Ordination nears for former social worker,
pro-life activist

By Terry McGuire

Ed White

SEATTLE — Something happened to Ed White on his way to seeking a forestry degree from the University of Washington. His interests in wildlife science shortly turned to “urban wildlife” during those times he waited to transfer buses at a seedy downtown Seattle street corner populated by alcoholics and teen prostitutes.

Once, when a drunken man stumbled by and then fell backwards, White caught and then lowered the man to the ground rather than let him slam into a wall.

“I just had this impression growing on me that I needed to do something about…this misery of humanity,” White recalled last week.

That was the start of a journey that was to lead him into social work and a pro-life activism that will culminate next June 11 when he is scheduled for ordination to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Seattle. He’ll take the penultimate step on Sunday, Nov. 21 when Archbishop Alex J. Brunett ordains him to the transitional diaconate in a Mass that begins at 1 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church in West Seattle. He is the only one scheduled for ordinatio t the priesthood for the archdiocese next year. Eight men are n tack for ordination in 2006, said Rich Shively, associate director of the Ofice of the Vicar for Clergy.

White worked as a pastoral associate at Holy Rosary for four years. Before that, he was pastoral associate at St. Peter Parish in Seattle for four years.

A reception will follow the Mass.

“If you are not able to attend,” White told friends in his email invitation, “your prayers would be greatly appreciated.”

Though he later was to work as a park ranger during the summers, White never did complete that degree in forestry. He switched majors to social work, volunteered at a downtown mission, and left the UW in his junior year, feeling the education he was receiving was not a faith-based one.

About the same time, the lifelong Episcopalian found himself studying comparative religions and leaning more toward the Catholic faith -- thanks in part to his girlfriend, who exposed him to Catholic social activists and thinkers such as Mother Teresa, L’Arche founder Jean Vanier, spiritual writer Thomas Merton and Christina music artist John Michael Talbot.

He became a Catholic in 1980 at St. Patrick Parish in Seattle.

White, 46, was born in Deer Lodge, Mont., and moved around the Midwest as the son of a railroad working father. But his family’s Northwest roots run deep. On the Goodwin side of the family, his great-grandfather and his brothers were the first owners of Seattle’s Pike Place Market, White said. On the other side, his great-grandmother, Belle Cooper – the daughter of a Methodist minister – came west as a toddler on the Oregon Trail and became the territory’s second female doctor.

White has done some traveling himself. Following the UW, he spent a year “learning a lot about prayer and more about the faith” at a monastery in Montreal. He returned to Seattle, earned a degree in theology and religious studies, and worked in a L’Arche communities for persons with developmental disabilities in Seattle and Bellevue.

Later, he worked in Calcutta for about a month volunteering with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. He got to meet the famed nun, and spent about 15 minutes talking with her about his possible vocation to religious life. “Place yourself in Mary’s hands,” she advised, “and you (will) have nothing to worry about.”

In Rome, White was part of a private audience that met Pope John Paul II.

White also has done mission work in Haiti and Jamaica.

White said the Secular Carmelites – of which has been a member for 18 years  – have had a big influence on his calling to religious life.

Long active in pro-life issues, White helped start the local Helpers of God’s Precious Infants affiliate, where members stand witness and pray outside abortion clinics. He also was one of the three founders of the Prolife Hikes, leading participants on hikes from Seattle to Olympia, Arlington to Canada and Kelso to the Oregon border – among other journeys – while promoting prayer for unborn life.

Hiking and photography are among his interests. With his tenor voice, he also has worked as a cantor.

White is currently studying at Mundelein seminary near Chicago. He served his pastoral internship at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma in the spring of 2003.