Biography

Father Thomas Melancon, SJ, was born in St. Louis in 1942 and graduated from St. Louis University High School. He attended the St. Louis College of Pharmacy for a year before discerning a call to the Society of Jesus. He is now celebrating 60 years as a Jesuit.

He spent most of the early years of his active ministry as an educator and most of the later years in pastoral ministry, in addition to helping others as an addiction therapist.

For roughly two decades, he alternated between assignments at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., and his alma mater, SLUH, teaching the subjects of French, Latin and religion, while, for a period of time, directing the province’s pre-novice program.

He has served as associate pastor at several parishes in Colorado, including Most Holy Trinity Parish in Trinidad, Colo., St. Joseph Church in Pueblo, Colo., Holy Family Parish in Security, Colo. and Corpus Christi Parish. He also served as associate pastor at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis.

He served as director of the Jesuits’ senior care facility in St. Louis from 2007-2014. Since that time, he has been involved in pastoral ministry in the Jesuit Hall Community at Saint Louis University.

Father Melancon has worked as an addiction therapist at Chestnut Health System in Alton, Ill., since 1997.

Father Melancon earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, Master of Arts in Latin, Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work, all from Saint Louis University.

Fr. Thomas Melancon’s Reflection on 60 Years as a Jesuit

My favorite Scripture verses come from the Second Readings of the Night and Morning Masses of Christmas Day, Titus 3:4-5: ” When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deed we had done but, because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” And this, Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all, and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and to live justly and devoutly in this age.”

The Society has called me as minister to our theology students at Weston School of Theology to provide a comfortable home for them as they did their studies, and as director, to provide the same for our elderly and sick men at the Fusz Pavilion. I am grateful that Our Lord called me to serve Him in his ministry of faithful and loving kindness. These were my two favorite ministries, and I believe that they have informed all of my other work.

– Fr. Thomas Melancon, SJ