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48 BENEDICT VADAKKEKARA V In his capacity as Capuchin friar, Bernardino has carried out some outstand– ing services in the Order. He was the Vice Director of the Capuchin Theology House ofLe6n (1957-60) and served as Provincial prefect ofStudies (1966-1969). He was thrice elected to the Provincial Definitory (1966-72; 1984-85). He held the office of Provincial prefect of "Consecrated Life" (1969-72). In Gij6n, as parish priest and local superior (1975-1984), he supervised the construction of the parish church and the Capuchin friary, both housed in one multi-storied building. He was then appointed Master of the Post-Noviciate in Salamanca (1984-85). As General Secretary for Spanish Language at the Capuchin General Curia (1989- 90), he put his linguistic talents at the service of the entire Order. He is still a member of the Editorial Board of the CF and was the Vice President of the Capuchin Historical Institute (1996-99). Bernardino is known for his love for the Church and for his dedication and faithfulness to it and to its doctrines. He is greatly devoted to the Capuchin Order and proudly wears his religious habit wherever he goes. He generously responds to his superiors and confreres whenever his service is called for. On several occasions he has assumed the role of translator at the Order's General Chapter and at other international gatherings. His mastery of the Spanish language is evident from the scores of sonnets he has composed. Occasions have been galore when his sonnets have filled the fraternity hall with joyous laughter. The nine years he spent in Gij6n (1975-84) constituted a period of much fruitful activity especially in the pastoral field. He was able to give effective leadership in implementing on the local level the Post-Conciliar ecclesial vision. He enrolled the parish youth into the scout movement, taking up the role of scout master. He got up a choir and had the honour of being invited twice to the Vatican to direct his choir before Pope Paul VI. His flair for music and singing has always accompanied him. He feels at home with everyone he meets. Even though he does not live in his native Spain and is not able to sing in his mother tongue in the international fraternity where he works, he very much relishes the informal role of being the choirmaster in the small chapel of the Capuchin Historical Institute in Rome. As a joyful friar, Bernardino has always refused to hang the "harps and lyres on the poplars" and has never asked: "How could we sing the Lord's song in a strange and alien land?" (Ps 137,4).