Comments on: Thomas King, S.J. – An Enchantment

By: Eric Wind

Eric Wind — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:26:59 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful tribute to Father King. He was a magnificent gentleman and he exemplified the very best of Georgetown.

By: Pauline Provencher from Montreal (Qc) Canada

Pauline Provencher from Montreal (Qc) Canada — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:19:58 +0000

I met Father Thomas King in 2005 for the commemoration of the passing away of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1955-2005) in N.Y. and Washington. Father King and I exchanged e-mails from 2003-2005. I shall remember his jovial and saintly personality as well as his kindness while I could finally be in his presence! I thank the Lord for the treasure that Father King has left to the world and for his writings about the great Spiritual Paleontologist,
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, s.j., whom he understood from within. R.I.P.

By: Charlie Armentrout

Charlie Armentrout — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:10:17 +0000

Hey KennyBoy, your cousins got your message. It was a nice ceremony at Georgetown and I met one of your neices from Maryland there.

By: The Rev. Fr. Ken MacKenzie

The Rev. Fr. Ken MacKenzie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:56:41 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts and memories. Here are some of mine.Dear King Family and Georgetown Community: I grieve with you over the wonderful life of that faithful servant of God’s Tommy King I first remember him pounding the piano keys at Aunt Catherine’s playing the Flight of the Bumble Bee and then my Dad Kenneth Sr. playing the two hands on the bottom and Tommy on the top to ‘Jimmie crack corn or the Blue fly song.” I don’t think they ever got together without playing that song.

I remeber his article in Reader Digest of sliding down the hill on his double bass viola. Oh, those were the days when Ralph Kiner had a standing place in the living room or hall and ice cream was cheap and just around the corner and Aunt Catherine would teach me to play all types of Solitaire but mostly Canasta. I remember coming through the backyard fence from Muzzy’s Apartment building in Pittsburg. Memories!

Of course I was at both ordinations of Bill and Tom. And served at the first mass for one. You will never know how I looked up to these two young men who chose to serve God.

I was there at Georgetown (Class of 63) when Tom first arrived at Georgetown in 1960. We went to several jazz houses together and he was at my parting party from Georgetown. (something about my grades required other schooling).

I returned in other years to enjoy the 11:15 PM Mass at Dahlgren Chapel. I knew it well since we used to have to attend daily morning mass. I convinced him to serve me communion as we had General Confession in every service in the Anglican Communion.

Then Mary and I attended the Chardin Conference in New York City just a few short years ago and had a great visit with Fr. Tom. Of course I had followed them to the priesthood when I was 50.

Our last discussion was in emails sent when the Archbishop of Cantebury was visiting the Georgetown Community of Jesuits last year.

Time flies. I am sorry to miss his funeral but have two churches awaiting my presence on sunday and could find no way to meet my sarcedotal responsibilities at All Saints Anglican Church in Wichita Falls, Texas.

I will sorely missing knowing he was there to answer all my off the wall theological questions. I am still trying to read his treatise on Satre. I did better with Teilhard.

Please know my mass dedications will be for you in your grief. But know that Tom has gone home as we all will into the arms of the loving Christ whose Daddy holds us all in being.

Maranatha, Fr. Ken MacKenzie

PS If you receive this and can forward it to the King family better please do so.

By: Tom Kane

Tom Kane — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:59:19 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful account of an amazing man. I was a student of his 22 years ago, yet to this day I’ll never forget some of the moments I experienced in his classes. Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Washington to pay my last respects, but I will be praying for his immortal soul continuously through the weekend. Bless you and your forthcoming ordination.

By: Karen MacKenzie

Karen MacKenzie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:27:11 +0000

So wonderful to have found your article about “Our Father Tom” (quoted this from my godmother Father Tom’s sister). He was definitely Our Fr.Tom. I will miss my visits with him he travelled here to the west coast. I am so grateful to see how he influenced so many to practice his kind ways. His family will all be at the service and I know they would be very grateful for your thoughts and memories while they visit.