COAT OF ARMS
The Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson
 

The coat of arms of Bishop Thompson integrates the arms of the Diocese of
Evansville with colors and charges personal to him. It is divided into two vertical parts.

The left section is the coat of arms from the Diocese of Evansville, in blue and white.
Since Evansville is situated on the bend of the Ohio River, it would suitably be
called a "Crescent City." The crescent is also used as an emblem of the Blessed Virgin
who is the patroness of our diocese. Below the crescent is the crenellated battlement or
fortification wall. This represents the Fort of Post Vincennes which suggests that
our diocese derives from historic Vincennes and that our Faith is a mighty fortress.
 The two waves at the bottom of the shield represent the waters of the Wabash and
the Ohio Rivers. Spiritually, the waves represent the cleansing waters of Baptism.

The panel to the right is the personal arms of Bishop Thompson. It reflects his
heritage and his ministry as a priest of Jesus Christ. The two blue wavy bars
represent the Ohio River that connects Indiana and Kentucky, the Wabash River in Indiana,
and the Salt River flowing through Marion County in Kentucky. In a spiritual sense,
they represent the waters of Baptism. Between the barlets are two blue crosses
to represent the Catholic heritage that has come to the Bishop from both of
his parents Coleman and Joyce (Thomas) Thompson. Above the wavy barlets is a
green fleur-de-lis that is taken from the arms of the diocese of Bardstown. It also
symbolizes the Diocese of Vincennes which was established from the original
territory of Bardstown.  In the base of the arms, there is an inverted blue
Latin cross for Saint Peter and a green sword for Saint Paul. This
represents Bishop Thompson's personal devotion to Saints Peter and Paul.

For his motto Bishop Thompson has selected "CHRIST THE CORNERSTONE,"
from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians.

The coat of arms is completed by a gold processional cross and the pontifical
hat with its six tassels in three rows on either side of the shield. These are the heraldic insignia
of a prelate of the rank of bishop.

(The designer of the coat of arms and author of the description is Deacon Paul J. Sullivan of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.)


VITAE
Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson

Born April 11, 1961 at Louisville, KY
First of three children of Coleman and Joyce Thompson
Graduated Moore High School, Louisville in 1979
Graduated Bellarmine University with a degree in Accounting, 1983
Master of Divinity from St. Meinrad Seminary, 1987
Ordained to Holy Priesthood for Archdiocese of Louisville, May 30, 1987
Associate Pastor, St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, Bardstown, 1987-1990
Master in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, 1992
Part-time Associate Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Louisville, 1992-1993
Metropolitan Judicial Vicar and Director of Tribunals, 1993-1998
Administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish, 1994-1996
Pastor, St. Augustine Parish in Lebanon, KY, 1996-2002
Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish in Louisville, 2002-2011
Vicar General of Archdiocese of Louisville, 2008-2011
Named Bishop of Evansville, April 26, 2011
Ordained and Installed - June 29, 2011

Other appointments included priest-chaplain at Bethlehem High School, 1987-1990;
priest-chaplain at Presentation Academy, 1995-1997; priest-chaplain to Sacred
Heart Academy, 2004-2011. Served as a visiting professor of canon law at
St. Meinrad School of Theology since 2002.

Interests include running and horseback riding.