I grew up in  Dickeyville, which is in the southwest corner of the state where my dad, Joe still lives.  My mother Geri died in 2020.  I have been a priest for 30 years in the Diocese of Madison and have served in multiple parishes in Madison and Janesville. Most recently, I had been the pastor of St. Dennis in Madison the last 10 years.  

I arrive as part of the “Into the Deep” new pastorate initiative of the Diocese of Madison.  It  is the hope and expectation that July 1, 2024 the parishes of Montello, Westfield, Briggsville, Portage and St. Faustina (St. Mary and St. Andrew) will merge into one ‘canonical parish.’   Only time will tell what that truly means and yet we can expect to have three priests serving this pastorate. As administrator, I will oversee this process and be looking for opportunities for the sharing of resources and ways to strengthen our Catholic faith.  Fr. Joji, Fr. Savio and I will be rotating through each of the parishes monthly.  

I look forward to sharing the Eucharist together monthly.  I love being a priest and I have come to trust the gift of priesthood and more so the  people’s love for their parish and the LORD.  Let us be patient with one another and earnestly strive to live out each day in faith.  

“Lead me where you need me”

Peace, 

I am from India and grew up in a small village(rural) Mariapuram and studied in the catholic school all my life. I was able to go to catholic school because of the missionaries especially with the help of Catechist sisters of St. Ann. I am grateful for them.

I was ordained a priest in the year 1996 and worked for 17 years in the Diocese of Warangal-India. The Diocese of Warangal is located in the south of India in the state of Telangana. I have been working in the Diocese of Madison from 2013 onwards in different parishes like St. Matthew’s, Shullsburg, Holy Rosary, Darlington, and St. Faustina, Pardeeville. I love being a priest and enjoy my ministry. As a part of the “Into the Deep” I am happy to work along Fr. Savio under the leadership of Rev. Randy J. Timmerman. I look forward to meeting you at the Eucharist.    

I THANK GOD FOR THEE

                Greetings and Prayerful wishes to you all. I am Fr. Yerasani Savio, can call me Savio. I am a priest from Diocese of Nellore, India. I am the only child for my parents. At the age of one my father died. I was brought up by the loving care of my mother. She began to work as a cook for religious sisters. I was joined in the school run by the same religious nuns. During my school days, I was inspired by the good work of one nun who is a medical doctor in the mission hospital run by the same sisters. She is very prayerful and dedicated in her work and in her mission. With her encouragement I was inspired to become a priest.

I was ordained as Priest on April 26, 2010, for the Diocese of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh State, India. I worked as associate priest in our diocese for two years in our Cathedral and in Anglo-Indian Parish. Later, as a pastor for three years in one of the remote parishes of our diocese and as personal secretary to our Bishop for two years. I am serving as an extern priest in Diocese of Madison from 2017. First three months I was at Watertown Parish and the other 9 months at Sacred Hearts Church, Sun Prairie. For the past 5 years I have been serving in Montello and Westfield Parishes.

       I started with the quote, “I thank God for thee”. Yes, it’s not just for now but all through my life.  I thank God for He has a choice for me, in creating me in His own image and likeness, in giving me good and faithful parents especially my dear loving mom, in giving me vocation to Priesthood, anointing me with the sacred Priesthood, giving me various opportunities to minister His people in my native land and sending me to this beautiful country USA.

With the beginning of this “Into the Deep”, I am delighted to be appointed as Parochial Vicar in this Pastorate No.9. As the saying goes, “the first impression is the best impression”. Every act impressed me much to live here and to do God’s work in this holy place. My special thanks to our Dear Pastor Rev. Fr. Randy, my fatherly person, who welcomes me all the time with warm love and a greeting of “Peace Brother”. I can say, he is very loving, because he asks me often, if there is anything I can do for you, feel free to ask me. Thank you, father, for your love. A great appreciation and thanks to my brother priest Fr. Joji. We both speak same language Telugu. I believe we are a good team of priests and I promise my full co-operation to our brother priests and to you the people of God.

       A very special thanks to you all dear faithful of Pastorate No.9 Parish communities, for your warm welcome. For Priests who are serving you, they are your sons and brothers and you are our dear  parents, brothers, sisters and well wishers.  Let us journey together in faith to become  successful in life and to be faithful to God.