Father John Melnick, OSA, the "Mad Monk" has died

Father John Melnick, an Augustinian Friar known to his large family on Facebook as John "Stone: Melnick has died. He was admitted to the hospital on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. His post on Facebook was, "I might die tonight." That was him. He was always ready and accepting of God's will. Father had a severe lung condition and was awaiting a decision on a possible transplant. 

Father was at Marylake Augustinian Monastery north of Toronto and was instrumental in a "clean up" there He eventually served as a Master of Ceremonies to Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto. He was in the same league as Fathers Stephen Someville and Liam Gavigan with regards to the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass during the "indult" period and was scorned for it. We had many chats and he told me some stories about Toronto which must go to the grave with him. He also assisted at St. Demetrius Ukrainian parish as he was bi-ritual. He was encouraging to me for my work in the liturgy and this blog. I will miss him. May God rest his sweet soul. 

Eternal rest and blessed memory. 

The official announcement from Brother Martin:

In the summer of 2015, Fr. John was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

In late 2021, he began to experience a sharper decline in his health, needing to sit even while offering Mass.

This continued to the point that in late 2022, his oxygen saturation levels would drop to the 60s and 50s after walking just a few steps.

On December 8th, 2022, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. John was rushed to the hospital at 3:30am because he was unable to achieve oxygen saturation levels above the 40s.

He was diagnosed with Covid and admitted to the ICU.

On December 20th, his breathing became extremely labored, risking the failure of other vital organs, whose health he needed to qualify for a lung transplant which he had decided to pursue around Easter 2022. The best hope for maintaining his health for a lung transplant was to be put him on a ventilator, which took place on Dec. 20th.

Fr. John tested negative for Covid on January 3rd, 2023. However, the lung transplant program required a PCR test which detects Covid deep in the lungs, whether the virus is dead or alive. Testing positive for having the virus (dead or alive) in his lungs, he was not yet permitted to transfer to Omaha for a lung transplant.

Shortly after, his kidneys began to fail and his blood pressure began to be extremely low. He was placed on dialysis. This became another obstacle to a lung transplant.

Having been on dialysis for over a week, Fr John’s blood pressure remained very low and he was still unable to produce a satisfactory level of urine.

On Sunday, January 15th at 6:05pm CST, I received a phone call from his attending nurse that his blood pressure had dropped extremely low to 50/20. I had adamantly refused to change his code status from full code to DNR, so I informed the nurse I was on my way and hung up.

Shortly thereafter, Fr. John Melnick passed from this life prepared by Extreme Unction and the Apostolic Benediction, both given to him prior to intubation and sedation.

Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul Fr. John Melnick.

-Br Martin

PS I regret the dissemination of this news on social media prior to the notification of his entire family. I only informed the contact person I had for his family, his doctors, very few close/immediate friends, and those whose participation he requested in his funeral.