Bishop of Marquette
John F. Doerfler was born on November 2, 1964, in Appleton, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Green Bay. He attended the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy (1987). Later, as a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1991). He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Green Bay on July 13, 1991. Subsequently, he earned a Licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America (1997) in Washington, D.C., followed by a Licentiate (1999) and a Doctorate (2007) in Moral Theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C. Following his ordination, he served as parochial vicar at Saint John Nepomucene Parish in Little Chute (1991–1995) and at Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral (1997–1999); he also served as Vice-Chancellor (1998–2005), Defender of the Bond (1997–1999), and Tribunal Judge (1999–2004). Additionally, he served as administrator of the Cathedral and of the Holy Trinity parish in Casco/Slovan and Saint John parish in Green Bay, and was Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Robinsonville (2009–2012). He has served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Green Bay since 2005. He is currently a member of the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council of Green Bay, and an adjunct professor at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. In addition to English, he speaks Italian and Spanish.