Meet the Staff

Fr. Brian grew up in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  After attending the  University  of  Wisconsin,  he remained in Madison and worked for a member of the State Assembly for three years. Fr. Brian then returned to  graduate  school  and  earned  a 
Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration. Prior  to  entering  the  seminary  in  1999,  Fr.  Brian worked for 13 years for the UW at both the Wisconsin Alumni Association and in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. He studied at St. Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. 

He was ordained May 23, 2003 (along with Fr. Jay) by Bishop William Bullock at St. Raphael Cathedral.  Since ordination, Fr. Brian has served as and associate pastor  at  Our  Lady  Queen  of  Peace,  St.  Joseph  and  St.  Dennis  parishes.    As  a  pastor,  he  has  served  at  St.  Henry  and  St.  Bernard  parishes  in  Watertown,  St. Joseph in Fort Atkinson, St. Mary in Palmyra and St. Bernard in Middleton. 

Fr. Jay grew up on the East Side of Madison.  He  attended  St.  Raphael Grade  School,  Edgewood  High School, the University of Wisconsin (Journalism)  and  MATC  (auto  mechanics).  Answering  the  call  to priesthood,  he  received  a  MDiv. from Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. He was ordained May 23, 2003 by Bishop William Bullock. He served as an associate pastor at St. Maria Goretti parish from  2003-2008,  and  as  pastor  at  St.  Joseph,  Fort  Atkinson,  and  St.  Mary,  Palmyra,  from  2008-2011 and St. Joseph, Baraboo, from 2011-2023.
 

Msgr.  Jim  Gunn  grew  up  on  a Dairy  farm  in  Janesville,  Wisconsin,  with  his  parents,  Kevin  and Rosemary  (Beggs)  Gunn  and  his siblings,  Michael  (deceased),  Joan Pruefer,  Joseph,  Kathleen,  and Kevin.  He attended Saint William 
and Saint Patrick Grade Schools in Janesville and then attended  High  School  at  Holy  Name  Seminary  in  Madison.    He  also  attended  Holy  Name  Seminary, Edgewood  College,  Saint  Francis  de  Sales  College, and  studied  at  Saint  Francis  de  Sales,  School  of  Pastoral Ministry and received a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained on June 3, 1977 by Bishop 
Cletus  O’Donnell  at  Saint  Raphael  Cathedral,  Madison. His assignments have included Saint Stanislaus, Berlin, Saint Joseph, Fort Atkinson, Holy Name Seminary, Madison, Vocation Director, Holy Ghost, Dickeyville, Saint Joseph, Edgerton, and Saint John the Baptist & Saint Mary of the Lake, Waunakee.

Deacon Mark was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in April 1989 - having been called to ministry by the people and staff of St. Mary of Vernon Parish, near Vernon Hills, Illinois. He was based at SMV until he and his wife recently moved to Wisconsin. He has been involved in a wide range of ministries before and after ordination. His focus in recent years - in addition to sacramental duties - has been facilitating an RCIA program and running an unemployment ministry. Mark and his wife Carol live in Fitchburg and have three adult children.