Meet Our Clergy
Father Joel Sember
Father Joel's Bio
Fr. Joel Sember was ordained a priest in 2007 for the diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He became pastor here on August 3, 2020. Prior to this assignment he served as associate pastor in Oshkosh and De Pere and pastor of three parishes in southern Oconto County. He holds a B.A. in philosophy and Catholic studies from the University of St. Thomas, a bachelor’s in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a license in sacred theology from the Pontifical University Santa Croce in Rome. He is the second-oldest of seven children. His parents live in southeast Wisconsin. Between ministry and parish meetings, Fr. Joel rides a motorcycle and paddles a kayak around great Wisconsin lakes. You can listen to his homily podcast every Sunday at PilgrimPriest.us
Father Raja Selvam
Father Raja's Bio
I am Raja Selvam – Raja means ‘king’ and Selvam means ‘wealth.’ So, by name I am a “wealthy king,” but in reality, proud to say, I am a ‘poor servant’ in the hands of God. I am a Diocesan Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai, India. Ordained in 2007 I served as Associate Pastor for three years in my home diocese, and then became Associate Editor of the Regional Catholic Weekly “Nam Vazhvu” (Our Life) run by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Tamil Nadu, India. After completing four years of my term, I was sent to the United States for my higher studies in Social communication and Media Ministry. In this regard, I had a great opportunity to be assigned as student-in-resident in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles – California and completed my both master’s degree one in ‘Systematic Theology’ from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and the other one ‘Journalism’ from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). And then, I served as an associate pastor at Mary Star of The Sea Catholic Church, San Pedro for two years. In addition to that, I also served as the director of ‘Apostleship of the Sea – Catholic Maritime Ministry’ at the port of Los Angeles for one year.
Besides my priestly academic formation at undergraduate level in Philosophy and Theology, I also hold a master’s degree in ‘Christian Studies’ from the University of Madras, Chennai – India. I am much fascinated in the field of arts – writings, music and media ministries. I have been a journalist, author, lyricist and liturgical music composer. I am an author of nineteen books, both in my mother tongue Tamil and in English, and composed 180 liturgical hymns in Tamil. It’s all available in both audio and visual format in my YouTube channel – nesam creations. For your surprise, it’s all in my mother tongue Tamil, an ancient and classical language. Every Sunday, I also write Sunday reflection (at my Facebook page – Catholic Faith Companion: A Social Media Network. Concerned with the communicative nature of witness, I am currently doing my doctoral studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
It’s been truly, my blessing to be with Fr. Joel Sember and serve you at St. John, Ss. Mary & Hyacinth and St. Wenceslaus. Though it was hard at the beginning for me as a Californian to live in this cold weather, to be honest, I am really enjoying it now. It is my first winter experience in Wisconsin, and so, I went around and took a lot of videos and pictures in the snow background.
Besides my priestly academic formation at undergraduate level in Philosophy and Theology, I also hold a master’s degree in ‘Christian Studies’ from the University of Madras, Chennai – India. I am much fascinated in the field of arts – writings, music and media ministries. I have been a journalist, author, lyricist and liturgical music composer. I am an author of nineteen books, both in my mother tongue Tamil and in English, and composed 180 liturgical hymns in Tamil. It’s all available in both audio and visual format in my YouTube channel – nesam creations. For your surprise, it’s all in my mother tongue Tamil, an ancient and classical language. Every Sunday, I also write Sunday reflection (at my Facebook page – Catholic Faith Companion: A Social Media Network. Concerned with the communicative nature of witness, I am currently doing my doctoral studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
It’s been truly, my blessing to be with Fr. Joel Sember and serve you at St. John, Ss. Mary & Hyacinth and St. Wenceslaus. Though it was hard at the beginning for me as a Californian to live in this cold weather, to be honest, I am really enjoying it now. It is my first winter experience in Wisconsin, and so, I went around and took a lot of videos and pictures in the snow background.
Deacon Andy Bures
Deacon Andy's Bio
Deacon Andrew Paul Bures was the second born of eleven children to Robert and Florence Bures. He has three brothers and seven sisters. He grew up on a small dairy farm in Deerbrook, Wi. He entered army basic training four days after high school graduation and spent the next four years on active duty. Most of this time was spent serving in Germany. Upon returning home he continued in the army reserves for the next sixteen years. During that time, he studied at St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN earning a BA in psychology and at UW Madison earning an MS in Social Work. He met his wife during this time and married after graduation in 1988. During the following ten years working as a school social worker with the Shawano-Gresham School District, Andy and Stephanie had three children, Nicholas, Emily and Jacob. In 1999 they all moved back to the farm Andy grew up on and purchased it from his parents. Since then, he has operated the farm as an organic dairy with help from an apprentice whom he is teaching to farm. During this time Stephanie taught in various schools, the children all graduated from college and Dcn Andy was ordained on May 18, 2013. He loves playing sports but is best at softball. He currently plays on a slowpitch softball team. He also really enjoys the peace and solitude of living in the country. He likes to sing and enjoys a variety of music including country, classic rock, hard rock, Christian rock, jazz and the blues. He even remembers a solo he sang in a Christmas play during second grade.