Charles Daniel White


Charles Daniel White was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as a bishop of the Diocese of Spokane in Washington State from 1927 until his death in 1955.

Biography

Early life

Charles White was born on January 5, 1879, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Patrick and Catherine White. He attended St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin, then completed his studies at the Urban College of Propaganda in Rome. He earned a Ph.D. and Doctor of Sacred Theology degree.

Priesthood

White was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Respighi on September 24, 1910. Returning to Michigan, he served as a professor and rector at St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Grand Rapids. White also served as a curate at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Grand Rapids. The Vatican named White as a domestic prelate in 1925.

Bishop of Spokane

On December 20, 1926, White was appointed the second bishop of Spokane by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on February 24, 1927, from Bishop Joseph G. Pinten, with Bishops Samuel Stritch and Alphonse John Smith serving as co-consecrators. He was installed on March 10, 1927, at the Cathedral of [Our Lady of Lourdes (Spokane, Washington)|Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes] in Spokane.
During his 28-year tenure as bishop, he built St. Anthony School and convent, Sacred Heart School and convent, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Home in Spokane, Marycliff High School for Girls in Spokane, St. Charles Parish, St. Joseph Parish in Trentwood, Washington, and St. John Vianney Parish in Spokane.
In other areas of the diocese, White built the Grand Coulee Dam Parish in Grand Coulee, Washington, the nurses' home and school in Colfax, Washington and Tonasket Hospital in Tonasket, Washington. For Native Americans, he established St. Gertrude Parish in Monse and St. Jude in Usk, Washington. He also established the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in the diocese.
Charles White died in Spokane on September 25, 1955, at age 76.