Lenten Mission

St. Ann, St. Gertrude & Holy Family Catholic Churches will hold a Lenten Mission on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 1 – 4 pm at St. Gertrude Parish Center, 6535 Hwy YY, Washington, MO 63090. We welcome TONY MELENDEZ. Born in Nicaragua with no arms and a club foot, Melendez immigrated to the US with his family for surgery that would allow him to walk.
He was always encouraged to do things on his own and at sixteen he taught himself to play guitar with his toes ,and soon matured as a singer/composer. In 1987 he was asked to play for Pope John Paul II. Through this inter­national broadcast Tony’s career was set into high gear. Melendez travels with his brother Jose sharing a message of hope, encouragement and faith through music and life stories. Melendez’s travels have taken him to all 50 states and 45+ foreign countries. He is the recipient of numerous awards including commendations from President Reagan and the State of California. Tony was also awarded the first Inspirational Hero Award from the NFL Alumni Association at Super Bowl XXIII and was a key note speaker and performer at the 2024 Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.