Fr. Jonas Mejares is moving on to another assignment.
After serving as rector of the Basilica del Santo Niño for four years, the well-loved Augustinian priest has been transferred to the Sto. Niño Parish in Barangay Mohon, Talisay City where he will serve as parish priest.
In his last Mass as rector of the basilica last Sunday, Mejares expressed his gratitude to all the devotees of the Child Jesus as well as the people who closely collaborated with him throughout his stint as rector in the centuries-old church.
“I will leave the basilica with a sigh of relief. I will carry in my heart many memories and events in this basilica. You have made me a fulfilled rector. Thank you for the wonderful moments that you have been with me and I have been with you. Between you and me, there is forever,” he said in his homily.
When he was rector, Mejares supervised the renovation of the basilica compound as well as the restoration of the belfry and Magellan’s Cross that were damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013.
During his term, he also celebrated his 50th birthday and his 25th anniversary as priest, and supervised the 450th Kaplag celebrations.
“Life is not perfect. It also has its share of hurts and disappointments. I will remember the hurts with forgiveness. I will remember the disappointments with the healing power of God, and I will remember the joys with humility knowing that God gave it to me, not because I am deserving, but because God is good all the time,” he said.
Mejares assured the faithful that the basilica is in good hands even as he moves to the nearby city of Talisay.
Fr. Pacifico “Jun” Nojara, OSA, will take over as rector of the basilica for the next four years.
Nojara was assigned at the San Agustin Center of Studies in Quezon City.
His installation as basilica rector is still being processed, but Mejares said Nojara is scheduled to arrive in Cebu tomorrow, May 19.
Mejares describes Nojara as “youthful, energetic and competent” who served as an architect before joining the Augustinian order.
Mejares will be officially installed as parish priest of the Sto. Niño Parish in Mohon on June 20 where he hopes to implement new programs and changes.
As his way of saying “Thank you” and “Goodbye,” Mejares, dubbed as the singing Augustinian priest, sang “This is the Moment” and “Handog” during his 5:30 p.m. Mass last Sunday.
People who attended the mass applauded while some were teary-eyed while listening as Mejares sang.
The Order of St. Augustine also appointed Fr. Andres Rivera Jr. as its new prior provincial in the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu-Philippines.
The Cebuano provincial-elect will be replacing Fr. Eusebio Berdon who served for two consecutive terms.