Fr. Scott Emerson, JCL

Fr. Scott Emerson, JCL

Pastor

Fr. Scott Emerson was named pastor at St. Maria Goretti on January 10, 2021 by Bishop Donald Hying. Since 2019, Fr. Scott has served St. Maria Goretti faithfully as parochial administrator. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 2015, by Bishop Robert Morlino at St. Maria Goretti.

He grew up in Spring Green, Wisconsin on a dairy farm and attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Spring Green, St. Luke Catholic School in Plain and River Valley High School in Spring Green.

He has a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University in Milwaukee. He attended seminary at the American College of Leuven in Belgium and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Following his ordination to the priesthood, he served as Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Wisconsin Dells.

Later, he was appointed Parochial Administrator at the linked parishes of Holy Family in La Valle, St. Boniface in Lime Ridge, and St. Patrick in Loreto. While serving those parishes, Fr. Scott initiated and oversaw the interior demolition and renovation of the entire parish rectory, along with a new landscaping plan of the grounds. The parish's sacramental records were updated and the finances were rectified.

Fr. Scott also served as Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Reedsburg. Following his time there, he returned in Rome to continue his graduate studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

In 2018, he served as the Priest Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Morlino before his passing in November 2018. He currently serves as a Judge on the Tribunal for the Diocese of Madison. St. Maria Goretti is Fr. Scott's sixth priestly assignment in five years.

In his free time, Fr. Scott enjoys reading, cooking, and hunting.

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