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Fr. Mike grew up in Michigan City, Indiana. He is the oldest of four boys, uncle of five, and godfather of four.

He graduated from ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ in 1999 with a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy. He earned a Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame in 2001. He volunteered with the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program through 2001. For approximately eleven years, including his time in the ACE program, he taught and coached in Catholic schools before joining the Norbertines in 2011.

In the spring of 2017, Fr. Mike earned a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from the Catholic Theological Union. On May 27, 2017, he was ordained a priest. Since ordination, he has served as ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Chaplain, Vocation Director at St. Norbert Abbey, and the Chaplain for the National Shrine of St. Joseph. In the summer of 2022, he was named Pastor of ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Parish. He is humbled to serve alongside students, faculty, staff, and parishioners as we all strive to be of "one heart and one mind on the way to God."

Growing up in a small town in Northeast Wisconsin and graduating High School, Jeff pursued an associate degree in marketing and business and later joined the family business.  Throughout his 27 years in the family business, he assisted in the growth and expansion of its capabilities.  During his tenure there, Jeff served as Vice President, eventually becoming a co-owner of the company.

In 2012, Jeff left the family business to pursue a dream of owning a retail gift store with his wife and children.  Later, with a challenging economy and new prospects on the horizon, Jeff and his wife closed their business to pursue another opportunity and in 2015, Jeff accepted the Operations Manager position at the only Church-approved Marian Apparition site in the United States, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion located right here in Northeastern Wisconsin.

As an initial Operations Manager of the Shrine, Jeff was responsible for overseeing the operations of the Shrine and its activities.  During his time there, Jeff earned the respect of his colleagues, volunteers, and shrine visitors.  He ensured the fulfilment of each pilgrim and visitor’s experience and welcomed national and international speakers and dignitaries to the Shrine.  He found endless opportunities for growth and development for himself and the team members he was entrusted to lead.

Jeff recognized the need and responsibility to expand his education in leadership and administration, and in 2018 he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with an emphasis in management from Lakeland University, Sheboygan, WI. 

Most recently, Jeff has earned a certificate in Spiritual Companioning and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in pastoral studies with a concentration in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT.

Brian Fogarty was born in Decatur, Ill., and spent his childhood growing up on the family farm in the town of Mt. Zion, Ill. His father has been a church musician for more than 50 years and continues to play for Mass at the church Brian grew up in.

He received his B.M. in composition/theory from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in Nashville, Tenn. then returned “home” to the University of Illinois where he earned his M.M. It was while a student in Champaign/Urbana that he began playing the organ for Sunday Mass at the nearby parish of St. Thomas in Philo, Ill. Before long, he was directing two choirs there and teaching music at the parish elementary school. He finally came to the realization that perhaps God was calling him to serve in music ministry on a more permanent basis.

Brian has held music positions throughout the state of Wisconsin, including at St. Therese Parish (Appleton), St. Leonard Parish (Muskego), St. Richard Parish (Racine) and most recently Corpus Christi Parish in Sturgeon Bay. He lives on the West Side of Sturgeon Bay with his wife, Amy (a native of De Pere) and their four children: twins Greta and Jackson, Sebastian and Nicholas.

Brian enjoys precious time with his family, and still tries to compose a bit. In addition, he enjoys traveling, boating, reading, and is a huge fan of film and film criticism.

Jennifer (Sorensen) Rapavi was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As she grew up, she quickly fell in love with several things: family, exploring the U.P. and her Catholic faith.

Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree in both theology and catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville. However, her academic journey started at ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼, where she grew in deep appreciation of communio and radical hospitality. She strives to bring these Norbertine principles with her in every job experience, including working in parishes, international Catholic Youth Conferences and online Catholic curriculum companies.

Jennifer enjoys cooking with her husband, Joshua, going on outdoor adventures with their two children, Aaron and Sophia, painting, and traveling, specifically to reach her lifelong goal of visiting every lighthouse in Michigan.