Fr. Jonathan Blake

a priest of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, un prêtre qui grandit en sagesse? Union de prière.

[Patrick Lencioni @patricklencioni]

Why do you lead?

There are only two motives:
✅ Reward
✅ Responsibility

Leadership isn’t about perks or prestige.
It’s about courage, sacrifice, and service.

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@SteveSkojec Praying for your ministry. Please pray for mine.

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

The cost of discipleship.

[Steve Skojec @SteveSkojec]

Most of us who have ever had a personal relationship with a Catholic priest know that they're weighed down with administrative burdens and meetings and councils and endless minutiae most of them never thought would be the main part of the job when they were in seminary.

But when you start to realize how much really heavy stuff they also carry -- visits to gruesome accident and crime scenes for possible last rites, dealing with suicides, informing family members of deaths, being with countless folks as they take their final breaths, talking down veterans going through a PTSD episode, dealing with substance and domestic abuse among parishioners, trying to keep folks out of the jaws of despair -- it's a LOT. The kind of stuff that can really get to a man.

Every time his phone rings, every time he gets a text or an email, it's almost always because someone wants something from him -- often something hard.

And after all that, he has to be really careful about who he allows to offer the simple kindness of giving him a reassuring hug, unless he wants to risk a possible allegation of impropriety.

A priest friend who eventually left the priesthood once told me that it's not just the loneliness, but the isolation that's so crushing. They are left alone with almost every burden. There is so much duty and so little help - especially from the chancery. And then, they have to come home to a quiet, empty rectory to sit alone with all of it.

Anything you can do to make your priest feel loved, supported, appreciated, and cared for -- not in a clericalist way with excessive deference and doting, but just as a man and a human being -- would probably be appreciated more than you know.

The simple act of checking on him once in a while to see how he's doing without asking for anything in return might just mean the world to him.

[Paul-André Durocher @padurocher]

Interdiction des prières en public : Excellente réflexion de Mgr Lépine de Montréal https://t.co/8jt9Cmm1aW

[Franciscan University @FranciscanU]

Prayer is not an escape from reality. It is the very place we meet Christ, who Himself was unjustly slain.
We will continue to pray, not because we are passive, but because we know only God can bring true justice, healing, and peace. Evil wants us to stop praying and to despair. We will not. We cling to Christ, who has conquered death.
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its effects.” -James 5:16

[Patrick Lencioni @patricklencioni]

Burnout doesn’t come from working too much. It comes from doing the wrong kind of work. The answer isn’t less work, it’s the right work. #workinggenius #burnout

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@thedianecarr Excellent. That's what I've been doing and very impressed by the comments from parishioners. Thanks for the reminder too.

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

#parishrenewal We need intentional invitations. Volunteers entering a new parish community shouldn’t have to fight to serve. Clergy, staff, and ministry leaders must actively reach out and integrate them into the life of the parish.

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

#parishrenewal Frodo, returning to the Shire after saving Middle-earth, says: “I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me.” Parishioners gave everything to their church. The parish may endure - but not for them.

[Colm Flynn @colmflynnire]

Today, on the anniversary of the 1969 Moon landing, after praying the Angelus, Pope Leo walked from his summer palace over to the Vatican Observatory to check out the telescopes at the Vatican Observatory. 🪐📷 Vatican Media

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

link: https://t.co/y3Ok8bWvmH

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

Martha’s work matters, as ours does. But true renewal begins with turning our gaze toward Jesus. It’s not about adding more to our schedules, but making space for prayer, the Sacraments, communion with one another. Without spiritual depth, everything becomes noise. #parishrenewal

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

I just handed over the keys to 3 churches, a rectory & retreat centre - and realized this isn’t just about buildings. It’s about becoming a Church that is mission-first, people-centered & ready for the next generation. #ParishRenewal

https://t.co/2HT7nUDJne

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

Great memories of scouting! 🙂👍🏕🙏

[JD Flynn @jdflynn]

Scouting recently put its 139 merit badge books online for free for anyone.

Why is this cool. Because dozens of them are small crash courses on skills you’d like to have.

This is cool for ppl who like the outdoors, or knowing a little about a lot.

https://t.co/ZpjiF412fQ

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@jdflynn "Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you!"

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

Yes!

[Villanova University @VillanovaU]

The Spring 2025 issue of Villanova Magazine is now live online! From celebrating a historic papacy election to exploring cutting-edge faculty research, this edition showcases the stories, voices and impact of the Villanova community.

Read the full issue: https://t.co/1Wjlz4zpcd

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

"woke up, fell out of bed." a day in the life [of a pastor]. what does the new incoming pastor need to know about his parish? what do i need to know about going to Cornwall. stay tuned for more details as our clergy and new pastoral appointments begin August 2025,

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@TSN_Sports This is comicon! Great commentary! 🙂

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@FrHarrison Excellent! I just finished my six months sabbatical. It was wonderful!

[Fr. Jonathan Blake @jsblake]

@rpennings "Faith, Hope, and Charity. And the greatest of these is ... prudence." Excellent. Thanks for sharing. It also reminds me of that video w Pope Leo XIV on communication.