Senate Resolution No. 1355

BY: Senator GRIFFO

CONGRATULATING The Reverend Anthony Mellace upon
the occasion of celebrating the 40th Anniversary of
his Ordination to the Priesthood

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life
in this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the
faithful concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their
energies and purpose to the ministry of others; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish
themselves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and
preeminence of service; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate The
Reverend Anthony Mellace upon the occasion of celebrating the 40th
Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood, to be celebrated at a
Mass on Sunday, June 11, 2023; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from the Rome Free Academy in 1975,
Anthony Mellace entered the priesthood at Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg,
New York, and later, moved to Rome, Italy, where he studied under the
order of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary; and

WHEREAS, On June 12, 1983, Anthony Mellace was ordained by Pope John
Paul II, and then he returned to the United States and did some work in
Boston; in January of 1984, he moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil as a
missionary priest for the 60,000-member parish at Saint John the Baptist
Church; and

WHEREAS, At the end of 1984, Reverend Anthony Mellace moved to
Curitiba and was a priest at Saint Paul's Parish until 1989; he then
served at Saint Ann's Lady of Fatima in the Amazon until 1992, when he
transferred to a Our Lady of Lourdes in Sao Paulo where he has served
the parish of 25,000 for the past 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, Reverend Anthony Mellace thoroughly
enjoyed working among the people of Brazil, helping to build five
churches, and saying Mass in the local schools; and

WHEREAS, During this time, Reverend Anthony Mellace was required to
learn how to read military maps and pilot a boat as there were no roads,
and he would spend his time going up and down the river working with
people to learn how to grow their own food and start micro businesses;
and

WHEREAS, A man of many interests, Reverend Anthony Mellace learned
the Portuguese language, and he has written 80 books in the past 20
years in Portuguese, Italian and English; he also plays seven different
instruments and loves to cook and garden; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Anthony Mellace has brought to his ministry an
overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and

enlightenment in conducting his administrative and spiritual duties,
while always displaying the highest standards of personal and
professional integrity and dedication; and

WHEREAS, He has always given enlightenment, guidance and wisdom to
the many entrusted to his care and has administered abundantly and
unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of all; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that
individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate The Reverend Anthony Mellace upon the occasion of
celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood,
noting his unremitting and compassionate faith and his exemplary service
to God, man, and his community, and extending to him the heartfelt best
wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of purposeful success and
well-being; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Reverend Anthony Mellace.