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Fr. Mel was born on 13 December 1952, in Margate, Kent, England. His father Mel Bessellieu, from Wilmington, North Carolina, and Mother Sara Tolbert Bessellieu, from Smyrna, Tennessee had 5 children; two brothers and two sisters. He went to Plano High, Plano Texas, and graduated in May 1971. He went to North Texas State University college and graduated in May 1982 with, BS in Biology. He became Catholic on Holy Saturday, March 25, 1989, at All Saints, Dallas, Texas, and did his Minor Seminary in Holy Trinity, Irving Texas, Pre-Theology for one year, 1992. His Major Seminary in Saint Mary, Houston, Texas, MDiv and MA in theology, 1997. Fr Mel was ordained Deacon at Saint Mary, Houston, Texas, November 3, 1996, by Bishop Delaney and ordained Priest at Saint Patrick Cathedral, Fort Worth, Texas, May 31, 1997, by Bishop Delaney. His Pastoral Assignments: Saint Michael, Bedford, Texas, associate pastor 1997-99. Immaculate Conception, Denton, Texas, associate pastor 1999-2002. Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pilot Point, pastor 2002-2007. Saint Ann, Burleson, Texas, pastor 2007-2022.