‘I have to be Catholic’: How prayer, mentors, love for the Eucharist led Blake Thompson to seminary

Seminarian Blake Thompson carries the processional cross at the start of the ordination Mass at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Flower Mound on March 25, 2023. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

In his eight years in the seminary, Blake Ryan Thompson has relied on the prayers and letters of encouragement from parishioners to sustain him. But, over the years, nothing lifted his spirits more than the dozens of handmade cards mailed to the 26-year-old from Catholic school children.

“I have those nailed to the walls in my room at seminary,” he said, describing the colorful images of Jesus and churches that accompany the supportive messages. “They help a lot. When you live in Washington, D.C. — a two-day drive from home — it’s enough to get you through the day.”

Thompson’s next visit to the Diocese of Fort Worth will include a milestone event in his path to the priesthood. Bishop Michael Olson will confer the sacrament of holy orders on the seminarian, making him a transitional deacon, during an ordination Mass set for Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. in St. Maria Goretti Church in Arlington.

Advancing to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate marks the final year of formation to the priesthood. The transitional diaconate is not only a preparatory stage but also imbues a future priest with a deeply rooted understanding of service that imitates the servant-heart nature of Jesus. A deacon has three essential tasks: proclaiming the Gospel, assisting at liturgies, and performing charitable works.

After ordination, Thompson will return to the Theological College at the Catholic University of America, where he is completing a multiple degree program in sacred theology and serving at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

“When we make our promises [celibacy, prayer, and obedience], it’s a huge step so a lot of preparation goes into it,” explained the seminarian who made a weeklong retreat at a Trappist monastery earlier this year. “It gave me time to pray and ask for the graces to enter fully into the diaconate with the heart of a servant.”

A convert to the faith, Thompson first became intrigued by the Catholic Church through its intellectual connection to European history. Raised as a Protestant but “unchurched” most of his young life, the Mansfield resident experienced his first Catholic liturgy as a teenager.

“The beauty of it just made sense and something clicked,” he remembered. “There was a moment during the consecration when it all hit me like a sack of bricks. I realized this isn’t a Church. This is a home and where I need to be. I have to be Catholic.”

Already baptized, Thompson made his profession of faith with the regular confirmation class at St. Jude Parish in Mansfield in 2015. His parents, Cash and Nanette Thompson, later joined the parish’s RCIA program and also converted. They weren’t entirely surprised when their son decided to enter St. Joseph Seminary College after graduating from Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield.

“I was spending an inordinate amount of time at the parish,” recalled the former retreat leader and religion classroom volunteer. “Seeing how truly joyful I am in this life and how formation works helped them accept and be hopeful about what I’m doing.”

Initially though, holy orders wasn’t a consideration. Looking forward to studying European history overseas, Thompson hoped to become a university professor.

“After my conversion, I had a love of Christ in the Eucharist and that brought my heart to the priesthood,” he added. “It was a desire I tried to repress at first, but it kept coming back and stronger. That prompted me to pray.”

The discerning 18-year-old also sought counsel from Monsignor Ray Mullin at his parish.

“He was very important in my discernment,” Thompson said. “I asked a lot of solid, good questions that were clarified, and he built up my courage to say yes to what God placed in my heart.”

Bishop Olson is another mentor.

“His fatherhood in this has been significant,” the seminarian stressed. “He’s been present throughout the entire process from the beginning of my discernment to now. I speak to him regularly and trust him.”

Many bishops are busy and don’t spend time with their seminarians.

“Bishop Olson knows us like a father and that is extraordinary,” Thompson said.

Once ordained, the soon-to-be transitional deacon is looking forward to proclaiming the Gospel.

“As someone who lived without it for so many years,” he shared, “I recognize how important it can be to hear the Gospel proclaimed well so it touches the heart of someone because Christ is speaking to them directly.”