking Club for he could never have enough cookbooks. Jack was an avid reader and film lover, a raconteur, champion of those in need, spiritual advisor and a true and loyal friend. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that gifts in his honor go to Mercy Foundation to benefit Mercy General Hospital (3400 Data Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 or the Sacramento Public Library Foundation to benefit literacy and libraries (P.O. Box 1168, Sacramento, CA 95812). His funeral mass will be held at 10AM, Wednesday, October 23 at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento where he was ordained. A reception will follow. All are also welcome to attend a vigil/rosary at 7PM, Tuesday, October 22 at Sacred Heart Church, Sacramento.