The following is something that a friend of ours, Amy Alvarado Bender, wrote about Father Thomas:
I am a follower of Christ and a practicing Catholic because of another disciple before me, Fr. Richard Thomas, S.J. and I want to share about who he was to me.
Fr. Thomas lived every minute of his earthly life doing the will of God. That is a big statement, and one I do not make lightly. I had the great privilege of being part of a community he led since I was 7 years old. I spent much time as a child, youth, and young adult in the ministries and working closely with him. I saw a man so given over to the work of God that not a minute of his day was unaccounted for.
Father could be found reading the bible, studying, writing, praying in his room. I was amazed every time I knocked on his door that he was doing one of those things. He did take a nap every day, but as far as I could tell, that was his only break apart from an occasional horseback ride. Father taught me through this example that God is always speaking to us daily, but you have to be listening, praying.
Father’s heroic example of faith continues to be a gift to me. It was so profound, I feel almost at a loss to describe it. It could be something as small as the time he officiated at the wedding of a friend. It was raining and the bride had hoped to have pictures taken outside. Father Thomas looked at her and said, “Then let’s pray.” He said a short, one-sentence prayer. The rain stopped, and we took pictures outside. No one batted an eye since things like this happened all the time with him.
He believed in the power of scripture to heal and teach. Once after returning to the Ranch, disappointed that I was turned away from a religious order I had tried to enter, he told me to open the bible to Romans 8:28. “Read it,” he said. Then he told me, “Read it again louder.” So I did, reciting, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” He had me read it over and over until my wound began to heal and my faith grew. This verse has remained a comfort and source of grace many times since.
Finally, I want to share how much joy he had. Father had such a sense of humor, very quirky, but funny nonetheless. I had been in a bad accident that left me injured, and when I saw him much later, he placed his hand on me and prayed, “Lord, help Amy not be lame-y!” I still laugh every time I think of that. His laugh was big and hearty. I loved to hear and see him laugh, which he did so often.
He made serving Christ a joy! He found joy in seeing God move in powerful ways. And so, I want to encourage anyone who reads this to ask Fr. Thomas for his intercession – if you have a need, a petition, or know someone who is ill. I cannot imagine that a man who worked so hard to help bring the Kingdom of God on earth would not want to spend his time in Heaven doing anything else but interceding for us.