| Bob Kordsmeier and I went to mass at St. Joseph this morning and then I got ready to leave Conroy for Morrilton, Arkansas, about 25 minutes west on I-40. When everything was packed up, we stopped at the church again to pick up the Maryknoll magazines and materials not used on the weekend, and then we headed for Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton, arriving just about noon. Here I was staying in the rectory.
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Morrilton is another old town founded in the 19th century and today maintaining a population of 6,500. This supermarket and bank complex is nearly across the street from the church property. Note it was 102°. They did that to make me feel at home! |
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Fr. Charlie Thessing (right) has been the pastor of Sacred Heart for about ten years. He also went to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, and he and Charlie D had some of the same professors. Charlie T was ordained in 1986. He is an accomplished organist and violinist. |
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Sharon Tyler is the secretary of Sacred Heart. Her son Jason was ordained a priest three years ago. Charlie met her parents in Conway when he was visiting families there. |
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I knew nothing about Fr. Charlie Thessing before I arrived except that he drives a Corvette, but when I saw the bumper stickers on the rectory door, I thought he would be someone I could understand. |
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Charlie T was away on his day off when I arrived in Morrilton, but my feeling that we might be kindred spirits increased when I went upstairs and found several Star Trek posters in the bedroom given to me. |
