Bluffton's St. Mary Catholic Church welcomes the Rev. Kyle Gase
15 minutes with new full-time resident pastor
By Marlena Ballinger
St. Mary Catholic Church in Bluffton has welcomed its first-ever resident pastor, the Rev. Kyle Gase. Gase began his priestly assignment to Bluffton on July 1, 2026, after former Bluffton pastor, the Rev. John Murray, CSsR, was reassigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Kansas City, Missouri. Murray was a Redemptorist priest assigned to Bluffton in 2023.
Where are you from and where did you grow up?
I grew up in a country home between Fostoria and New Riegal, Ohio. My home parish is St. Wendelin Catholic Parish in Fostoria and my family’s parish was St. Peter Catholic Parish in Alvada, Ohio. That parish closed in 2005. My dad is a semi-retired LPN, and my mom has always been a stay-at-home mom. Both of them still live in the house where I grew up. I am actually an only child!
What excites you the most about coming to Bluffton St. Mary Parish and being its first-ever resident pastor?
St. Mary’s has a very unique history. Most parishes have had a pastor living in the parish full-time. My predecessor Fr. John Murray, CSsR, and the prior three pastors from the Redemptorist religious order maintained their residence at St. Gerard Parish in Lima.
Prior to them, St. Mary’s was served by Sr. Yvonne Fischer and Sr. Carol Inkrott as pastoral leaders, but the priestly sacramental life of the parish was provided by a constant rotation of visiting priests.
I am excited to begin this new chapter of St. Mary’s by bringing a constant presence of a full-time pastor. It is an exciting time in the history of St. Mary’s, and it speaks volumes to the dedication and commitment of the parishioners who were instrumental in growing St. Mary’s to the point where a full-time resident pastor is now needed.
What other Catholic parishes have you served in, and where was your first priestly assignment?
I was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Toledo by Bishop Daniel Thomas on May 26, 2018. My first assignment was right up the road from Bluffton as the Associate Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel in Findlay, Ohio. (Fun fact: when I was in Findlay, I came to St. Mary’s in Bluffton once to fill in for Saturday evening confessions and Mass) I was in Findlay from 2018 to 2020. I served at Immaculate Conception Parish in Bellevue, Ohio, from 2020 to 2022, and from 2022 until my arrival in Bluffton, I served as the Associate Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Perrysburg, Ohio.
What is your favorite thing about being a Catholic Priest?
I love celebrating the sacraments and being involved in the lives of the people I serve. As a priest, I have the privilege of being present for all the highs and lows of life: baptisms, funerals, graduation parties, weddings and much, much more. Throughout all, I have the privilege of being able to help those I serve realize how much God loves them and walk with them on their journey towards heaven.
Can you explain a little bit about your discernment?
I started taking my faith very seriously when I was a sophomore in high school. I became more involved in my parish, and I started having a fascination with the priesthood. I didn’t really act on it, but instead kept pushing it to the side. It wasn’t until after I was in high school for a few years that I finally gave in and gave the seminary a try. There is a common misconception that seminary is only for studying; academics are certainly a big part of it, but seminary is really the place where a young man can intensely devote himself to figuring out whether God is calling him to the priesthood. Once that discernment is complete…well…then you just stay in seminary and focus more on preparing for the priesthood.
Where did you go to college and seminary?
After graduating from high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I worked full-time for a medical supply distribution company in Tiffin while I discerned God’s will for my life. The thought of being a priest was nagging at me in the back of my mind, so I decided to give it a try. I applied for affiliation with the Diocese of Toledo as a seminarian, and I entered the seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus as an undergraduate. I was there for four years and received my BA in Philosophy. From there, the bishop at the time, Bishop Leonard Blair, sent me to graduate studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. I was there for five years (although one year was spent on an internship at a parish in Toledo). I graduated from Mount St. Mary’s with my Master of Divinity. The entire time in seminary, however, was spent discerning whether the priesthood is God’s will for my life.
Have you traveled anywhere interesting?
Probably the most interesting place I have traveled to was in 2016 when I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was awesome and really made the Scriptures come alive to me.
Editor’s Note: The Holy Land is known as the place where Jesus lived throughout His life. Geographically, it includes Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am a big fan of Ohio State football, IndyCar racing, and music (listening, not playing).
What is your favorite cookie?
Definitely chocolate chip. It’s a classic, and for good reason.
Is there anything that you’d like to add?
I am so grateful to be here at St. Mary Catholic Parish in Bluffton, and I look forward to being here for a long time. I have received a very warm welcome, and I am so grateful for it!
