Thomas Joseph White Explained

Type:Priest
Honorific Prefix:The Very Reverend
Thomas Joseph White
Honorific Suffix:O.P.
Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Church:Roman Catholic Church
Appointed:10 June 2021
Term Start:14 September 2021
Predecessor:Michał Paluch
Ordination:23 May 2008
Birth Name:Seth Rowland White
Birth Date:1971 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia

Thomas Joseph White, O.P., (born 1971) is an American Roman Catholic priest and theologian. On September 14, 2021, he succeeded Michał Paluch, OP, as rector of the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the “Angelicum”).

Biography

White grew up in southeast Georgia in an inter-religious household.[1] His father is a Jewish doctor and his mother a nurse. He was baptized by an Episcopal priest in his 20s, but eventually converted to Catholicism his senior year of college.[2] He completed his bachelor’s in religious studies from Brown University (1993) and his Master’s (1995) and Doctorate (2002) in Theology at Oxford University. He entered the Order of Preachers in 2003.[3] He completed his licentiate in Sacred Theology (2007) at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He professed final vows on May 17, 2007, and on May 23, 2008, was ordained a priest.[4]

His research and teaching concentrate on Thomistic metaphysics, Christology and Roman Catholic-Reformed ecumenical dialogue. He was appointed an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2011.[5] White taught at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C from 2008-2018, and was the founder and Director of the Washington DC Thomistic Institute from 2009 until his departure for Rome in 2018.

In 2015 White became co-editor of Nova et Vetera Journal, an American Catholic Theological journal. In 2018 he was assigned to teach at the Angelicum and function as the Director of the Angelicum Thomistic Institute. In June 2021, he was appointed rector of the Angelicum.[6]

On May 13, 2022 White delivered the commencement address at the Catholic University of America and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. [7]

In June 2022 White was appointed president of the Academy of Catholic Theology, one of the principal societies of academic Catholic theology in the United States. [8]

On December 7, 2023 White received the title of Master of Sacred Theology from the Order of Preachers. [9]

White is also a founding member of the Roman Catholic bluegrass group, the Hillbilly Thomists, which has released three studio albums, to date.[10] In 2023, he was named an official Deering Banjo Artist.[11]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The afternoon I found Christ in my college library . Catholic News Agency . November 29, 2018 . November 2, 2021 . London . English.
  2. Web site: Brandon D. Smith . 2021-12-16 . Thomas Joseph White on Tough Christology Questions and Aquinas among Protestants . 2021-12-17 . Biblical Reasoning (Church Grammar podcast) . en-US.
  3. Web site: About the Author - Thomas Joseph White . Public Discourse Princeton, NJ . 15 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Curriculum Vitae Thomas Joseph White. Angelicum Rome, Italy . 15 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P. . Dominican Friars Foundation Washington, D.C. . 15 October 2021.
  6. News: Fr. Thomas Joseph White named first American rector of Angelicum in Rome . Catholic News Agency . June 10, 2021 . November 2, 2021 . Rome . English.
  7. Web site: Dominican Father Thomas Joseph White to Speak at 2022 Commencement . Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. . 10 June 2022.
  8. Web site: The Academy of Catholic Theology (ACT) is pleased to announce that Father Thomas Joseph White, OP, has been elected its president for 2022-2023 – Studium.OP . Studium.OP . 10 June 2022.
  9. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255875/hillbilly-thomists-founding-band-member-granted-title-of-master-of-sacred-theology
  10. https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/12/get-religion-and-a-joy-for-life-with-the-hillbilly-thomists/
  11. https://www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/deering-artists/thomas-joseph-white/
  12. Web site: Thomas Joseph White . Academia.edu . 15 October 2021.