Singing priest serenades flock as he turns 50

Fr. Mejares

He sings and preaches with gusto.

While his talents leave people in awe, Fr. Jonas Mejares, rector of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, credits everything to the Lord.

“I want to share the gifts the Lord has given me, and use them the way they ought to be,”  says the priest.

As he turned 50 years old yesterday, Fr. Mejares looked back at the ups and downs, joys and sorrows of his sojourn with the Lord.

Fr. Mejares officiated 8 a.m.  Mass at the basilica’s pilgrim center in downtown Cebu City and spent time with parishioners and devotees of the child Jesus.

In the evening, he performed  during his birthday show at the Grand Convention Center, a  way of thanking God for the favors he received.

“I feel so blessed. To have reached the age of 50 and celebrate a golden birth anniversary, wow.  I’m very happy that I’m still healthy, serving God who has been so gracious to me,” said the priest of the  Order of Saint Augustine.

During the Cebu Press Freedom Week opening program, where he officiated Holy Mass, Fr. Mejares capped the solemn rites with a rousing medley of inspirational songs, before giving the final blessing, again in a song.

Amid the challenges in life, Fr. Mejares said he’s grateful that he remains to serve God as a priest.

“It’s really not easy  but I’m still here. I hope I will continue to be a priest,” he said.

Asked what his wish is for the Church, Fr. Mejares said he’d like to see   reconstruction completed of the basilica’s centuries-old belfry, which was destroyed in last year’s Oct. 15 earthquake.

The Augustinian fathers are  closely coordinating with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines for its  reconstruction.

As basilica rector,  Fr. Mejares has been in the forefront of the reconstruction work.

Often dubbed  the “singing priest,” his passion for music showed early at the age of five.

He had formal training in music conservatories in the University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas.

He joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1981 and was ordained  in 1990. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree  in Philosophy and Theology at UST.

He also  obtained a  Licentiate and Doctoral Degree in Canon Law at the Angelicum in Rome, finishing with honors as magna cum laude.

While studying in Italy, he  extended his apostolate to Filipino communities and performed in  four concerts  with some Filipino artists in Rome and Milan.

His passion further blessed him with a chance to form and conduct a grand choir, composed mostly of Filipinos, during am  audience with  Pope John Paul II at  Vatican City in 2003.

The former  dean of the Conservatory of Music of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, has composed several songs for different occasions.

He recorded and released three  albums. He has performed in  concerts with well known performers like Jose Mari Chan, the Loboc Children’s Choir, Luke Mejares, Tata Villaruel, Sheryn Regis, Yeng Constantino, Jed Madela, Sitti Navarro, Coco Martin, Apple Abarquez, Maria Donna and Pilipinas Got Talent Champion Roel Manlangit.