A Few Things About My Stay At Morning Star. . .

Following is excerpted from a recent message from James (Jimmy) Thompson, a Morning Star alum who resided at the Ranch from 1978-80.

I just wanted to write a few things about my stay at Morning Star and give some support for Father Joe. First of all, I read about all the allegations concerning Father Joe and staff members and I must say, "I don't believe a word they say." I spent a lot of time on the boat with Father Joe and was around numerous staff members by myself and I never experienced any type of abuse.

There were plenty of times I should have been “beaten” for things I had done, but the staff or Father Joe showed me discipline -- NOT ABUSE!

In a time in my life when I needed discipline and some kind of structure, Father Joe was there along with the staff members. I was getting out of control at home, and at the age of 14 I thought I knew it all. I was running around and getting into all kinds of trouble until a friend who had spent some time at Morning Star told my mother about the Ranch and what it had done for him.

I had a meeting with Father Joe and decided it would be a good thing. However, only a few hours after being at the Ranch, I re-loaded my suitcase… (and) decided I didn't want to be there after all and I went back home. A 14-year-old boy dragging a big suitcase clear across town was pretty stupid. (That's when I thought I knew everything). I did make it home after about five hours. Shortly thereafter my mother came home and called the Ranch.

Father Joe came right over and sat and talked to us. He could have just said that "I was a troubled child and that there was no hope for me", but he had seen a young boy crying out for help and came to my rescue.

I went back to the Ranch and spent the next 20 months there. I still got into trouble my first few months, but after some trips to Joe Weitensteiner's office -- God bless him!-- he had me back on the right track. He was firm with his words and never used any physical discipline.

I remember a time when myself and three other boys got hold of some keys to this small room where the cash box was kept. Between all of us standing watch, we managed to get in and take some money and back out without being caught. (We were so good at it -- we thought.) We proceeded to sneak off to Lincoln Heights to the movie theater to see "The Warriors".

We kept watch for cars on the way and hid when we would see one. We were almost there when we saw Father Joe coming in his little tan station wagon, so we jumped over the side of a hill until he went by. Well, he didn't go by. We heard the car stop, the door open and shut, and then we looked up and saw Father Joe standing there.

"Get in the car" is all he said. You should have seen us running to the car! Of course the last one there had to sit in front with Father Joe all the way back to the Ranch. That was the longest ride ever. A good bottom-warming would have been what we deserved, but we were talked to and then had privileges taken away – not abused!

After being released from the Ranch, I always thought about the boys and staff I knew and wondered how they were. In a time in my life when I needed friendship, they were there. I wish I could have stayed at the Ranch a year or two longer. I feel I would have turned out better. Don't get me wrong: I am doing fine. What I mean is, I never stayed in school and graduated because I didn't have the strict discipline I needed. After I got home, I would skip school and started smoking. If there is one piece of advice I could give to anyone, it would be to stay in school and get an education. Oh, and don’t smoke!

There are so many memories I could share with you, but there is not enough time…I hope you have a happy retirement, Father Joe and I wish you all the luck in the world. Thank you for being a part of my life when I needed it most. I will always remember you.