The Reverend John Blossom was ordained as a transitional Deacon in 1973 by The Right Reverend William Litchfield after two years preparation by The Commission on Ministry of The Diocese of Quincy.
In June of 1974 The Right Reverend Donald J. Parsons (former dean of Nashotah House) ordained Father Blossom a priest of The Episcopal Church. Father Blossom was ordained for special ministry to the church as a non-stipendiary priest. He has served The Church for fifty years without financial compensation.
Father Blossom’s first cure was as priest in charge of an inner city parish in Peoria, Illinois for four years. When the church was demolished for urban renewal he served another inner city parish for two years as an assistant.
Father Blossom then served as priest-in-charge of a start up parish in Quincy, Illinois for four years. He next served as a staff member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Peoria for over ten years. After receiving an MBA degree in church management from The Graduate Theological Foundation he served the Cathedral parish as Canon Evangelist. Canon Blossom is an Associate Alumnus of Nashotah House Theological Seminary.
In Canon Blossom’s secular ministry, which he refers to as “my other congregation”, he grew a small business into a nationally prominent retirement plan administration and investment consulting business employing a staff of seventy five and serving more than $3 Billion in retirement plan assets.
In his retirement years Canon Blossom has focused on “Planned Giving”. He has presented many workshops on the topic “Smart Giving” … focused on innovative ways to make gifts to charitable organizations.
He is now a resident priest in the Diocese of Wisconsin. He serves Church of the Atonement as a supporting priest.