MANSFIELD – The dream of a first grader named Gregory Hite was to someday be a priest.
It’s not a traditional career dream of children. But growing up surrounded by the clergy at Gesu Catholic Church in Toledo, it was something that Hite felt God was calling him to do.
“I had a certain feeling in my heart that that’s what the Lord was calling me to do,” said Hite, now 61 years old. “I felt there was a real energy attached to that, and I wanted to imitate that. And people were happy; they had a sense of service and they found satisfaction and fulfillment in doing the work they seemed to be very happy about doing.”
Now, Hite is preparing to celebrate 35 years in the priesthood, with his official anniversary of ordainment on Jun. 27. The anniversary will be marked with a celebration on Sunday, June 26 during 11:30 mass at St. Peter’s Church in downtown Mansfield.
“Normally we don’t make a big thing about the 35th anniversary,” Hite said. “But here at St. Peter’s it’s more of a personal way of celebrating my thanks to the Lord.”
Almost 35 years ago, at the age of 26, Hite was first ordained to the priesthood at Rosary Cathedral in Toledo. The bishop at that time was Bishop James Hoffman – interestingly enough, St. Peter’s was Bishop Hoffman’s first assignment as a young priest.
“I found it very providential that I would end up in Mansfield here at St. Peter’s 35 years after ordination,” Hite said. “Bishop Hoffman was a very special person in my life, very encouraging and a mentor for me. I’m sure he will be with us in prayer on that day, even though he is deceased now.”
Throughout his service in the priesthood, Hite has served in various assignments but all within the Diocese of Toledo. Hite first served at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky before pursuing graduate studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. for two years. He then served as associate pastor and high school principal at St. Wendelin Catholic Church in Fostoria.
From there, Hite came to Mansfield for the first time from 1994 to 1999 as pastor of St. Mary’s of the Snows on Ashland Rd. in Mansfield. He returned to Toledo to take on the presidency of a central catholic high school in Toledo, then served at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Toledo until returning to Mansfield and St. Peter’s in 2011.
Most pastors serve in a church for six years, with the possibility of a renewal for another six. Hite is currently in his fifth year at St. Peter’s, but hopes to remain longer if it is the will of the bishop.
“We have quite a few unfinished things here yet that I would like to finish at St Peter’s, and with God’s strength and the continued support of our people I will do what I can,” Hite said.
One of those unfinished projects is the renewal of the St. Peter’s campus over the next three years, driven by a capital campaign in the community. Hite said his parishioners and the Mansfield community share a common interest in taking care of St. Peter’s properties as an anchor in the center of the city.
“It’s a wonderful community of people; the people here are very generous, very kind, and very supportive,” he said. “It’s a beautiful church, and there’s a long history of service on the part of our people here, especially outreach to the community. And we’ve had a very long history of catholic education in our school system.”
The policy in priesthood allows priests to eventually retire of administrative work – now 61, Hite hopes to retire by his 70th birthday. But the work of the priesthood continues until the Lord calls you home.
“Even though I’m getting older and I’m beginning to, at times, feel the responsibility of years – I may not move as quickly, but I’m still enjoying the work. I still love being a priest,” Hite said.
“As long as I can continue to function as a priest, by God’s grace and his blessing I hope to be able to do that.”
