Father Gregory S. Thompson, parochial vicar of St. Louis Church in Alexandria, will become pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Manassas, effective June 25.
He was born May 10, 1971, in Philadelphia to George and Phyllis Thompson.
He attended Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, Pa., and graduated from George Washington University in Washington in 1993. In 1995, he earned a master’s in public administration from GW, after which he worked in public transportation.
In 2000, he felt the call to the priesthood while volunteering at Mount 2000 at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. Several months later, he entered Mount St. Mary’s Seminary that fall. As a transitional deacon, he was assigned to St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax in 2005.
Before he entered the seminary, he had been in a rock band, and he put his guitar-playing talents to work for the church, playing several times at Mount 2000 during his seminary years.
Father Thompson was ordained to the priesthood June 10, 2006, by Bishop Paul S. Loverde. He served as parochial vicar at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, 2006, and St. John the Beloved Church in McLean, 2011. He was assigned chaplain and assistant principal of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, with residence at St. James Church in Falls Church, 2014. Since 2022, he has served as parochial vicar at St. Louis Church in Alexandria.
Throughout his priesthood, he has led parishioners in faith and fun. As a parochial vicar at All Saints, he led the Manassas-based band The Adopted, hosting concerts featuring contemporary Christian rock. He also was a member of a Catholic improv comedy troupe, “Fools for Christ.” While serving as chaplain at O’Connell, he played the electric guitar at many of the school’s annual Superdance fundraisers. Youth ministry was always close to his heart, and he made it a central part of his priestly ministry at his various parish assignments.
