PASTOR (CLUSTER)

yblanco@scsjcluster.org

YAMID BLANCO (pronounced Jah-meed)

I was born to a strong Catholic family in a small town in East Colombia, South America. I am the youngest of five siblings. When I was about ten years old, my parents moved to a city called Villavicencio, located in the center of the country. After I finished high school, I entered the Colombian Police to study to be a Police Office. I worked with the Police for only four years. After I left the Police, I began studying law. It was during that time that I felt the calling to the priesthood. I entered the seminary in Bogota, Colombia to study to be a priest and completed my mandatory classes in philosophy. 

In 2005 I decided to leave the seminary for a year. During that time, I received a call from a Colombian priest friend who was serving in Milwaukee. He encouraged me to come to Milwaukee to study to be a priest.

On July 16, 2007, my birthday, I traveled to Milwaukee to study English for a year. In 2008, I began taking Theology classes at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners.

As a seminarian, my teaching parish was St Agnes in Butler, WI.  During that time, I was also involved with the "Capuchin Franciscan Peacemakers" with an outreach program to Milwaukee's inner city.

On May 19, 2012, I was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  In June of 2012, I was assigned as the Associate Pastor at St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg. In June of 2014 I was assigned as the associate pastor of three parishes in Burlington and Lyons (St. Mary, St Charles Borromeo, and St Joseph). In June of 2017, Archbishop Listecki appointed me as the shared pastor of St Paul the Apostle and St Louis parishes in Racine and Caledonia. I served St. Paul and St. Louis for the past seven years. 

In May of 2021, I became a citizen of the United States. I have been so blessed by God in this beautiful land which I also call now, my land. I do not speak perfect English and will probably never do because English will always be my second language, but I want you to know a thing - I am a big lover of the English language!  

My beloved St Joan of Arc and St Catherine of Alexandria, I am so happy to be your pastor. I look very much forward to serving you and helping you, with God’s grace, to get closer to God. Please know, I am your pastor but also your friend. May the Lord Jesus Christ bring us together around His Altar to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and keep us always united in one heart, one faith, and one Church in His name.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Yamid Blanco