Fr. Keith Stripe
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Fr. Keith Stripe. I am 61 years old and have been a priest for 28 years. I grew up in Van Wert, Ohio. My immediate family consists of 3 older sisters, an older brother, and a twin sister. All are married with adult children. My parents are deceased. I went to St. Mary grade school in Van Wert and then to public high school. After high school, I followed my brothers’ footsteps. I graduated from BGSU with a degree in Management and immediately took a job as a buyer with NCR (National Cash Register) working in Dayton, Atlanta and Cambridge, Ohio. My practice of the faith continued throughout this time in varied ways. I worked with youth, helped the poor and homeless, and was member of a Catholic young adult group. It was during my time in Cambridge that I met the diocese of Toledo’s Vocation Director – Fr. Mike Hohenbrink. For many years, I had put off responding to the call to priesthood. Finally, in 1985 I made contact with Fr. Mike. (Sometime I will tell you about him leaving me stranded in a snowstorm after a meeting Mansfield… a fact that I do not let him forget….not that I am bitter or anything!) Seriously, I have the utmost respect for Fr. Mike. He helped me a great deal and soon I left my job, began my studies at St. Meinrad Seminary and was ordained in 1996. My previous assignments have been Associate Pastor of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Associate Pastor St. Mary in Tiffin, Associate Pastor St. Michael in Findlay, Pastor Immaculate Conception in Bellevue, Pastor St. Joseph Maumee, and Pastor St. Ignatius in Oregon/Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bono. All are great parishes in their own right. (By the way Msgr. Metzger, your pastor for many years, was my first pastor at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns. I have lots of stories…but many of them are the ways he set a great example of priesthood and helped me learn how to some day be a pastor). Now, I have come to West Toledo! I look forward to many years of service with you and I thank you for the warm welcome extended to me. I pray that we can together build another fine piece of the kingdom of God.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Keith
