Fr. Michael Thompson

I knew Fr. Michael (as we knew him) since before he was ordained. Our parents were good friends. I also attended seminary about the time he was a new priest working at that time in Louisiana. When he heard I left seminary at his parents anniversary party, he grabbed my suit coat and 'growled' "get back in there!". I never did, but tried to find a way to keep in touch. I failed, but remembered a man that could have become a close friend. His brother john was at Marist at that time. My...

As a Seminary student I took our Youth Group to the Abbey. It was there that I met Fr. Damien. I was invited to have an Ordination Retreat in May of 1988. Fr. Damien, as I knew him, became an advisor, a mentor and a friends. He walked me with through the AIDS epidemic and countless pastoral concerns. I have saved many of our correspondences. Some day I hope to go through the letters between the monk/the priest/the Abbot and the Protestant female minister. I will always remember that he...

When I was the archivist at Gethsemani I took this photo of Abbot Damien Thompson in his office. He requested that it be his official abbatial portrait. May he rest in peace.

Fr. Michael marched to the beat of a different drummer. His lifelong journey toward the God of his pursuit will grant him the eternal peace he sought. May he rest in God´s loving embrace,