Meet Francis Cabildo

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NEW WORSHIP DIRECTOR FOR OUR SAVIOR PARISH

& USC CARUSO CATHOLIC CENTER

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On His Journey as a Worship Leader

I grew up Catholic and went to Mass with my family every Sunday, but my faith wasn’t exactly alive or active. It wasn’t until my mom signed me up for a week long summer retreat going into my senior year in high school that I began a relationship with God. Soon after that retreat I started getting involved in my parish attending youth group and eventually found myself joining the choir. My youth minister was also a musician and he inspired me to learn how to play guitar.

When I was 20, I was called to serve with NET Ministries and was chosen to be the music leader for my team. My year on NET taught me a lot about ministry and how to lead people in prayer through music. After that year with NET, I went back to my parish and started serving as a music minister and youth minister. The Lord then called me to serve as a worship leader for camps, conferences and other events for local parishes, catholic organizations and other dioceses throughout the country.

I’ve made so many mistakes along the way and I’m grateful for them because I grew, and learned from those missteps. God has definitely guided my journey and has been with me all along.

On Defining Worship

Worship is pretty simple. I would say worship is giving or ascribing ultimate value and worth to God. Worship is not about singing or music. It’s about sacrifice—giving or surrendering of yourself to and for God. Jesus is the perfect example of this. That’s why the Mass is the highest form of prayer and worship because it is Christ, principally, who offers himself to the Father. And the beautiful thing is that we, the mystical body of Christ, are invited to offer ourselves along with Jesus, who is the Lamb of God. Music and singing can aid us and help us in the offering of ourselves through praise and prayer. On His New Role as Director of Worship at USC:

What excites me the most is the opportunity to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to help our students and community to truly be a part of the heavenly banquet by their active participation in the Mass. Helping students discover their giftedness and to see them offer that back to God is exciting as well. One other thing that is exciting to be part of a team that aims to bring students into a relationship with God and that they would know that they are loved by God and that they can be saints now.

I have enjoyed the growth of the choir and musicians. I truly am grateful for their commitment and love for God and the Church. I am encouraged by the growing participation in singing but also in the faith and sacramental life here at the CC.

On Wisdom for Gen Z

They have what it takes to be a saint because they have the Holy Spirit.

On His Favorite Bible Verse

And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NRSV)

@franciscabildomusic is a singer-songwriter, worship leader and speaker from Southern California. He is passionate about loving God, family and the people of God. Francis has served the Church as a youth minister, music minister, high school campus minister and inspiring speaker. He and his wife Nicole are raising 5 boys and he serves as the Director of Worship at USC Caruso Catholic Center.