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Priests & Clergy

 Pastor: Fr. Patrick Burns

Phone: 262-377-1070 ext. 325
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Fr. Patrick Burns grew up in Fox Point prior to moving to Mequon in the mid-1990s. He is the third of four children. After graduating from high school, Fr. Patrick went on to study for two years at Cardinal Stritch University. From there, he transferred to Loyola University in Chicago where he entered into college seminary. He completed a BA in philosophy in preparation for major (graduate level) seminary. His major seminary formation took place at St. Francis de Sales Seminary on the south side of Milwaukee. While there, he completed his Masters in Divinity from Sacred Heart School of Theology and provided ministry to St. Veronica Parish in Milwaukee. After Fr. Patrick was ordained a priest in May of 2013, he began his first assignment at St. Charles Parish in Hartland, Wisconsin. His time there was a great joy and a gift for him. He met many lifelong friends and learned many vital lessons on living out the priesthood today.

In 2016, Fr. Patrick enthusiastically took on his new assignment as associate pastor of St. Francis Borgia. In 2017, he was named administrator of the parish and in 2018 was named pastor. Fr. Patrick looks forward to helping the people of the parish and the community to come to know Christ more deeply every day.

 

 

Associate Pastor: Fr. Matthew Ferch

Phone: 262-377-1070 ext. 350

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Fr. Matthew Ferch is the new associate pastor, ordained in May of 2022. Fr. Ferch grew up in Wauwatosa and attended school and church at St. Agnes, in Butler WI. He went on to study at St. Norbert College in DePere and double majored in Political Science and Theology. During college, he was involved in his college parish and campus ministry while discerning a vocation to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Before entering the Seminary, he was active in a post-graduate service community sponsored by the Norbertines, where he worked in various parishes in Green Bay. Fr. has ministry work experience with many organizations including Catholic Charities, the Newman Center at UW Milwaukee and St. Camillus. He reflects that his most impactful experience while at St. Francis de Sales Seminary was a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, venerating many holy sites, including the place of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. Fr. Mathew Ferch is excited to begin this new chapter of his life and is looking forward to getting to know parishioners of St. Francis Borgia.

 

 

 

Deacon Kevin Tanel

 Deacon Kevin Tanel was recently ordained a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and will be at St. Francis Borgia for the summer.  He grew up in Mukwonago, and attended St. Theresa of Avila in Eagle with his family. Deacon Kevin  first heard God call him to the priesthood at a young age and the aspiration grew as he got older, particularly during high school and while attending discernment retreats at the seminary. During one retreat, he had a profound experience during Eucharistic adoration that confirmed the desire for priesthood was from God. Deacon Kevin spent four years of college seminary at Loyola University Chicago, where he received a bachelors’ degrees in philosophy and psychology. After graduating from the college seminary, he entered St. Francis de Sales Seminary. Next year he will be ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Deacon Kevin looks forward to that day and serving St. Francis Borgia  as deacon.

 

 

 

Seminarian Brady Gagne

Brady grew up going to mass at St. Peter’s parish in Slinger. He attended high school at St. Mary’s Springs in Fond du Lac, where he was a part of the school’s hockey team. He went to college at the University of Mary for a year. Brady had been considering the priesthood from a young age. After his first year of college, he decided to enter the college seminary which brought him to Loyola University in Chicago for a year and then to St. Mary’s University in Winona for another two years. He now attends St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee, taking classes at Sacred Heart School of Theology. Brady has greatly enjoyed his time at St. Francis Borgia so far and looks forward to serving the parish in the future.