Northcote, Camberwell, West Preston, Dandenong, Newport, South Camberwell, VIC; Sydney NSW. Pastor Emeritus (PE).

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A life spent spreading the faith. Thomas White, 1923-2009 [includes photograph], Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 2009, https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-life-spent-spreading-the-faith-20091202-k66u.html, accessed 1 September 2026:

Early in his life, in Ireland, Thomas White felt called to become a missionary, inspired by stories of his mother's brother, Father Tom Haugh, an Oblate priest who spent most of his life in Australia.

White studied for the priesthood at St Patrick's, Carlow College and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Melbourne on June 6, 1948.

The next year, he worked his way to Australia as a chaplain on a migrant ship. Archbishop Daniel Mannix of Melbourne had sent him £149 for his fare, and when he learnt that White had earned his passage, he requested the prompt return of the money.

Thomas Augustine White was born at Kilfadda in County Tipperary, on August 17, 1923, the third son of Edward Whyte and his wife, Delia Haugh. At some point the family's name, Whyte, was changed to White in an official spelling but no one remembers now why the family didn't protest and instead simply adopted the change. The family eventually included a senator in the Irish Parliament, two priests and two nuns.

Father White's first assignment in Australia was to the parish of St Joseph, Northcote, as assistant to his fellow countryman, Father Daniel Coakley, an elderly, stern and eccentric man.

Father White rode a bike around Northcote, visiting 12 families a day. He became involved with the youth groups in the parish, and the young people found in his companionship, optimism and fun a whole new image of priesthood and church.

Eventually, his work was such that he asked for permission to buy a car, but Father Coakley maintained that ''young fellows are better off padding the hoof''. The local doctor, George Cashmore, wrote to Archbishop Mannix, explaining that the young priest was biking the hills of Northcote, doing 60 calls a week, and if he was going to last in the job, he should have a car. With permission granted, Father White arranged a loan and finally got an Austin.

With the help of the Legion of Mary, a parish outreach group, Father White also set up his first Catholic Enquiry class in the tennis pavilion in Northcote.

As well, he continued his visiting, street by street, and by the time he moved to his next parish, Our Lady of Victories in Camberwell, he and his team of helpers were credited with helping a hundred enquirers in one year to embrace the faith.

In fact, Father White was so successful that in 1958 he was sent to England to study the English "Catholic Enquiry Centre". The following year, he was sent to Sydney and was a founding director of the Australian Catholic Enquiry Centre in Maroubra (it is now in St Leonards), which was designed to help non-Catholics, particularly those marrying Catholics, who wanted to learn more about Catholicism.

Father White established a great network of sponsors and helpers at the centre. He also put advertisements in the media, inviting people to make contact with the centre.

Father White loved those days at the centre. The questions people asked taught him openness to new insights and perspectives. One such challenge led to his lifelong commitment to charismatic renewal in the church.

During the 1960s he also enjoyed meeting the Australian bishops on their return through Sydney from Rome, bringing news of all the debates of the Second Vatican Council. He asked Archbishop Guilford Young of Hobart if he thought the council signalled the end of the post-reformation period. Archbishop Young replied: "It is much deeper than that. This is the beginning of the end of the Constantinian era!"

Returning to Melbourne in 1972, Father White re-entered parish life with enthusiasm and, among other postings, was for some years priest again at St Joseph's, Northcote. He was renowned for his preaching and was often seen moving earnestly in front of the congregation, Bible in left hand and right hand raised high as he spoke with joy and power.

Father White retired in 1999. He enjoyed his gardening and continued to minister to those in need. A pastoral associate, Mary Baldock, who had worked with him for many years, continued to care for him when his health declined.

Father White is survived by family in Ireland and Britain, including his brother Liam and his wife Kathleen, his sister Dolores, who is a sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary order, niece Bernadette and her children, Marian, William and Ross.
Doreen Dunlop