In Basque the words for priest are “Apeza” (Iparralde or northern Basque Country) and “Abadia” in the Bizkaian dialect.  Until recently, the Basque-American Catholic community benefited from the ministry of various Basque priests.  That era came to an end when the last Basque chaplain, Aita Martxel Tillous, passed away a few years ago. [See Era of the Basque Chaplains]

 Fr. Antton Egiguren, a Basque Franciscan started ministering to the Basque community in 2013.  Originally assigned to the Diocese of Boise in Idaho, Fr. Antton is now in the Diocese of Fresno and is located in Merced at Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Patrick’s. To find out more about him CLICK HERE