Fr. Andrew Torma celebrates the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination on Friday, June 12, 2026 with a mass at DeSales University Connelly Chapel in Center Valley, PA at 4:00 pm. There is a reception following at 5:00 pm at the University Center.
Please join us in prayer as we express our appreciation for Fr. Andrew’s many years of service through the priesthood, and may God continue to bless him in his vocation.
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- Fr. Torma’s family
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- Fr. Torma and his parents
About Father Andrew
Father Andrew Torma, MSC, was born in Ashtabula, OH, on May 20, 1949, to Leonie and Joseph Torma and is the sixth child of eleven. Both his parents had attempted consecrated lifestyle. For various reasons, both had to leave that calling. Each night they prayed the family rosary together. They went to Sunday Mass together. Often he went with his father to daily Mass
When he was in 2nd grade, his teacher had asked the class to write about what they wanted to be when they grew up? Fr. Andy wrote that he wanted to be a priest. Being dyslexic, he wasn’t sure of the spelling of “priest”. He often reversed the “i” and “e” and so, he asked the girl sitting next to him but she wasn’t sure either. So he is sure he was thinking about his vocation as early as 2nd graded.
He graduated from St. Joseph’s Parochial School in Ashtabula. In August of 1963, he entered Sacred Heart Mission Seminary in Geneva, IL, from which he graduated in May, 1967. He then attended De Paul University, Chicago, IL, the 1967-68 school year. In September, 1968, he began three years, 1968-69, 1970-72, of college at Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, Center Valley, PA, to which the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart had transferred the college seminary formation program. He entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart at Shelby, OH, in August, 1969, and made his first profession of vows on August 15, 1970. He received his B.A. in history in June, 1972, from Allentown College. In that year he entered Catholic Theological Union in Chicago to receive a Master of Divinity Degree to complete his education and formation for ordination to the priesthood. A very significant experience during my formation was three months in the summer of 1974. The Provincial Council had established the program for our professed Theologians to spend a summer with our missionaries in Bogota, Colombia both to learn Spanish as well as experience missionary life. This was a three-month immersion into another culture and country. It widened my horizons and introduced me to another culture. This was a very significant formation event. Father Andrew Torma was ordained a priest by Bp. Wm. A. Hughes, D.D., at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown, OH, on June 19, 1976.
He was first assigned as a chaplain at the Rhode Island Mental and Geriatric Hospitals, Cranston, RI. Fr. Andy served at least 7 parishes across the USA and was appointed to Watertown, NY where he became the pastor of OurLady of the Sacred Heart Parish.
In 1985, he received a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, Omaha, NE. In 1986, he was appointed vice-rector of Junipero Serra House seminary formation program for the diocese of San Bernardino. Other services include chaplain for Naim, a group for widows and widowers, Assistant Director of Formation for the MSC pre-novitiate program in Texas and Vocation Director of the USA province.
Throughout his priestly life, Fr. Andy has been a team priest for worldwide Marriage Encounter, Engaged Encounter and Retrouvaille. He has also acted as a director for Life’s Healing Journey retreats.
Fr. Andy is especially interested in photography which is evident with his dozens of photo albums. He also enjoys gardening and travel.
