Fr. Anthony Fortman, C.PP.S., celebrates 25 years of priesthood

Fr. Anthony Fortman was born on Jan. 22, 1970, in Lima, Ohio, and was baptized in Ottawa, Ohio, on Feb. 8, 1970. He was confirmed on May 12, 1984, in Ottawa. 

He began formation with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in August 1994, stepped away briefly, and returned in August 1995. He was incorporated as a member of the congregation on Aug. 17, 1997, at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio, and made his definitive incorporation on Dec. 3, 2000, at St. John the Baptist in Whiting, Indiana. 

Fr. Tony was ordained a deacon by Bishop Carl Moeddel on Jan. 6, 2001, at St. Charles Center, and was ordained to the priesthood by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Donnelly on July 14, 2001, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Ottawa. 

Over the past 25 years, Fr. Tony has served communities in Indiana and Ohio. He served as a deacon at St. John the Baptist in Whiting, Indiana, and later as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Cleveland from 2001 to 2004. He subsequently ministered in the St. Henry Cluster in Mercer County, Ohio, where he also worked part time with the Vocation Office and served as temporary parish administrator in 2008. 

Fr. Tony served as pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Glandorf, Ohio, from 2009 to 2021. He also served the congregation as provincial councilor from 2010 through 2018. He is currently the pastor of the St. Gaspar Family of Parishes in Dayton, which includes Precious Blood, St. Rita, St. Paul, St. Joseph, Emmanuel, and Holy Trinity. 

Throughout his priesthood, Fr. Tony has carried forward the charism of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood through pastoral service, prayer, and commitment to the Church’s mission. On this 25th anniversary of his ordination, we recognize his years of ministry and offer our gratitude for his service. 

“We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” Luke 17:10