Some years ago at a Manresa Retreat we had the awesome privilege of having Father Harry Tompson as our retreat master. That was truly a unique experience. The following year he was promoted to Director of the Manresa Retreat House in Convent, Louisiana, where we yearly attend our retreat. He was asked if he ever gave talks or one day mini-retreats away from Manresa. He said he did and graciously agreed to come to St. Charles Borromeo one Saturday for two talks in the morning, lunch, and two talks in the evening. What an experience. About 125-150 people attended and he was everything we said he would be. I must relate one talk experience that I will never forget and hope to always remember him for it.
Father Tompson was soft spoken yet very loud at times and kept you wondering which mood he was going to move into. On this particular talk, he was telling us about all the names that our Lord Jesus is referred to. After giving us 8 to 10 examples, i.e., Savior, Messiah, Healer, Miracle Worker, etc., he stated his favorite name was Good Shepherd. He then went on to explain why he personally liked Good Shepherd. He stated how the shepherd lives with and for his flock, loves each one like the next, is in pain when he loses one and rejoices when one is found.
At that moment Father Tompson abruptly ran off to the side of the altar and threw himself down on his knees with hands outstretched over a couple that I knew. I was sitting in the second pew behind them. With a loud voice that shook the church he shouted, “You, my lost sheep were lost; now you are found; let us rejoice!” Immediately tears flowed down my cheeks from both eyes - I was so embarrassed to have people see my emotions. I hesitated but finally looked around and everybody was crying - not a dry eye in the church.
Father Tompson then slowly and quietly got up from his knees and calmly walked off the altar without another word. This was so powerful. I remembered thinking, “Why leave now. You certainly got our attention and we want more !!”
Shortly before he died, he purchased a building on Baronne St. in the same block as the Church of the Immaculate Conception where he was pastor. His dream was to open a Catholic school for at-risk children, free of tuition.
He named the school The Good Shepherd School !!
After his death some years later a book about people’s experience with him was published. It included story after story of how caring he was and I wish this story could have been in the book.
