Bishop White Seminary

All seminarians studying to be priests for the Diocese of Spokane begin the process of priestly formation at Bishop White Seminary. Located on the campus of Gonzaga University, Bishop White Seminary is the only college seminary in the State of Washington. Undergraduate students at Bishop White Seminary take advantage of the superb academic resources of Gonzaga to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. The seminary also provides a formation program for foreign-born seminarians which includes the study of English as a Second Language, as well as a pre-theology program for seminarians who already have an undergraduate degree in an area other than theology or philosophy.

Bishop White Seminary is a great blessing to our diocese. The program allows for seminarians to engage in intense personal formation and discernment in a rigorous academic environment. Bishop White Seminary has also been able to create a sense of brotherhood among our diocesan priests, most of whom have lived at Bishop White at some time during its nearly 50 year history. Moreover, the presence of our diocesan seminary on the campus of Gonzaga University is a powerful tool in fostering vocations to the priesthood. It is a shining example of the vitality of our local Church.

Advanced Study

After successfully completing the formation program at Bishop White Seminary, seminarians then move on to study theology at any one of a number of graduate-level Seminaries in the United States or Europe. Some of the graduate-level Seminaries our priests have attended include: Mt. Angel Seminary near Portland; St. Paul Seminary in Minneapolis; Catholic University of America in Washington, DC; The Josephinum in Ohio; The American College in Louvain, Belgium; and The North American College in Rome. Students spend four years in Major Seminary earning a graduate degree in theology. In addition to the academic work, seminarians also engage in pastoral work, sharpen pastoral skills, learn to preach and practice celebrating the sacraments.

The process of priestly formation is far more rigorous both spiritually and academically than many people realize. The approach to priestly formation is a holistic one which focuses on a man's spiritual, personal, academic, and pastoral needs.