From the Desk of Father Jason - December 28, 2025

Dear Saint Francis Xavier Parishioners,

This weekend is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. When I think of the Holy Family, I think of perfection. Jesus is sinless. Mary is sinless. Joseph is a saint. When I compare the Holy Family to my family of origin, we were and are not so perfect.

Throughout my time here, I have made reference to my family. I am the son of Douglas and Betty Blahnik. My dad was from Algoma, and my mother is from Manitowoc. My dad died several years ago back when I was working in campus ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. After his death, my mom moved from Door County to Bellevue. So, she lives just down the street.

I have an older brother and a younger sister. That makes me the middle child, for all the baggage that comes with that. My brother is married and they have four children. They live in Bellevue. My sister is single and lives in Minneapolis.

My family was far from perfect. It still is. But just because we fall short of the Holy Family does not mean that God does not work in my family. In my family, I was given life. In my family, I was nurtured and taught right from wrong. In my family, I received faith in the Lord God through Jesus Christ. God works in and through my family.

My guess is that your family is not perfect as well. Sometimes we think that because we lack perfection, God would not work there. But He does. Families, no matter how they are formed, can be structures of grace.

The Holy Family is a model for our family, no matter how they look. All we need to do is let the grace of God into our families.

Also, I want to wish you a very good year in 2026.

Sincerely through Jesus,

Fr. Jason