With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Father Joachim Blonski, on Saturday, October 25th, 2025. Fr. Blonski ended his earthly journey following complications from a heart attack that he suffered after Sunday Mass at his parish in September. He was 77 years old at the time of his death, having served as a priest in the Diocese of Gallup for nearly 33 years.
Fr. Joachim Blonski, born Jan Blonski on March 30, 1948, initially came to the Diocese of Gallup in 1974 as a teacher. Before long, he entered the diocesan religious order formed by Bishop Jerome Hastrich, the Brothers of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Jan received “Joachim” as his religious name, after St. Joachim, husband of St. Anne and father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A sister order, the Sisters of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph, was also formed around this time.
While the Brothers did not last past their initial formation stages, Fr. Blonski stayed in the Diocese of Gallup and entered the seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12th, 1992. During his many years serving as a priest in the Diocese of Gallup, he served as pastor of many parishes – most recently, and until his death, of Saint John the Baptist in Saint Johns, Arizona. He also held many other Diocesan roles such as Pro-Life Director, Director of Vocations and Vicar for Clergy. Father Blonski also hosted many of our seminarians at his parishes, assisting in their formation and providing an excellent example of what it means to serve Christ and His people as a priest.
With gratitude to God for the gift that Fr. Joachim Blonski was to the faithful of the Diocese of Gallup, we ask that you continue to offer prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, as well as for the consolation of his parishioners, family and friends.
Services for Fr. Joachim Blonski are as follows:
Vigil with Rosary: Friday, October 31 at 6:00pm at St. Rita Parish in Show Low, AZ (preceding by viewing) at 5:00 pm
Funeral Mass with Rosary: Saturday, November 1 at 10:30am (Rosary) and 11:00 am (Mass) at St. John the Baptist Parish in St. Johns, AZ. There will be a viewing before at 9:00am and a burial following the Mass.
He was a wonderful priest. We met on a visit to St John’s. I was from the same town his mother lived in New Britain, CT. I never made it back to St John’s and eventually sold our summer home in Pinetop, AZ. Rest in peace Father Joachim.
Father Joe gave the best sermons I have ever remembered listening to in my life. Going to visit Concho it was a treat to look forward to mass just to hear his wonderful sermons. I wish I could have recorded his sermons they were very witty and wise. I can not listen to his sermons anymore but I have decided to simply move forward doing what I know he would have wanted us all most to do — be the best and most observant Catholic I possibly can be in what few years we all have left of this short but wonderful life made more precious and wise thanks to the hard noble work of priests such as he.