About Us
Our Mission and Vision
Together, we live out our mission through our shared vision for renewal, outlined in the Beacons of Light and Next Generation Parish Initiatives.
The Beacons of Light initiative, launched by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 2021, is a pastoral planning process that reorganized 208 parishes into 57 Families of Parishes beginning July 1, 2022. The goal is to move from maintenance to mission—strengthening parish life through shared leadership, collaboration, and evangelization, and become one canonical parish by July 2027. The St. Gaspar Family of Parishes—a family of six parishes—embraces this mission with the guidance of the Catholic Leadership Institute through the Next Generation Parish program. Together, these efforts are helping us discern and live out our pastoral priorities, growing as one community of faith united in discipleship and service.
Our Family
How Our Family of Parishes were Formed
A Family of Parishes is a grouping of parishes led by a common pastor and unified lay leadership, and characterized by collaboration and shared resources. A parochial vicar (or multiple parochial vicars) or retired priest may also serve in a Family of Parishes.
St. Gaspar Family of Parishes (NE-6) includes the parishes of Emmanuel, Holy Trinity, Precious Blood, St. Joseph, St. Paul, and St. Rita. We serve NW and Downtown Dayton. We were combined as a family because we are all ministered to by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood
Family Leadership Team
Pastors, in collaboration with parochial vicars, deacons, and lay ministers, according to their proper roles and charisms, share responsibility for pastoral leadership. Spiritual, physical, and mental health, along with the ongoing support of ordained and lay leaders, are vital for Families of Parishes. In accordance with the Beacons of Light guidelines, a Family Leadership Team has been established.
St. Gaspar Family of Parishes Leadership Team:
Fr. Tony Fortman: Pastor
Deacon Brian Seibert: Director of Evangelization
Marianne Pitts: Director of Music and Liturgy
Susan Seibert: Director of Stewardship
Matt Ruttle: Director of Love in Action
Robin Johnson: School Principal
Our Progress
Our Family Leadership Team continues to foster collaboration across parishes, from shared picnics and missions to coordinated sacramental celebrations. Youth and adult faith formation have been strengthened through combined OCIA, VBS, and adult enrichment programs. These visible signs of vitality reassure us that, even in transition, our Family is growing closer as one body.
Next Generation Parish
Guided Leadership
St. Gaspar Family of Parishes took a significant step forward in the Beacons of Light process by embarking on a transformative journey through the “Next Generation Parish” initiative. Under the leadership of Fr. Tony Fortman, C.PP.S., this marked a significant step forward in our journey to enhance and revitalize our parish community.
Forming our Vision and Teams
With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the expertise of the Catholic Leadership Institute, an Envisioning Team was formed, including the Pastor, staff, and parishioners. The team met to create a Pastoral Priority Plan to enhance what we do and reimagine the life of our family of parishes. An Implementation Team was formed to advance the parish plan
Goals and Priorities
Pastoral Priority Plan
The parish plan begins with our St. Gaspar Parish Family purpose, vision, and values.
Our Purpose
As a diverse, welcoming Catholic family rooted in the Precious Blood of Jesus, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we provide spiritual direction through God’s Word and His Sacraments to guide our community to live as disciples of Jesus, who share His love and Good News.
Our Vision
We will be a vibrant, worshipping, sacrificial Catholic family who loves God and sees dignity in all humanity. As we are fed by the Eucharist and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we will grow in our relationship with Jesus and serve those in our community.
Our Values
Faith
We are a people of faith responding to God’s gift by growing spiritually and living according to His Word.
Service
We are a people of action who teach and share our faith, assist those in need,
and are present within our community.
Integrity
We are a people of action who teach and share our faith, assist those in need,
and are present within our community.
Four Priorites
Implementing the Plan
The Pastoral Priority Plan, developed by the Envisioning Team, has four priorities, each with two goals, to be implemented over the next three years.
Encounter
Develop a plan for members of our St. Gaspar Family of Parishes to discover and embrace a lifelong, loving relationship with Jesus.
Goal: By encouraging our parishioners to make habits of daily prayer, scripture study, and Eucharistic adoration, Mass attendance will increase by 10% by Advent of 2027.
Goal: By Lent of 2026, we will introduce a plan that will empower our parishioners to be Christ-like with all whom they encounter.
Unity
Foster a cohesive St. Gaspar Family of Parishes that welcomes all ages and stages of faith by extending grace and acceptance to all.
Goal: By July 2026, create a sense of belonging for all ages in a supportive, encouraging, and welcoming atmosphere by scheduling six faith and fellowship events, rotating locations throughout the year, utilizing all our family facilities.
Goal: By the end of November 2025, define and unify appropriate ministries to strengthen our Christian service and outreach to our St. Gaspar family and the community.
Faith Formation
Provide pathways for all ages, youth to adult, to inform and educate about the Catholic faith to live our lives as disciples of Jesus.
Goal: By Advent of 2025, the St. Gaspar Family of Parishes will have a set of opportunities to facilitate lifelong faith formation and education that can be accessed by individuals, by small faith-sharing groups, and by larger gatherings.
Goal: During Advent 2026, 50% of parishioners will participate in a challenge to contemplate their current level of engagement in personal faith practices and their relationship with God, leading to the setting of resolutions to deepen their faith lives.
Communication
Goal: Have a communication loop, inclusive of information sharing with parishioners, and parishioners being able to give input to the St. Gaspar’s Leadership Team by July 1, 2025.
Goal: Formalize a person-to-person process for consoling the broken-hearted, and to welcome the estranged and the newcomer, by Advent 2026.
St. Gaspar Family of Parishes Implementation Team
Unity Team
Sue Seibert
Leslie Iannarino
Rick Iannarino
Charlie Gross
Faith Formation
Deacon Brian Seibert
Tanya Lee
Julie Borger
Sue Whatley
Encounter
Matt Ruttle
Michele Stoltz
Brenda Kosir
.
Communication
Deacon Mike Prier
Jennifer Smith
Greg Smith
Timothy Burneka
Pastoral Priority Plan Feedback
In February of 2024, our St. Gaspar Family of Parishes took a significant step forward in the Beacons of Light process by engaging in a transformative journey known as “Next Generation Parish.” Under the leadership of Fr. Tony and with the invaluable support of the Catholic Leadership Institute, we formed an Envisioning Team with a representative from each of our six parishes. The team has worked diligently over the past several months to create a comprehensive Pastoral Priority Plan to guide our parish community into a vibrant and sustainable future. The Pastoral Priority Plan includes our family purpose, vision, and values, which we hope will inspire and unite us all as we move forward. The details of this plan were shared on September 14/15, 2024. This form has been created to allow parishioners to provide feedback about the Pastoral Priority Plan. The team and our Pastor, Fr. Tony Fortman C.PP.S, will receive the input.