January 16 is the anniversary of the death of Charles J. Melchior.

Charles Joseph Melchior was born March 23, 1989 in Barto, Pennsylvania to George W. and Rosa (Clemmer) Melchior. He was Baptized March 28, 1889 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Bally, Pennsylvania. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation June 11, 1902 at the same church.

After completing his secondary education at Villanova Prep, Villanova, Pennsylvania, Charles attended Pottstown Business College, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and worked for a short time at Orino Silk Mills, where his father was Manager.

He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate June 22, 1911. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine June 22, 1912 and solemn (permanent) vows June 25, 1915.

He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, in 1915. He then pursued theological studies at Villanova. He was ordained a Priest May 16, 1918.

Father Melchior served as Assistant Pastor of St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Parish, Villanova, from 1918 to 1920. He was in 1920 appointed Assistant Director of Novices and Professed at St. Mary's Hall, the Augustinian house of formation at Villanova. The following year, 1921, he was named Procurator (Business Manager) of St. Mary's Hall.

When the Augustinian Novitiate relocated from Villanova to New Hamburg, New York, Father Melchior was named the first Director of Novices at the new site.

In 1932 he was named Procurator of Villanova College. He was transferred in 1938 to St. Augustine Catholic Parish, Detroit, Michigan, where he was Assistant Pastor and Prior (local superior) of the Augustinian community. In 1939 he became Pastor of St. Augustine Parish.

When the new Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Augustinians of the Midwest) was established in 1941, Father Melchior became affiliated to that Province. He was elected Prior Provincial (regional superior) in 1944, and was reelected to a second three-year term in 1947.

Upon conclusion of his second term as Prior Provincial in 1950, Father Melchior resumed his former duties as Pastor of St. Augustine Parish and Prior of the Augustinian community there. He held those positions until the time his death from a heart attack January 16, 1957.

Father Melchior is buried in the Augustinian cemetery at Villanova.

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