Fr. Jonas Mejares (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Clad in a cassock, priests preach God’s words and tell people of faith by way of celebrating the Mass.
And if you are a frequent churchgoer at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño for the past four years, chances are you’ve heard and seen Fr. Jonas Mejares, who has found a unique way of sharing God’s teachings through music.
He is a priest, preacher and singer rolled into one.
For him, the concert stage and the altar have one thing in common: they are pedestals for him to sing God’s praises.
After four years of serving at the Basilica, he is now spreading the love of God and his love for music in his new home, the Santo Niño Parish in barangay Mohon,
Talisay City. His recent singing stint was at the successful “All About Her” concert held at the International Eucharistic Congress Pavillion last Friday.
Known as the “singing Augustinian priest,” Fr. Jonas is set to conquer the stage more to bring the spotlight to God. As he puts it, he wants to be remembered as a preacher more than as a singer. (AMT)
How did your vocation story start?
Religious upbringing in the context of family was largely typical of most Catholic families in rural communities. Part of my childhood days were the indispensable Sunday Masses, praying the rosary and part of every summer was joining the “Flores de Mayo.” My mother was a huge influence for all of us, while my father was less “pious,” so to say. He would join us in Sunday Masses but not all the time. Mother did. We had the usual praying of the Holy Rosary every single day of the month of October each year. I could still remember a certain period of my childhood days when I stayed at the house of my grandparents. At that particular stage, my grandfather went to the United States of America and my grandmother was left here in the Philippines, with me accompanying her. She was a wonderful grandmother and she was very instrumental to my entry to the seminary and eventually becoming a priest.
What made you decide to become a priest?
Well, I must be honest to say that whenever a priest visits our house, the food is always good. (laughs) My grandmother would always offer the best food and accommodation to any priest that would come to our place in Bohol. She had been doing it because she wanted her two son-priests to be treated in that same manner. Such special treatment had caught my attention and prompted me to become a person in a clerical garment someday. Aside from that, my grandmother’s spiritual lifestyle became my inspiration to
nurture my vocation to the priesthood.
Do you have relatives who are also priests?
I have two uncle-priests, sons of my grandmother. They are younger brothers of my mother.
Why the Order of St. Augustine?
Because my grandmother wanted me to belong to the same order with my two uncle-priests.
You’ve been a priest for 25 years. How are you doing now in your ministry?
Prayer, work, exercise and leisure are all necessary for a healthy life. I try to make sure I have a balance of all these, but I don’t always succeed. In the area of work (ministry), I’ve been into teaching, administering a school, parish ministry, seminary formation, all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands. The unpredictable demands, I may call them, are the challenges of being a priest.
What are these unpredictable demands?
Sometimes, I ask myself after administering confessions, giving blessings and counselings, if I was able to inspire them after the talk, how to address their problem and if in some ways, I was able to lighten their load.
What are the challenges in being a priest?
They center on meeting the needs of people: the sick, old, angry, hurt, hungry, imprisoned, excited, happy. A priest should share with them his time, understanding, encouragement and support. He should rejoice, cry and celebrate with them. Such events are both painful and rewarding, fatiguing and empowering.
You spent four years as rector of the Basilica del Sto. Niño. Did you expect to be given such an assignment?
Not at all. I was simply asking our Prior Provincial that I be ssigned in any community here in Cebu because I wanted to taste the life of preaching and teaching the people of God using my native dialect—Cebuano. Besides, I was working in our school (University of San Agustin, Iloilo City) as the Dean of the Conservatory of Music and
the Dean of Theology Department of the same school for eight consecutive years. And that happened right after my post-graduate studies in Rome, Italy. My life then in those years was too academic. I wanted to have a change of environment.
What special favors have you received from the Child Jesus?
Oh, a lot! But the most special one was the restoration of the destroyed bell tower and Magellan’s Cross. But personally, I’m always thankful for the personal wisdom and guidance He has been giving me.
Can you recall an instance when you can say your faith as a Christian was tested?
It could be during the earthquake. I kept asking myself why does it have to happen during my administration, why at that time? Also, at that time when I had to spend four years in Rome to study. It was the most difficult time of my life. Kalisod naman diay ani, sayon raman unta sa atong nasud. I was not in my comfort zone, di siya sayon. But I was able to cope because I have God, from whom I always seek guidance.
What prompted you to finish the project of restoring the Basilica’s bell tower before you left as rector?
I was deeply sad when the bell tower collapsed due to the strong earthquake because I know for a fact that the Cebuanos really love the Holy Child and the place that houses His Image. Such kind of love really prompted me to finish the project before I left as Rector. Moreover, I don’t want my successor
to face a big headache when I am gone. I was grateful to God that He provided us with people (from NHCP in coordination with Fr. Harold Rentoria, OSA) who were responsible in its completion.
It tested my faith, dako ang tension sa akong part because every now and then, every after the Mass, a lot of people would approach me regarding the restoration project. But tinood gyud diay na nga if dunay kangitngit, duna poy kahayag. At the end of the tunnel, there will always be light.
What do you think is with the Sto. Niño that draws people to Him?
The miracles that they have experienced. And perhaps for us Filipinos it is easier to make our prayers through the Santo Niño because of its humble, childlike and reassuring representation. We are very fond of children. Besides, we have a natural need to address someone we can see, touch, and so forth, than someone whom we have never seen before. And Jesus Christ is God who manifested himself to us in the form of a man, making God more accessible to us and our senses.
Fr. Jonas Mejares (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
When your assignment at the Basilica was about to end, what did you feel?
Mixed feelings. I felt both sad and happy. On one hand, I was sad because I’ll be missing a lot of wonderful people with whom I have shared many good memories and experiences. On the other hand, I was happy thinking that the Basilica Miñore del Sto. Nino de
Cebu will be in good hands. Indeed, the new Rector, Fr. Pacifico “Jun” Nohara, OSA is one of the most humble yet competent Augustinian priests I have ever known.
Your thoughts about being assigned in Mohon?
Interesting. Exciting. Challenging. Interesting because I was one those four seminarians who were sent to this place to study its possibility of becoming a parish in 1985. And now I am back with a special role of shepherding its flock. How to do it? That
remains to be seen. Oh, indeed, what a great challenge!
What are your plans for the parish?
To continue what the former parish priest and his companions have started and to study the areas of concern where I can introduce some improvements.
You are known as “the singing Augustinian priest,” and are in fact a well-versed musician and singer. How did your love for music start?
Aside from sports, music is another passion of our family. I grew up singing with my elder brother at home and in school. I started singing on stage at age five.
Who taught you to sing? Where did you study music?
It was my parents who taught me to sing at first. Although they were not professional or trained musicians, their musicality is innate. I was so blessed that I was able to take some formal trainings in noted conservatories of Music like those of the University of San Agustin, the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas.
What genre of songs do you like best?
Of course, religious…
Why did you decide to incorporate music into your preaching?
It’s all because I believe that it’s a very effective way of spreading the Word of God to my listeners using what He has gifted me. For me, it’s a pastoral act. And
I hope that my belief has an element of truth.
Many people want you to preside over Masses because you do away with the boring, repetitious, unorganized, unprepared and mumbled homilies. What do you think priests should do to improve their homilies so as to draw their attention to the central message of the Gospel?
I must admit that I am flattered with your words of appreciation, but at the same time they create a kind of discomfort on my part. I just hope and pray that
people would really consider my homilies that way. Every priest has his own gift of preaching which is enhanced in a subject called Homiletics.
Instead of answering directly the question, let me just share a point of reflection according to the mind of St. Augustine on giving homilies. He said: “And what is
a profitable homily? A homily that teaches the intellect, delights the affections and moves the listener to act is profitable ultimately if it persuades. These three ends or styles of homiletics all converge in seeking to persuade the listener. If something is successfully taught to another, it means another is persuaded of its
intellectual veracity;if ones affections are delighted, it means we are persuaded that something is enjoyable; if we are moved to action, it means that the will is persuaded that something is a good and that it should try to attain it. In all cases, a successful homily, one that is wholesomely sweet, is one that is
capable of persuading the listener.”
If you were not a priest today, what profession would you have pursued?
Perhaps, a lawyer. That’s the reason why I took up Canon Law. But had I been gifted with the height, I could have been a professional basketball player (laughs).
You are well-loved by parishioners. What is your secret?
Always wear a smile that gives way to trust, openness, and willingness to live in the tension involved in talking out differences.
How do you unwind at the end of a hectic day?
I listen to music. If there’s a chance, I play basketball or watch action movies, or take a cup of coffee somewhere.
What is your principle in life?
Love God and do what you will!
What makes Fr. Jonas happy or fulfilled?
Preaching or doing something that can touch the lives of other people.
How do you want to be remembered?
Far more than the gift of music and a lover of sports, I want people to remember me as a priest who has deep concern to those in need, able to share some values
and teachings everytime I preach during the Mass. So I want people to remember me more as preacher than a singer.