Fr Denis W. Martin, Priests of 1928, Brisbane, 2003, pp 170-173:
Richard Thompson

The third Priest-Editor of the Catholic Leader was Fr Richard Holmes Thompson. Of course he was known as 'Dick'.

Dick was born in Bundaberg where the Sisters of Mercy were entrusted with his education. On leaving school, he trained as a journalist at the Bundaberg Daily News. He then moved south to work at Mudgee and Bathurst.

While in Bathurst, his aspirations must have turned towards the Priesthood for he went when time permitted to study Latin and other subjects at St Stanislaus College, by this time run by the Vincentian Fathers. Still working for the press, he was employed at Casino and Bundaberg again.

He completed his priestly studies at Springwood and Manly, then at 34 years of age was ordained in St Stephen's Cathedral by Archbishop Duhig.

For a few years, he was curate in Dalby, until 1923 when he became Parish Priest of Gayndah. Between 1923 and 1929, Fr Thompson issued The Catholic Message, a parish monthly magazine which reached every corner of the parish from outside Biggenden to beyond Monto.

It had a circulation of about 1000 and was read with great interest by all and sundry. One of its features was religious instruction for children of the more remote districts. His little paper was illustrated too, with first class photographs of events such as Archbishop Duhig blessing and opening the Church at Mundubbera in 1925.

In 1929 Dick was appointed as Editor of The Age and lived at Wynberg. The Age was soon revamped as The Catholic Leader.

Martin Haley takes up the story: 'When I next visited the editorial sanctum [of the Leader] a very efficient Fr Thompson was in charge and James Devaney was his star essayist. Fr Thompson had been a journalist before becoming a priest and until much later in life discharged untroubled his double duty. He ran a well-informed, heart-warming and brain nourishing weekly and distinguished himself, not only in his editorials but also in writing letters to the secular press having ably succeeded Fr Little SJ as Brisbane's chief Catholic apologist.

Fr Thompson was of durable stuff, yet he took two year-long holidays from editorship, travelling extensively in Europe. He was replaced on each occasion by Jim Devaney. World War II with newsprint restrictions and the calling up of staff proved a difficult period for The Leader, and Fr Thompson began to show a distinct preference for his South Brisbane parish over his sanctum in Ann St. After the war, the Archbishop went in search of a permanent editor ...'

After 13 years with The Leader, Fr Thompson was appointed Parish Priest of St Mary's, South Brisbane in 1943. He kept his hand in journalism, for during the 1950s, he contributed to Our Australian Sunday Visitor, his last published work being a series on St Paul's Epistles.

Fr Thompson died at the South Brisbane presbytery on 28th September 1963. In the eulogy at the Cathedral, Archbishop Duhig described him as 'a worthy and zealous priest, a man of outstanding charity, generosity of nature, and humility,' and added, 'For 50 years he was a member of the Australian Journalists Association. Under his direction, The Catholic Leader, made substantial progress and reached a high level. In the process, I don't think he ever made an enemy, for he was mild and moderate in his attitudes and relations with others.' The funeral proceeded to Nudgee Cemetery.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Martin.)

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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Richard Holmes Thompson, died 28 Sep 1963

Richard Holmes Thompson was born at Bundaberg on 10th December, 1885, the son of R.H. Thompson and Annie McEwan. (His parents who died while he was a child, were not Catholic, but he was raised by Catholic relatives and was converted some time during his childhood). He was educated at St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, where he was a boarder. On leaving school he went to work as a journalist on a country newspaper, possibly at Bundaberg. In any event, he received a bursary from Mr William Naughton of Bundaberg, to study for the priesthood. Seminary studies were undertaken at St Columba's, Springwood, and St Patrick's, Manly. On their completion he was ordained in St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane, on 8th December, 1919. He subsequently served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Dalby (1919-1922); Parish Priest, Gayndah (1923-1929); Editor of the Catholic Leader (1930-1942); Parish Priest, South Brisbane (1942-1963). He died in 1963 and was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.