Fr. Valentyn was installed as pastor of SS. Edward & Isidore Parish on Saturday
By William Van de Planque | On Mission
Photography by Benjamin Wideman | For On Mission
FLINTVILLE, WI — Fr. John Girotti, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Green Bay, on behalf of Bishop David Ricken, installed Fr. Scott Valentyn as pastor of SS. Edward & Isidore Parish in Flintville on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
“This is a very special moment in the life of a diocesan priest,” Fr. Girotti said at the pastor installation. “We go through seminary, and we discern what it would be like to maybe someday shepherd a parish; maybe to someday lead God’s holy people.”
Bishop Ricken was under the weather and unable to attend the pastor installation. Fr. Girotti was the main celebrant of the Mass, with Fr. Valentyn concelebrating and Deacon Peter Gard serving as well.
Bishop Ricken sent his regrets that he was unable to come, Fr. Girotti said.
“Bishop Ricken sends his love to each of you, his support for your beautiful parish, and for the blessing of Fr. Scott,” Fr. Girotti said. “So let’s join together and pray, especially for Fr. (Valentyn), and for all of us that we may follow the way of the Lord Jesus more closely.”
Fr. Valentyn has been serving the community of SS. Edward and Isidore Parish as an administrator since July 2024. During that time, he has also served as the defender of the bond for the tribunal at the Diocese of Green Bay, a role that ensures canon law is observed during annulment processes.
Fr. Valentyn was born and raised in Little Chute and entered seminary for the Diocese of Green Bay after his second year attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spent four years studying theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome before his priestly ordination on June 25, 2016.
Fr. Valentyn’s first assignment was to serve as a parochial vicar at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard, where he served as a seminarian two years prior.
He said that he and Fr. Girotti “both had a great mentor in Fr. John Bergstadt, who was the pastor at St. John the Baptist (Parish in Howard) for years.”
“My hope and my prayer, as we both learned so much from him about how to be a pastor (and) how to love the people entrusted to you, (is to) be a fraction of as good as Fr. John Bergstadt was,” Fr. Valentyn said.
Fr. Valentyn served under Fr. Bergstadt during his time as a parochial vicar, and Fr. Girotti served under Fr. Bergstadt as a seminarian.
Fr. Bergstadt passed away last April at the age of 83.
Fr. Valentyn spent three years at St. John the Baptist Parish and was then appointed administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawano, where he served for four years.
Before coming to SS. Edward and Isidore Parish, Fr. Valentyn spent a year finishing a licentiate in Canon Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Fr. Girotti has been “a great mentor” of Fr. Valentyn’s since he was in seminary, he said.
“Fr. Scott has proven to be a wonderful shepherd of souls, and because of this, Bishop (Ricken) is now going to bring him to the office of the Church called pastor, which brings with it joys and responsibilities,” Fr. Girotti said.
