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 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]