New priest for local Archdiocese: Meet Rev Maurice White

On March 19, Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rev Maurice White, 40 will become a diocesan priest. The Catholic News put a few questions to Rev White.

Q: How are you feeling as you anticipate your ordination?

A: I’m feeling quite ready, excited, immense joy, deep gratitude, a sense of fulfilment, and a bit nervous about the day itself, the logistics and all that comes with it.

Q: Can you describe your journey to priesthood? When did you know for certain you had a calling?

A: My journey to the priesthood started in a stable Catholic home where my family prayed the rosary nightly and we had a weekly commitment to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

At an early age, I was taught to have a true appreciation for the interior life. Additionally, there were many religious men and women who were influential in the life of our family. They were great models and witnesses.

Fast forward to my late twenties, I started to mature emotionally and spiritually, and I experienced a deep moral and spiritual conversion. Through intense discernment and a renewal in my life in the Spirit in 2014, I came to realise that God called me to priesthood.

However, one event that stands out was when my friend asked me to get a priest to give the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to his dying grandmother and Bishop Emeritus Malcom Galt willingly and joyfully accompanied me all the way from Port of Spain to Sangre Grande.

It was then that I came to the understanding that I could sacrifice my life for God and His people.

Bishop Galt, also on many a car ride, discussed vocations with me and helped me to discern God’s call on my life. In 2015, I entered the Dominican Order to become a religious brother and after discerning and going on a couple “come and sees”, I left my teaching vocation to go to Ireland to study philosophy and theology. However, in 2020 and in the height of the pandemic, I further discerned through the help of supportive priests, religious, lay persons, family, and friends, that my call was to the diocesan way of life.

I moved back to Trinidad and was given the opportunity to work at the Youth Commission while I further discerned before entering the Seminary of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs (SJVUM). At the seminary, I completed my theological studies and engaged in a substantial amount of pastoral work.

Benefitting from a robust human, spiritual, pastoral, and intellectual formation at the seminary, I allowed myself to be open to the formation that was offered which led me to the diaconate and finally priesthood.

Q: Were there any moments when you experienced doubt that this was the path you were called to? If yes, how did you overcome them?

A: There were times when I experienced doubt. There were many struggles and challenges, especially being in a foreign country away from the support system of family and friends. I felt quite lonely at times.

However, through persistent prayer and the unfailing support of family and friends who would make trips to visit or call and check in on me, I made it through.

At the seminary in Trinidad, I was most grateful for the human formation programme which helped me in the areas of emotional intelligence, celibacy, time management and leadership. These topics were never discussed in the early part of my formation, and this helped me with some of my challenges which enabled me to become a much more authentic, integrated, and happy human being, comfortable in my own skin and much better at communicating with others.

Q: What were some of the high points of your training that you recall?

A: There were many high points throughout my formation. For instance, seeing Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in 2018; my visits to Lourdes, Fatima, and Jerusalem; being invited to write various Gospel reflections for our own prestigious The Catholic News and Scripture in Church, forming deep friendships with beautiful people from various countries around the world, learning about and experiencing different types of cultures and spiritualities and receiving a sound theological and pastoral education at SJVUM.

Q: What vision do you have for your priesthood? What major things do you want to focus on?

A: The vision I have for my priesthood is to be a servant to all first and foremost. At my diaconate ordination, I felt my thank you speech to be quite programmatic. I spoke to young people about living a life of beatitude and happiness, which can never become a reality unless and until one is prepared to make the interior journey to discern God’s call for one’s life. I want to help young people achieve this.

Additionally, at the start of this year, I also found myself reflecting upon the poor and the sick and being called to love them in a deeper way. In fact, being challenged to become poor myself.

I would love to see what shape my ministry to the poor would assume. I want to focus on the poor, the youth, the sick and anyone whom God’s Spirit leads me to share the Good News of salvation and to help be a sign of God’s Kingdom and make it visible here and now amongst us.