Fresno, CA, USA. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 1st is the day on the California Basque calendar designated for the annual Fresno Basque Picnic. Due to the pandemic, it has been cancelled for the second year in a row. Despite this, local Basques have decided to celebrate it anyway, but each at home. In order to carry this out the Santa Fe Basque Restaurant will provide Basque food to be ordered ahead of time so that each family can enjoy the day.
Although Aita Antton Egiguren, Basque chaplain in the United States who resides in Merced, California, is currently in the Basque Country nevertheless, Aita will celebrate mass online exchanging his normal parish in Merced for the Franciscan Chapel in Tolosa. Mass will be on Sunday, May 2nd at 8am (PST) or 5pm in Euskal Herria.
Basque families in Fresno will also enjoy following social media throughout the day broadcasting and exchanging videos reporting how they are celebrating. Last year we enjoyed music, kllika, dancing, and greetings that helped fill the gap left by the not being able to celebrate in person.
- Here is the missal for Sunday’s mass in English
- Mass can be followed live on Facebook, at 8am PST or 5pm in the Basque Country.
- Website for Artzai Ona the Basque Catholic Association in the US.
- To donate to Artzai Ona click here
Last year’s picnic at the Etchechury house:
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