Rev. Fr. Vincent Brewer is joining us from St. Olaf Parish, DeForest and St. Joseph Parish, East Bristol where he has been the pastor for the last 5 years. Fr. Vincent… “is a war veteran with radio, telecommunications and sales experience who loves scuba diving and rides a Harley Davidson…
An atypical background perhaps for a priest, Brewer believes his decades of life experience makes him more real and relatable to his parishioners.
Relatively new to his priesthood vocation, Brewer was ordained by the Madison Diocese in May 2013. He spent his first year at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church in Sun Prairie followed by one year as parochial vicar at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish in Madison.
“Joining the priesthood always seemed like a possibility for me,” said Brewer. “It just took me a while to get there.” https://www.hngnews.com/deforest_times/community/article_309fd3b4-6862-11e5-b13f-ab3f43324baa.html)
Fr. Vince has an undergraduate degree in Telecommunication Management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He has more than 12 years of combined service in the US Navy, Army National Guard and Air National Guard. He worked for almost 10 years in the telecommunications industry as an IT manager before entering the seminary.
Fr. Vince attended Blessed John XXIII National Seminary (now called Pope St John XXIII Seminary) outside of Boston, MA receiving a Master of Divinity degree in 2013.
In the four months of priesthood before coming to Watertown in November 2021, I have been edified and humbled to witness God’s powerful interventions into the lives of His children. I have come to better understand the priesthood as the ministry of reconciliation of all men and women through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, to God the Father. I have seen this reconciliation take place so beautifully in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession. I am excited to invest into the Watertown community and to see what the Lord providently brings. Please pray for me as I will be praying for all of you!
Hobbies/Interests: Although I don’t get the chance very often, I enjoy camping, backpacking and mountain climbing. I was the president of the rock-climbing club in college, and I’ve hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I grew up playing hockey but also gave cross country, frisbee, basketball and soccer a try. Running and frisbee have stayed with me the longest. I pretend that I like to read, but really, I enjoy talking about ideas rather than reading about them.
Family: I was born and raised in Oregon, WI. My parents are originally from Milwaukee but went to UW-Madison, where they settled down. I am the third out of four children, with an older brother and sister, and a younger sister. I went to public school through fifth grade, but then attended catholic school through high school.
Education: Bachelors of Arts in Theology and Classical Studies from Seton Hall University; Pontifical Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.