SINCE being confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI on July 20 at World Youth Day 2008 Brisbane’s Bernardo Caballero has become more involved with the Ignatian spirituality of MAGiS in Toowong parish.
The 30-year-old said his “aim is to find God in all things, in everyday life” akin to the life experiences if St Ignatius Loyola who “strived for the greater glory of God”.
Bernardo described his Confirmation at the WYD08 Papal Mass as “a big honour”.
“I felt truly prepared and knew what it meant,” he said.
The music and theology student prepared for his Confirmation with members of St Stephen’s Cathedral parish, likening his return to the Church to the biblical reference of “the prodigal son”.
“When I decided to do my confirmation and go back to the Church I didn’t expect such a warm welcome,” he said.
“I was received with open arms.”
Attending the rehearsal to celebrate his Confirmation during Holy Saturday (last Easter) in St Stephen’s, Bernardo was given the news of his participation in the Papal Mass that afternoon.
With family in Bolivia, the place of his birth, his parents made contact just after the Sydney Confirmation liturgy, Bernardo saying they were “very happy and inspired to see it live”.
“My parents are great people … they have lived their marriage as an example,” he said of their influence.
In Pope Benedict, the young man of faith also saw “a lot of goodness”.
“In the Holy Father I saw a very good person,” Bernardo said.
“He was staring at me and smiling … that was really deep for me.”
The student said he was enjoying studying theology, recommending it to “any person who wants to better understand the Church”.
Nowadays “feeling very happy and very grounded”, Bernardo aspires to living out his Confirmation name of Francis.
“The spirituality of St Francis and his humbleness really attracted me,” he said.
“It is the complete contrast to everything we value in the world.”
Bernardo was an exchange student at Kenmore High in 1996 and has been back in Brisbane – a city he “loves” – for just over a year.
– Selina Harris
