 Fr. John Thomas Mellein,
OP
Fr. John Thomas made his solemn vows in May 2005, and was ordained to the diaconate on January 7th, 2006,
at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (see link).
He grew up in Ventura County, California. He is the oldest of ten children (six
sisters and three brothers) which he says was great preparation for community life.
He completed a B.A. in liberal arts at Thomas Aquinas College, and
it was there that he first had contact with the Dominican Order. He was drawn to the Order by the
community life, the choral office, a desire to preach, and desire to continue studying St. Thomas
Aquinas. He entered the Order the summer after his graduation.
One of the goals of initial formation is to give the brothers a
wide variety of ministry and life experiences in preparation for future ministry. Fr. John Thomas has
spent time ministering or studying in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alaska, Utah, Oregon, Washington, D. C.,
and Peru.
He is grateful for these opportunities to see life in different
contexts. As he says, "I find that in our life ministry, study, and prayer mutually enrich each other.
Study informs our ministry, and ministry gives direction to study. The whole is supported and in turn
deepens our life of prayer."
Fr. John Thomas is looking forward to full-time ministry as a
Dominican of the Western Province.
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