Early life

Born on April 5, 1957, in Burlington, Wisconsin, to Robert and Elizabeth Schuerman, James Schuerman grew up in Lyons, Wisconsin. He was a member of St. Joseph Parish and attended St. Joseph's Grade School, Burlington Junior High School, and Burlington High School. Schuerman has four siblings: Virginia Kalaveshi, Robert Schuerman, Jr., Theresa Schuerman and David Schuerman.^[1]

After deciding to become a priest, Schuerman entered Saint Francis de Sales Seminary College in Milwaukee in 1976, earning a bachelor's degree in 1980. After one more year at Saint Francis, Schuerman traveled to Innsbruck, Austria to attend the University of Innsbruck. He earned his Master of Theology degree at the university.^[1]

Priesthood

On May 17, 1986, Schuerman was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Rembert Weakland.^[2]

After his 1986 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Schuerman as associate pastor at St. Anthony Parish in Milwaukee. In 1992, Schuerman traveled to the archdiocesan sister parish, La Sagrada Familia in the Dominican Republic to serve as a missionary.^[3]

In August 1996, after returning to the United States, Schuerman enrolled in a graduate program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for returning missionaries. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree in spirituality. In 1997, he joined the faculty of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary as spiritual director and faculty member.^[3]

In 2009, Schuerman left Saint Francis to become administrator of St. Andrew Parish in Delavan, Wisconsin, and then pastor at St. Andrew Parish in 2010. From 2011 to 2012, he also served as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. In 2012, Schuerman became pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Bristol, Wisconsin. He continued his role in priest formation, serving as adjunct spiritual director for Saint Francis de Sales Seminary.^[3] Schuerman received the archdiocesan Vatican II Award for Service to the Priesthood in 2012.^[3]

Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

Pope Francis appointed Schuerman as an auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee on January 25, 2017.^{[4][5] [2]} On March 17, 2017, Schuerman was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, with Bishops Donald J. Hying and Richard J. Sklba serving as co-consecrators.^[3]

Schuerman speaks German and is fluent in Spanish.^[3]