Lights. Camera. Father John.
by Nathaniel Miller
The fact that the Rev. John Thompson, S.M., Ed.D., isn’t on television already may be a surprise.
The Vice President for Mission certainly has the personality for it. There’s always a smile on his face, a witty response ready to go and charisma to fill multiple rooms.
St. Mary’s University students, alumni and members of Holy Rosary Church will tell you it’s not a Thompson Mass if he does not take out his signature guitar to lead the congregation in song.
Thompson was born and raised in New York, entered the Society of Mary in 1990 and was ordained a priest in 1999. Since being appointed Vice President of Mission on campus in 2021, he has been responsible for promoting and fostering the Catholic and Marianist identity of St. Mary’s and its mission to students, staff, faculty and trustees.
His experience as an educator, ease in commanding a room and knowledge of the Scripture make him the perfect person to partner with Catholic Television of San Antonio.
“I never imagined that this would happen,” Thompson said. “It’s interesting where God leads you.”
His new show, At Home in the Church, will begin filming in January. The first season will offer between eight and 12 episodes. He will focus on helping young adults aged 18 to 25 find a sense of belonging in the Catholic Church.
By interviewing college-aged students and those who work with them, Thompson wants to help people deepen their faith or find a way back to it.
He adds that he may switch to other age demographics in the future, but the goal will always remain the same.
“After high school, people can fall by the wayside in faith unless they go to a Catholic university,” Thompson said. “They might be 30 before they’re coming back, so I’d like to try to decrease the number of people who fall away.”
The pitch for the show did not come overnight.
The Rev. John Thompson, S.M.“My dream has always been to serve. I’ve learned so many things from each of the positions that I’ve had and from the people that I’ve been associated with. That just comes to fruition in this show.”
Thompson was first invited to give the daily Mass on Catholic Television, filmed from the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and then joined the station’s rotation as a visiting priest.
When the Archdiocese gathered in person for its annual Assembly for the first time post-pandemic, Thompson was asked to be a commentator and again during the Good Friday event in downtown San Antonio.
Catholic TV of San Antonio Executive Director Yesenia Ramirez said Thompson is no stranger to the station’s viewers.
“I wanted Father John to be a host of a show the very first time I met him because he is so charismatic and has such a wonderful personality,” she said.
Thompson had never considered a TV career. With a background in education, he has worked in secondary and higher education while also being assigned to Mexico, Florida and Hawaii. Each new step helped push him out of his comfort zone.
He said his new show is another opportunity for growth and he promised not to become a diva.
“My dream has always been to serve,” Thompson said. “I’ve learned so many things from each of the positions that I’ve had and from the people that I’ve been associated with. That just comes to fruition in this show.”
