Fr. Niño Mirandilla
Father Nino Mirandilla was born on March 2, 1976 in Naga City, Philippines. His parents Bernardo and Nilda Mirandilla had five other children, two more boys and three girls.
Fr. Nino grew up in Naga in a religious family with almost all of the family being active in Church. As a child, he was a member of the choir, and at age fifteen became a member of parish youth ministry. He became leader of the youth group at age seventeen. Fr. Nino was never interested in secular activity and refused to go partying with his friends, preferring activities in the Church. For him it was home, school, Church. His life centered around family and God.
Education for Fr. Nino began at Concepcion Pequena Elementary School, followed by Concepcion Pequena National High School. He attended the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges for almost three years from 1994 to 1997 but did not complete his studies there. In 1999 he entered Holy Rosary Seminary in Naga City to study Philosophy and Theology.
Upon his ordination on June 11, 2009 he was assigned to St. Anthony of Padua parish in Siruma Camarines Sur from 2009 to 2011. He spent a year at Holy Cross parish in Nabua, Camarines Sur from 2011 to 2012 followed by two years in St. Anthony of Padua parish in Camalijan, Camarines Sur from 2012 to 2014. This was followed by a year in St. Theres of the Child Jesus in Pili, Camarines Sur from 2014 to 2015, and almost three years in St. Anthony of Abbott in Tapayas, Balatan, Camarines Sur from 2015 to 2018. That same year on August 15, 2018, he came to St. Vincent and the Grenadines from the Archdiocese of Caceres, Philipines and became parish priest in Canouan, part of the Holy Family parish of Southern Grenadines.
Coming from the Philippines with an over 80% Catholic population to St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a small Catholic population, he found it very challenging to introduce programmes in Church here because of the differences in culture, but maintained that “so far, so good.” He hopes for a time when all Vincentian Catholics will fully embrace true Christian values.
At the time of writing, Fr. Nino’s stint in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was nearing the end. He will soon return to the Philippines and learn where he will be sent next to spread the Gospel. In the meantime, he is assigned to the Cathedral of the Assumption in Kingstown, on mainland St. Vincent.
His time and his stewardship in this country were much appreciated and his strong Christian values serve as an example to those whom he shepherded.