Guillermo Caballero
Guillermo Caballero
Guillermo Caballero is a seminarian in the Diocese of Little Rock.  About four years ago, Sacred Heart of Jesus parish adopted Guillermo.  At that time he became a knight in Council 10208.  In Colombia, Guillermo sang and played his guitar with a Catholic spiritual singing group.

Guillermo also sang and played a guitar at the July 17, 2013, Taste of Faith in Little Rock, which is a fundraising event for educating the seminarians.  However, Guillermo had to borrow a guitar for this event, as his required repair.    

Interestingly, the original owner of his guitar was Bishop Sartain who was the bishop for the Little Rock Diocese prior to Bishop Taylor.  When Bishop Sartain was in Joliet IL, he gave his guitar to a seminarian attending St. Meinrad's Seminary in Indiana; and, in turn, that seminarian gave the guitar to Guillermo. 

Bob Honzik tried to have the guitar repaired for Guillermo, but was told that it could not be brought back to playing condition.  Therefore, it has been given to the House of Formation to be put on display.  A new guitar will be purchased for Guillermo out of the Council's 50/50 fund, and it will be presented to him at Christmas when he visits our parish.


Back at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, Guillermo sends the following message:

Hi, parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish.  With a sincere heart, I can say "I am glad to be back!"

As you might know, I decided to step back from seminary formation last year and return to my beloved Colombia. I decided to leave formation after a period of dryness in my spiritual life.  I was not at peace anymore, and I decided that the best thing to do was to leave priesthood formation.

During my time back in Colombia, I taught English and also played music for Mass at my home parish (St. Boniface) and at a local church (St. Peter the Apostle).  I also rejoined a Catholic Charismatic Renewal and their youth music ministry called "Jesús y María."  We had the opportunity to play and appear on TV in the National Catholic channel in Colombia called "Cristovisión."  I remember also that one time when ministering with "Jesús y María," God showed me how I was to put the talents He gave me in service. There was not an assigned bass player for a retreat for which we were doing the music. I did not want to play it, because I do not like to play bass, but I was drawn to play it, and the outcome was spiritually rewarding.  I even got a nice comment about how well the bass was played.

God has used Christmas time to call me close to Himself, and last year was not the exception. God was kindly filling my inner self with faith.  Later on in March 2013, I talked with Msgr. Friend and asked him to be reaccepted as a seminarian, and he joyfully received my petition. This last year was not a wasted year at all.  I need to find myself again, and God gave me the chance to go back to Colombia and now to come back to the USA. I know that the path ahead of me is not going to be easy at all, but what good thing in life does not require effort and sacrifice?

May God bless you and your loved ones.

In Christ,

GUILLERMO CABALLERO

Council 10208 is again sponsoring Guillermo this year as one of its five RSVP seminarians.