Fr. Theodore Keller 1924-2017

March 18th, is the 8th anniversary of Fr. Theodore Keller’s passage to the next life. I first encountered Fr. Keller at St. Peter’s in Lexington, KY, shortly before I became a Catholic. By this time, he had been retired for seven years, but was the regular celebrant at daily Mass and occupied the confessional a few days a week prior to the Liturgy.

He retired to the parish he began in, being baptized, confirmed and ordained at St. Peter parish. He had memories of watching the church building being erected, “I kind of grew up with the building,” he stated in an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader in 2016.

His homilies were simple and straight-forward. In the confessional he was an attentive and gentle priest, leading me through contrition to absolution, with a quiet dignity.

Details of his 70 years in the ministry can be found in the links below. I will be at his graveside praying and offering my thanks to God that I knew such a loving and holy priest.


https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/kentucky/name/theodore-keller-obituary?id=16925248

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article139989868.html

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article76304332.html