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In greater  Buenos Aires, invited by members of the Our Lady of Aranzazu Parish in the city of San Fernando, the choir and a Aurreskulari from the Euskaltzaleak association participated in the feast of this Basque advocation of the Virgin patron saint of San Fernando.  “Even if we had to cancel the procession and the fair because of the weather, the church filled with parishioners during mass,” according to church sources. 

San Fernando, Argentina.   Located in greater Buenos Aires, the locality of San Fernando celebrates its patron saint every September 9 with an all-day event.  The program includes a procession, a cultural fair and for the last several years, some activities to highlight the origin of the Basques, some of the first inhabitants of the region, of the history of the church built in 1805 and its first priest, Manuel Saturnino de San Ginés.

The 2015 festivities took place last Wednesday and even if strong rains obliged them to cancel the procession and parade, mass was held inside and was attended by many.  It was celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of San Isidro, Oscar Ojea and Fr. Jorge Luis Lagacio.  The event also included Basque dancers and music and following the blessing, Renzo Bustos, dantzari from Euskaltzaleak performed an Aurresku to the image of the Virgin of Arantzazu.  Afterwards, the Euskaltzaleak choir directed by Eliseo Rodriquez sang “Polit ederra,” “Aldapeko,” and “Agur Jaunak.”

“It was a beautiful experience for us,” Teresa de Zavaleta, president of Euskaltzaleak told EuskalKultura.com.  “The invitation came through a group of Basque students that we have in Martinez, with students from Martinez and San Fernando, since two of the  students collaborate with the church.  One of the students, Cecilia Ruiz, is learning Basque because she has Basque ancestors, but moreover because of the Virgin of Arantzazu the patron saint of San Fernando,” she said.

To conclude the festivities the hosts paid tribute to their guests with a lunch.