Joe Melendrez

With burrito bounty, UD junior helps feed masses

By Khalid Moss

Staff Writer

When University of Dayton junior Joe Melendrez walks out of Ash Wednesday Mass at Immaculate Conception Chapel today, the black smudge on his forehead will only tell half the story.

As his act of penance for the 40-day season of Lent, which begins today, Melendrez, a religious studies major, orchestrated a charitable project that will leave patrons and staffers at Chipotle Mexican Grill talking for a long time.

Last summer Melendrez, a Christian rapper, entered a burrito contest sponsored by Chipotle. The lucky winner would receive three burritos every day for a year, plus four 20-burrito parties, all free of charge.

"I figured if I won I could eat everyday and also feed my friends," said Melendrez, a lean Texan from San Antonio. "Over the summer I developed a strategy to win the contest. Christian rap is something I love to do. I
want to do it as a ministry after I graduate. So I created a rap focused around eating burritos."

Melendrez won the contest, hands down.

"We've been running this contest for a couple of years now," said Jo Schmiesing, the Dayton district manager of Chipotle. "I think Joe's a great kid. What he's doing is impressive. We haven't had a winner who has taken a
simple contest like this and turned it around into something so charitable."

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which is marked by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Melendrez, 21, decided his Lenten act of giving would be to turn his burrito windfall into an outreach to Dayton's homeless.

Last Saturday, Melendrez fed free burritos at a party for the homeless and hungry at Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1211 Brown St.

"I think your whole life should be a sacrifice — not just during Lent," he said. "Rather than saying I'm giving up something for Lent, I'm putting more energy into something for Lent. That's my sacrifice. People are hungry all over the place. At Chipotle we sat down at the table with more than 30 people and interacted with them. We not only fed them but we learned their stories. I believe God is using me to communicate love for his children
through a hearty meal at Chipotle."

It didn't take long for Chipotle to fill up after Schmiesing unlocked the doors on Saturday at the special time of 10 a.m. By 10:30, the restaurant was teeming with individuals and families helping themselves to Melendrez's burrito bonanza.

"The sacrifice that comes with Lent allows us to dive deeper into the core of ourselves" he said. "Building our relationship with Christ helps develop our unique vocation to discipleship. As an aspiring disciple, I try to make each faith-sharing experience at Chipotle a meaningful one."

Melendrez wants to use his talents, blessings and gift of rhyme to bring people closer to God through Christian rap. Perhaps one day he'll become the nation's first hip- hop priest. Maybe he'll reinvent Mass by fusing rap with Catholic liturgy, replace the pipe organ with a deejay and serve chicken burritos at communion.

Then again, maybe not.

"I personally don't eat three burritos every day," Melendrez confessed. "I eat one and share them with two other people. That's part of my whole ministry. Sharing burritos, learning about other people's lives and incorporating faith."

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season, which lasts until Easter. On this day, at worship services, a priest or minister will smudge black ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each worshipper. Lent is a time to draw closer to God. In addition to giving up something for Lent, Christians are encouraged to do something for someone to grow spiritually.

What is Lent?

Lent is the 40-day period before Easter (this year, April 8), excluding Sundays, that begins on Ash Wednesday (today) and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter).

What do people give up for Lent?

Smoking, drinking, chocolates, meat, television. "Some people enter a dark period when they go into Lent," said Joe Melendrez, a University of Dayton junior and Christian rapper. "It's like they are being punished for something. Lent should be a joyous time and an opportunity for us to look at those areas of our lives that need to be changed."

Why are Sundays excluded from the reckoning of the 40 days?

Because Sunday is the day on which Christ arose, making it an inappropriate day to fast and mourn one's sins.

Why are the 40 days called Lent?

Lent is the Old English word for spring, the season of the year during which it falls.

Why is Lent 40 days long?

Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion and preparation in the Bible.

What is a day of fast and abstinence?

Catholics who are 18 to 60 years old are required to keep a limited fast. In this country, one may eat a single, normal meal and have two snacks, so long as these snacks do not add up to a second meal.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.