Rev. William R. Skarich was born in Hibbing, MN, in 1970.  He grew up in Moose Lake, MN, and graduated from Moose Lake High School in 1989.  After graduating from high school, Bill attended Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community college for a short time before transferring to St. Mary's University in Winona, MN where he attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.  He graduated from St. Mary's University with a minor in Philosophy and a BA in Youth Ministry.  After completing his university studies, he attended the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas where he received his Masters of Divinity Degree.

Fr. Skarich was ordained a Catholic Priest for the Diocese of Duluth on June 30, 1999.  His first ministry assignment was the Center City Catholic Parishes of Duluth (St. Mary Star of the Sea, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Peter's).  He then served the Brainerd Area Catholic parishes (St. Francis, St. Andrew's, St. Matthias, and St. Thomas of the Pines) for five years before receiving his first pastorate serving the parishes of Holy Spirit in Two Harbor, MN, and St. Mary's in Silver Bay.  After serving these faith communities, he was assigned as pastor to the East Range Catholic Parishes (Holy Rosary in Aurora, Queen of Peace in Hoyt Lakes and St. John's in Biwabik).  He then became pastor of St. Anthony's in Ely, St. Pius X in Babbitt and St. Martin's in Tower. He moved to Hibbing in 2020.

Fr. Skarich was introduced to law enforcement chaplaincy during his tenure at Brainerd.  On June 24, 2009, he was sworn in as a chaplain for the St. Louis County Sherriff's Office in the Ely, MN office.  In addition to the St. Louis County Sherriff's Office, Fr. Skarich serves with departments of law enforcement, Fire and EMS in HIbbing and the surrounding communitites. Father Bill is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC).