Beyond The Beacon podcast 112 – More than a melody: The unstoppable spirit of Tony Melendez #Catholic –
Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.
On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.
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Beyond The Beacon podcast 112 – More than a melody: The unstoppable spirit of Tony Melendez #Catholic - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-150x150.jpg 150w, https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /><p><iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SNvU4aTmw0?si=K4cpTVmiKz2BWn34" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<p>Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.</p>
<p>On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.</p>
<p><a href="https://beyond.beaconnj.org/2149965/episodes/19242645-more-than-a-melody-the-unstoppable-spirit-of-tony-melendez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen to the episode here</a>, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SNvU4aTmw0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube channel</a>.</p>
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<hr> - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-150x150.jpg 150w, https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_5933-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month. On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop
Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.
On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
Beyond The Beacon podcast 112 – More than a melody: The unstoppable spirit of Tony Melendez #Catholic –
Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.
On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
