Basque Center News
Help bring Fr. Antton Egiguren Iraola to Boise
For many years now, our local Basque communities have been blessed to have wonderful Basque priests from California to preside at our special liturgies. Still, many of us longed for the days when we had our “own” Basque priest here to minister to our families in the Treasure Valley and eastern Oregon.
Our prayers have been answered. We now have a unique and wonderful opportunity to welcome Father Antton Egiguren Iraola, a priest of the Franciscan Order who has expressed his desire to move to Boise and be of service to our Basque community. Fr. Antton was born in Bidegoian in the Basque Country and has since learned to speak ten languages as he has done Franciscan missionary work all over the world.
By a stroke of luck, he heard about the Boise Basque community and came in May to see for himself how the Basque language and culture are flourishing here. Many people had a chance to meet him and found him to be humble, personable and very excited about the prospect of being a priest for our community. After meeting with representatives of the Diocese of Boise it was determined that Fr. Antton could indeed come to Idaho to be of service to the Basque community. A website has been established where you can already begin to be acquainted with Father by reading his commentaries on scripture (follow the link below).
Now the process has begun to fulfill all the immigration requirements to bring Father here to Idaho. Before any papers can be filed, the attorney fees and Visa fees must be deposited with the Diocese. Having taken a vow of poverty, Father Antton has no means to pay the $5000 that will be required to cover these expenses. To show our support for this wonderful priest, a group of Basque Faithful (Euskaldun Fededun) have decided to launch a grass roots campaign to raise the necessary funds. We are asking for all Basques to make a donation of $100 towards bringing Fr. Antton Egiguren to Idaho. Of course we will accept contributions of any amount but with this approach we feel that we can quickly raise the needed amount and get Father here as quickly as possible.
Please join us, Al Erquiaga, John Ysursa, Patty Miller and Juliana Lliteras, representatives of Euskaldun Fededun, in filling this need we have had for so many years. Make checks payable to: Basque Foundation: Aita Antton Egiguren Fund, 601 Grove Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, or if you prefer to pay by credit card, use the contact info below. Donations are tax deductible to the legal limits. For More Information: http://www.basquecatholic.org Contact: Patty Gabica (secretary@basquecenter.com) |
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