Dear Parishioners,
Father Steve is always calling us “Saints of God.” This week, I would like to share the story of a man on the path to formal canonization who has a profound, lifelong connection to our own Sacred Heart Church.
The life of Father Richard “Rick” Thomas, SJ, is a testament to the radical power of the Jesuit mission. It is a journey that began in the historic pews of Sacred Heart in Tampa and has led to the threshold of sainthood. Following the November 2025 USCCB vote to advance his cause, Father Rick is being celebrated globally as a model of “Gospel literalness.”
A Spiritual Formation in Downtown Tampa
While Father Rick is renowned for his work on the U.S.-Mexico border, his spiritual foundation is inseparable from the history and architecture of Sacred Heart. As our parish celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2025, the connection between this landmark and Father Thomas has never been more relevant.
Sacred Heart is more than a backdrop; it is a testament to the Jesuit mission in Florida. Dedicated on January 15, 1905, our Romanesque Revival structure replaced the smaller St. Louis Parish after a yellow fever epidemic. The Jesuits designed this church as a spiritual beacon, and it was this environment that shaped young Richard Thomas. The design features that greeted him then still inspire us today:
- The Franz Mayer Windows: 70 stained-glass windows from Munich that depict the life of Christ and the saints.
- The 135-Foot Dome: A hallmark of the Tampa skyline, constructed from granite and white marble.
- The Jesuit “Pillar”: For decades, Sacred Heart served as the mother church for the Jesuit community, including the students of Jesuit High School, where Thomas was valedictorian in 1945.
Sacraments of Grace
Father Thomas’s spiritual life was anchored here at Sacred Heart, where he received his foundational sacraments:
- Baptism (April 1, 1928): His life in Christ began at our baptismal font.
- First Communion (March 31, 1935): He first received the Eucharist in the splendor of our nave.
- Confirmation (January 15, 1939): He was “sealed with the Spirit” on the exactly 34th anniversary of our building’s dedication.
The “Ignatius Moment”
Despite his academic success, Richard was a skilled horse trainer with no initial desire for the priesthood. While resting under a tree after a struggle with a violent horse, he heard a clear internal command: “I want you to be a priest.” He entered the Society of Jesus immediately after graduating from Jesuit High in 1945.
Radical Poverty and the “Miracle of the Dump”
In 1964, Father Thomas was assigned to Our Lady’s Youth Center in El Paso. He embraced extreme simplicity, living in a small room with only an army cot and no air conditioning.
His ministry reached a legendary turning point on Christmas Day 1972. While serving dinner to the destitute at a garbage dump in Juárez, Mexico, food meant for 150 people reportedly fed over 300, with baskets of leftovers remaining. This event spurred decades of work, including:
- The Lord’s Ranch: A farm in Vado, New Mexico, providing food and spiritual refuge.
- Massive Food Banks: Networks that fed thousands across the border weekly.
- Charismatic Leadership: Mobilizing the laity to see Christ in the poor.
A Family Legacy of Service
While Father Rick served on the border, his brother, Robert “Bob” Thomas, remained a pillar of the Tampa community. A prominent businessman and philanthropist, Bob shared his brother’s devotion, founding Joshua House and serving as a director for Metropolitan Ministries. Together, the brothers represented two paths of the same mission: one through local leadership and the other through radical missionary poverty.
The Path to Sainthood
Father Rick passed away on May 8, 2006, at age 78. In January 2026, the Diocese of Las Cruces confirmed that documentation of his heroic virtues and reported miracles is officially moving toward Rome. For us in Tampa, he remains a “homegrown” saint—a boy who walked the streets of Twiggs Street and took the Jesuit call to its most heroic conclusion.
Peace and All Good,
Fr. Mike
Sources:
- A Poor Priest for the Poor by Richard Dunstan.
- Our Lady’s Youth Center & The Lord’s Ranch: Biography and Missionary History (2025/2026).
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): Canonical Consultation Affirmation (Nov 11, 2025).
- America Magazine: “The ‘Lone Ranger’ Jesuit up for Sainthood” (Nov 24, 2025).
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church Archives: Sacramental Records and Jesuit History in Tampa.
- Tampa Bay Times: Obituaries and Philanthropic History of the Thomas Family (2006-2007).
