Weekend Wisdom - July 6th, 2025

Dear Parishioners of St. Francis and St. Mary Parishes,

My name is Father Jason Blahnik. I go by Father Jason. I am the administrator of St. Francis Xaiver Parish. I have been a priest for 16 years.

I am originally from Fish Creek in Door County. I attended Stella Maris Parish in Egg Harbor (at the time it was St. John the Baptist). I went to Gibraltar School for elementary, middle, and high school. I attended the University of Arkansas for college and have a bachelor's degree with majors in economics and history.

During my time my sophomore year of college, I had a profound conversion to Jesus Christ and His Church. Before that, I had fallen away from the Catholic faith. By the time I finished college I felt the need to go to seminary to explore the possibility of becoming a priest of Jesus Christ.

I went to seminary at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I graduated with a master’s degree in divinity and a baccalaureate in sacred theology. I was ordained a deacon the summer of 2008 and a priest on January 3, 2009, the Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus.

My first assignment was as the parochial vicar of St. Raphael Parish in Oshkosh. I then served as the administrator of two parishes: St. Ambrose in Wabeno and St. Mary of the Lake in Lakewood with mission sites in Silver Cliff and Crooked Lake.

After two years as an administrator, I was made the Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh at the Newman Center. I was in that position for seven years.

The last five years I have been one of the parochial vicars at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc.

I am so pleased to be serving as the priest for Saint Francis Xavier Parish. I look forward to walking with you to Jesus Christ in His Church.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason