MEXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SYDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MEXICO … VANCOUVEREUSKAL E…TX ECHILEAK … SYDNEY B…AS QBUENOSUE CEN TAIRESERS … E X T E Basque Centers gather in Euskadi Z Euskal Etxeak delegates to presided by Amaya Communities, Josu Lega- the Third Congress of Basque Zenarrutzabeitia Pikataza. rreta. Communities held in July After an emotional morning On April 30th and May 1st 2004 decided to establish an bathed in sunshine, mass was 100 representatives from the E annual Day of the Diaspora to celebrated by Father Viana, Basque Centers of Madrid, be held simultaneously in all who prayed for the eternal Salou, Valencia and of the Euskal Etxeak and in rest of of Kontxi Bilbao, Valladolid, accompanied by different locations in Euskadi Sabin Zenarutzabeitia and the Director of Relations with on a rotation basis.On April Javier Odriozola. Basque Communities and his 23rd of this year 160 Lunch was held at a assistant, Asier Abaunza, X members from the Caracas, ciderhouse in honor of Ane celebrated the Day of the Puerto La Cruz and Valencia Albaya and Iñaki Urzelay on Diaspora. A full program of Basque Centers in Venezuela their 87th birthday. activities took place in the celebrated their annual ZORIONAK! towns of Azpeitia, Azkoitia, rendezvous in the town of Also present were the Ezkio, Ormaiztegi and Oñati. T Galdakao, Bizkaia. The Consul General of Venezuela The event got under way Basque clubs are part of the in Bilbao, Yolanda Rojas with an official reception at Simón Bolivar Basque Urbina, and the Director of the Azpeitia Town Hall, Venezuelan Association, Relations with Basque including an aurresku danced E 26 EUSKAL ETXEAK Issue 69 Year 2005 MEXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SYDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACA … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MEXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTERS VANCOUVER … CHILE … SYDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … in the guests' honor, and a reception presided over by the Mayor and the Councillor for E Culture. Afterwards, the group visited the Sanctuary of Loyola and the town of Azkoitia, where the retinue was offered a warm welcome X by the mayor. Highlighted among the many activities was a guided tour of the beautiful parish church, which boasts one of the finest T organs in Euskadi.The official organist played several pieces for the visitors. Dinner and a display of E rural sports, Basque dance and music were organized by the Azpeitia Town Hall. May 1st was set aside for a visit to the Zumalacarregui Museum in Ormaiztegi and to a 16th century farmhouse- cider press in Ezkio. After Z lunch at Aranzazu, the group visited the sanctuary and setting, enjoying the artwork, including sculptures by E Oteiza, the apse by Muñoz and paintings by Baste- rretxea. Oñati bid farewell to the group with an aurresku and a X guided tour of the first University of the Basque Country, built in the 16th century, and of the splendid parish church of San Miguel. T Eskerrik asko! Thanks for joining us! E Issue 69 Year 2005 BASQUE CENTERS 27.