Bristolera noa - I'm going to Bristol

Bada, bai: Bristolen egongo naiz datozen hiru asteotan. Abenduaren 20an berriz itzuliko naiz Euskal Herrira, baina bien bitartean ingelesezko ikastaro bat egingo dut, Eusko Jaurlaritzak ordainduta Garatu plangintzaren barruan. Beraz, ez deitu telefonoz ez badidazu ordaindu arazi nahi... Kontatuko dizuet ea zer moduz nabilen. Orain artean familia batekin ('Ireland' deituradunak) biziko naizela eta igande goizean aterako garela Loiutik. Beste dena, ikusteko dago.

Hurrengora arte!


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That's it. My poor English needs some polishing, so the Basque Government has granted me a three weeks stay in Bristol (UK) in order to take a course for English language improvement. I'll be living with the Ireland family in a victorian house and I intend to enjoy myself as much as I can. We are some 11 people -teachers- who will be leaving from Bilbao next Sunday morning and coming back on December 20. In the meanwhile, lots of fun, I hope. I'll get you posted, don't worry.

Cheerio!

Sekulartze urtea - Exclaustration year

Adiskidea, honez gero ofiziala da. San Viatorren Kontseilu Nagusiak, Erroman, urtebete komunitatetik kanpora bizitzeko egin diodan eskaera onartu egin du. Izatez, komunitatea guztiz utzi aurreko pausutzat har daiteke hau, hasieran hartu nuen erabakia horixe baitzen eta zeru mugan horixe agertzen baita oraindik. Baina urtebetez atzeratzea zuhurtasunak berak eskatzen du, inor ezin baitaiteke erabat ziur egon horrelako erabaki larriak hartzen direnean.

Dizernimendu prozesuan ia hiru urte egin ditut, hartu dudan hau laugarrena izango litzatekeelarik. Beraz, ondo hausnarturiko kontua izan da, ez arin-arin erabakitzen diren horietakoa. Majo kostata hartutako erabakia, izan ere. Eta arrazoien bila bazabiltza, blog honetan barren abiatzea baino ez duzu. Bertan agertzen diren arduretako askok osatu baitute arrazoi 'corpus'a honetara ekarri nautenak. Baina, oroz gain, Jainkoaren aurrean hartu dudan erabakia izan da, eta barnean sentitzen dudan bakea gero eta handiagoa da. Eliza 'ofizialarekin' dudan borroka giltzarri izan da honetan guztian eta gauzak zuzen egitekotan, neure biziari bira emateko ala ez erabakitzeko momentuan, txepelkerietan ibiltzeko debekua jarri diot neure buruari, eta aurrera segitzeko agindua. Eta pozik nago.

Badirudi Sestaon bertan biziko naizela, alokairuko etxea aurkitu baitut gaur bertan, lan egiten dudan lekutik oso gertu. Izan ere, Sestaoko Saturnino de la Peñan hartu nuen plaza (urtebeterako), neure institutua izan dena 14 urtetan zehar.

Beraz, neure poza eta lasaitasuna konpartitu nahi nuen blog honek irakurle zaituzten guztiekin. Eta nahi dituzuen iradokizunak eta mezuak hartzeko prest nagoela berresten dizuet. Eskerrik asko.

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It's official. The General Council of the Clerics of Saint Viator in Rome has approved my request for a year of exclaustration. This is generally taken as a previous step towards secularization; in fact, that was my first decision, but I thought that it does no harm to have an extra year to think things over a little. Anyway, secularization is still what I see in the horizon.

I’ve been thinking it over for almost three years now: this extra one would make it four. So, this hasn’t been a lightly taken decision, but a hard one, taken after a long discernment process. Then, if you are looking for reasons, in many posts below you’ll find plenty of them. But the main one is that I know that I’ve taken this decision before God and that She/He gives me peace, more and more every day. The ‘fight’ I maintain with the ‘official’ Church is a keystone to understand what has been going on inside me in this whole ordeal. I sensed the need of doing things right and, if I had to take a u-turn, that I had to do it, no matter what. So I’m glad I’ve done it.

As it seems I will be living in Sestao, in a rented house I found today, just some 109 m away from my job. I choose to work (for one year) at the same school I’ve been working 14 years.

So, I wanted to share in my joy and peace with all of you, readers of this blog. I am open to all your suggestions, reactions and messages. I thank you for all of them beforehand.

LORTU DUT! - I DID IT!

Santa Polan nago, amari laguntzen etxea atontzen eta, bide batez, egun batzuk pasatzeko itsas bazterrean, lasai lasai... Eta gaur goizean, 10:30 inguruan, Ama etorri zait telefonoarekin arrebaren deia nuela esanda... Telefonoa hartu, logalea kendu barik oraindik, eta arrebak esan dit 4. GELDITU NAIZELA OPOSIZIOAN!!! Beraz, ikasturte honetan guztian amesgaizto izan dena amets gozo bihurtu da bapatean. Eskerrik asko adorea erakutsi didazuen guztioi, hau irakurriko duzuenetako asko, egia esateko. Zerbait gehiago dakidanean, hementxe ikusiko duzue, baina ezin izango ditut zuen epostak erantzun, ez baitaukat internetik etxean. Ondo izan eta uda ondo pasa.

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I am spending some nice vacation days with "Amatxo" (mum) in Spanish coastal side of the Mediterranean. This morning amatxo has awaken me and handed her cellular phone. It was Ana, my sister, who wanted to tell me that, at last, I HAVE OBTAINED A JOB as a civil servant teacher. It's been almost a nightmare during this whole school year, but now one of my dreams has come true! I want to thank you all who encouraged me during this ordeal, many of you readers of this blog. Any other further information I may obtain, I'll post it here, but I won't be able to answer your emails in a while, since I don't have internet at home. In the meanwhile, have a nice summer.

Pixka bat es mucho

Gaur, oposizioetako azterketa dudan honetan, euskararen aldeko zerbait jarri nahi dut hemen, labur-labur, berrikusi behar ditut apunteak eta. Bideoklip miresgarri hau egin dute Hizkuntza Politikako Sailburuordetzatik. Ea gustuko duzun! (eta opa zorte on azterketan!)



In this videoclip above you can see some young people encouraging everyone to talk or learn Basque, our national language. Today I am going to take the exam to become Basque Teacher Civil Servant. This post wants to be kind of a homage to my mother tongue. Wish me good luck!!

Zer nahi, hura ikusi - We do chose what to see

Ikusi nahi ez duguna inongo ahaleginik gabe oharkabean pasatzen zaigu. Horren susmoa badugu, jakina. Baina hona hemen froga zirraragarria. Ikasleekin lantzeko kontu interesgarria.



Whenever something displeases us we chose unconsciously not to see it. We have always suspected that, but there is proof now. Watch it. It's worth it. My students are going to reflect on that.

Jainko Ama - Mother God

Ipuin xarmangarri hau aurkitu dut sarean nenbilela. Jainkoa Ama baten modura azaltzen du; eta egiatik oso hurbil dagoela deritzot, bihotzak eta barrunbeek esaten didate. Ur freskoa edatea baino osasungarriagoa. Eta bistarentzat ere, oso atsegina. Gomendatzen dizut, biziki. Utziezu iruzkinen bat, eskertu egingo dute (Ipuina gaztelaniaz dago, sorry).

Jainko Amaren ipuina


Surfing through the Internet one can always find some pearls among all the junk. This is the case. Two wonderful women tell us a tale about God being a mum. It's so refreshing! Even more in these times, when so many prophets of the disaster make themselves almost the only ones heard. The drawings too are very nice. A true gift. (in Spanish, though)

Mother God's Tale

Zirraragarria! - Shocking!

Nasija
Cargado por short_film

Beste Jainko bat da posible - A different God is possible

Sarean gora eta behera nenbilela, "Otro Dios es posible" webgunea aurkitu nuen. Biziki gomendatzen dizuet. "Un Tal Jesús"-en egileen beste maisulan bat, alafede. Bertan Jesukristo berriz Lurrera etorriko balitz egingo lizkioketen elkarrizketa batzuk (100) azaltzen dira. Gaika sailkaturik daude eta hainbat pertsonek, sinestedunek eta bestelako kontutan fededun direnek ere bere buruari galdetzen dizkioten hainbat kontu entzun eta irakur daitezke. Gaur, Homofobiaren Kontrako Nazioarteko Egunean, honako hau gomendatzen dizuet.

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Surfing through the web, I found out a small miracle. Jesus Christ has come again and has granted 100 interviews in this site, called like the title of this post. The interviews are more than interesting, in Spanish though. The makers did also Un Tal Jesús, a radio broadcast about the Gospel. This site has all the chapters in Spanish, Portuguese and ENGLISH. Today, while the International Day against Homophobia is being celebrated all around the world, I recommend you this chapter. Enjoy it.

Ezagutzen d(na)uzu? - Do you know him/me?

Zeuk ere egin diezaiokezu barre zeure buruari hemen sartzen bazara. Webgune horretan, zeure edo lagunen argazkiak nahastu ahal izango dituzu pertsonaia ezagunenekin... Saiatu eta bidali ezusteko batzuk hortik zehar...

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You also can have a laugh if you get into this website. There you can mix up your or your friends' pictures with some famous people's faces or hairstyles... Try it and give away some surprises!

Ile mozketa birtuala - Virtual hair cut

Jantzi zeure aurikularrak eta entzun beheko bideoa. Ileapaindegi birtual batean zaude. Eta ingelesez egonik ulertzen ez baduzu ere, berdin dio: efektua harrigarria da, benetan! Eta begiak itxita, askoz hobeto oraindik. Gozatu!



Put on your headphones, close your eyes and enjoy! You are in a virtual barber shop and if you close your eyes the effect will be even more amazing, if possible. Enjoy it!

A Fala de Xálima

Asteburu luze honetan "Extremauran" izan naiz, ezkontza batean. Nire adiskide Sonia eta Fran ziren ezkontzekoak eta, Sestaon bizi diren arren, bion familiak hangoak direnez, hantxe ibili ginen asteburu osoan. Udaberriko garai honetan are lurralde zoragarriagoa begitandu zait hangoa. Baina nire ustekaberik handiena hizkuntzaren aldetik etorri da. Izatez, bi hizkuntza desberdin aurkitu ditut, bizi-bizirik biak. Bata, "extremeñu" izena hartuko lukeena, eta bestea "A Fala de Xálima" litzateke. Lehena, "Extremaurako" inguru zabal batean hitz egiten da, Caceresko probintziaren ipar mendebaldean, lehen mapan ikus daitekeenez. Astur-leoneraren dialektoa litzateke eta, zenbait herritan, gazteek barra-barra erabiltzen dute. Ezkontidearen anaiak esan zidanez, esaterako, hotz naiz "tengu friu" litzateke; edo ilea busti, berriz, esmullecer el pelu.

Hori nahikoa izan ez balitz, hona anaiak berak esan zidala bazela gailegoaren dialektoa hitz egiten zuten hiru herri, Gatako mendikatearen magalean. Eta halaxe da, hemen eta hemen egiazta daitekeen moduan. Azpian dagoen mapak adierazten du herrion kokapena.

Jamaika ikusteko jaioak gara!



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At the West-Southwestern corner of the Spanish State there is a region called "Extremadura". I've been there these four last days of our beloved May 1st bank holiday. some friends of mine were going to marry and I had to do the preaching at the ceremony. Which I did. But that's not the reason I'm writing now here.

I've discovered a very beautiful country, so green these days. And most of all, I've discovered two languages I knew almost nothing about. One of them is the so-called "Extremeñu", kind of a dialect of the better known "Bable", which is spoken from the coastal region of Asturies, far north of Extremadura, till there. I thought it had been lost far ago in these parts. But no; it seems to be quite strong yet, since young people still use it. The first map shows where this language is used.

The second language is even weirder than the previous one. In fact, it seems to be a dialect of Galician, the language spoken in the Northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The second map gives its situation.

Interesting, isn't it?

Euskadi Irratiko audioak - The audio of Euskadi Irratia's interview

Lehen atala - First part (In Basque, sorry)


Bigarren atala - Second part (In Basque too)


Eta Hirugarrena - Third and last

Sinestezina, besterik gabe - Hardly believable

Euskadi Irratian - At "Euskadi Irratia" Radio

Borja Agirre eta biok elkarrizketatu gintuzten atzo Euskadi Irratian, Faktoria saioan. Borja Eliza Gararen ordezkari gisa eta ni Kristau Sarearenean. Hori ikusita, laster asko asmatuko duzu zeri buruz hitz egitera deitu gintuzten. 20 minutuz ari izan ginen Elizan demokraziak irabazi behar dituen eremuei buruz (ia denak), gotzainak aukeratzeko prozesuari buruz (Bilboko elizbarrutiko gotzain laguntzaileaz luze jardun genuen), emakumearen papera (edo, hobe esanda, paper ezaz hainbat arlotan), gayen ezkontzaz, Elena Sanz Gotzainen Konferentziaren Buru izateko hautagaitza sinbolikoaz, Kristau Sareak bultzatutako Gotzain Hauteskunde keinuaz...

Biok geratu ginen gustura esandakoez. Erlatibismoaren kontrako gurutzada hasi den honetan, guk ere erlatibizatu egin genituen geure iritziak eta esan garrantzizkoena ez dela Elizaren hierarkia edo antolakuntza; ezta bertan ematen diren giza eskubide oinarrizkoenen urraketa bera ere -inportanteak diren arren, jakina-, baizik ea Ebanjelioari eta Jesusi leialak ote garen batzuk eta besteak, ea Fedea ote dagoen egiten dugunaren sustraian edo bestelako interesak.

Manu Etxezortuk Donostiatik eta Lurrek bertatik abagune ederra eman ziguten adierazi nahi genuen guztia esateko, moztu gabe eta ondo taxututako galderak eginez. Zorionak bioi eta lan-talde osoari!

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Yesterday, half an hour before previously scheduled, Borja Agirre on behalf of We Are Church and yours truly on behalf of Kristau Sarea were at the studio of Euskadi Irratia Radio Station. The topic? You know, same as always: Democracy in the Church, Election of Bishops, Role of women in the Church (or absence of it), gay marriage, the symbolic elections of a woman (Ms. Sorority) as a Bishop and Ms. Elena Sanz as head of the Spanish Bishops' Conference...

We felt at ease there, as we were able to speak our mind with almost no restrictions (just time: 20'). Anyway, I would underline the fact that all those battles we fight against authoritarianism, or sexism, or bigotry in the Church are not -mustn't be- our biggest concern. Instead, to be loyal followers of Jesus and his Gospel, to do everything based on our Faith and confidence in God is what drives us. And we said it so.

I want to thank all the crew there, specially Manu Etxezortu and Lur. Their well thought questions and their respect for our answers made it a good program, in my opinion. Thanks!

Forges, telebista eta beste - Forges, television & sth else

Forges-ek, askotan bezala, bete-betean asmatu du oraingoan. Gutako asko komikiko pazientearen modura sentitzen gara, batetik geure kristau eta eliztar izateari eutsi nahian, eta bestetik "hor ez nabiek gure" pentsatuz. Eskerrak ez den dena kolore berekoa...

Esaterako, lehengo egunean, KALAKA saioan izan nintzen, agindu bezala, eta OPUSeko emakume jator batekin, Itxaro Solozabal, Miramonera eraman gintuen taxian joateko zorte ona izan nuen. OPUSekoa esan dut, bai; baita "jatorra" ere. Ezusteko atsegina izan zen: elkarren argudioak entzun eta errespetatu egin genituela esango nuke. Gure Joxe Arregi estimatua ere bertan izan zen. Haren iritziekin erabat ados ikusi nuen neure burua, berak nireak ikusiko zituen modu berean, seguru asko. Eta Koldo Martínez, neure izenkidea, izenean baino askoz gehiagotan dut kide: Arrasatekoa, San Viatorren ikasia, Arrasaten eta Gasteizen... eta bestelako loturak ere konpartitzen ditugu... Eta eskuz binakako txapeldunetako bat (Aimar Olaizola) ere agurtzeko modua izan nuen.

Oso ondo tratatu gintuzten eta, iradoki zutena egia bada, ez da deitzen nauten azken aldia izango. Ni, pozik. Zertarako esan kontrakoa? ATBn eman nituen lau urteak etorri zitzaizkidan gogora, bizi-bizi.


The comic strip above says something like this: "Either you stop caring about whatever the Bishops Conference says or you apostatize, but this has to stop". It reflects quite well how many of us feel too many times: willing to stay a member of the Church and a Christian and sensing something like "They don't want me here". But not everything is the same, thanks be to God...

For instance, I went, as promised, to the KALAKA show. The greatest thing was the people I met, over all a woman, Itxaro Solozabal, who belongs to OPUS, although she is a very nice person. We had the opportunity of sharing our thoughts and we respected each other very much. Joxe Arregi, a Franciscan friend of mine was there too; and Koldo Martínez, a doctor whom I share lots of things with, apart from the name. And there was also the Pelota champion Aimar Olaizola whom I had the chance to greet.

I enjoyed myself there. If I got it right, they are going to call me some other times to give my opinions in the show on religious matters. It reminds me of the times I worked in ATB, a local TV Network in Arrasate. I'll get you posted.

Kalakan

Iparraldeko hitz horrek "berriketan" esan nahi omen du. Ibon Sarasolaren Euskal hiztegiak honako ordaina ematen du: "2. Berriketa, berezk. gogaikarria dena" (kurtsiba neuk ipinita). Bada, asteazken honetan, martxoaren 26an, ETB1eko KALAKA saioko kalakari bat izateko gonbidatu naute. Gaia, Pagolaren "Jesús" liburua, hementxe duzuen bera. Gaueko 10:15etan hastekoa omen da eta espero dut gogaikarri ez gertatzea telebista aurrean jarriko zareten guztioi. Izan ere, eta dakidanagatik, Opusekoren bat ere izango da eta Joxe Arregi adiskidea. Beraz, eztabaida nahi bada, horixe bera egongo da, niri dagokidan partean, behintzat.

Bide batez, Pazko zoriontsua guztiontzat!

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I've been invited to appear in a TV show next Wednesday, March 26, at 9:15 p.m. (GTM) - 2:15 p.m. local time in Chicago. The main topic is going to be the book "Jesús-Aproximación histórica" which I wrote about some posts ago. You might be able to look for some information about the show in this link, but I'm afraid you are not going to be able to watch it (I checked it out). Anyway, the channel's name is ETB 1 (Euskal Telebista 1) and the whole show is going to be in Basque. You wouldn't be able to understand much, I'm afraid. I'll tell you how it went.

By the way, I wish you a very happy Easter. Christ has raised!

Rouco? Niri bost - New President for the Bishop's Conference: I don't care

Rouco aukeratu dute inork aukeratu ez dituen horiek beren presidente izateko. Eta guri zer? Konferentzia horretako partaide izateko izendatu zituztenean ez ziguten guri galdetu. Ez digute galdetu ezta ea nor nahiago genuen presidentetzarako. Zeren haiek bai dira gai (gay ez, e!)zentzuzko aukerak egiteko. Gu, oinarriko kristauok ez, ordea. Beti "beste batzuek" esaten dutenari egin behar diogu kasu, guk ez baitakigu zer den ona guretzat...

Akaso umekeria dela esango duzue, baina niri kasu pitorik ere egiten ez didanari ez daukat zertan nik egin. Beraz, bejondeiela beren presidente dontsu horrekin. Patatekin jan dezatela!

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The Spanish Bishops have elected their president. He is Antonio María Rouco Varela, the guy in the picture. The picture doesn't show, though, how right wing and neocon he is. Since next Sunday will be the election for the Spanish Congress, there was a big fuss about who would turn out president of the bishops: they could chose between the rightest wing ever (Rouco) or one of the rightest (Blázquez). You know now what their choice has been.

Do I care? Not in the least. No one asked us who we wanted to be our bishop. No one of the members of that group has been elected by the Christian People; "someones" appointed them. Why should I expect any hint of Democracy from where never was none?

So, let's live our Christian lives not paying attention to them. They don't deserve we give them any protagonism: they are NOT important. The poor are.

Kristau Sarearen bideoa - The video of Kristau Sarea (Christian Net)

Kristau Sareako lagunok bideotxo hau egin dugu Madrideko "Redes Cristianas" kolektiboaren bilkuraren harira. Blog honen egile apalak aurkeztu egiten du eta hanka sartu behin baino gehiagotan. Ikusi eta epaitu.

Lerro hauen ostean, berriz, "Pásalo" saioan agertu ziren nire adierazpenak agertzen dira, bi zatitan agertu ere. Roger Etxegarai euskal kardinalaren deklarazioen harira hitz egin nuen, baita Kristau Sarea eta Redes Cristianas-i buruz ere.

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"Kristau Sarea" (Christian Net in Basque) is a group I belong to, which met with dozens of similar groups last November, in Madrid (we were more than 500 people at that meeting). As a result, a final communication was written which pointed out the things that the Church (and us in it) could do better, even those that only could get better, since worse seems impossible...

Well, that paper is a little bit long, so we decided that it could be a good thing if we made a video trying to explain what was going on in it. This is the fruit of all our efforts. Watch and judge (just in Basque and Spanish -sorry!).

After these lines there are two other videos, which in fact are just one cut into two halves. It is in Spanish and, again there is me explaining to the Basque TV (ETB) some things about Kristau Sarea and the declarations of Basque Cardinal Roger Etxegarai, saying that marriage of priests is a question to discuss in the Church, not something already settled. The second one is about the discussion some attendants had afterwards (in Spanish).

Mario Iceta: nahi eta nahi ez / Like it or not, our new Bishop is here

Alea jacta est. Eleizbarrutiko gotzain laguntzaile izendatu habe, iñok ez jakik zelan. Hik bai, baina. Hire barri ez daukan eleizbarruti batera hator, haren alde ez dok sekula santan apusturik egin eta orain, barriz, hementxe hago. Hainbeste titulu izanik eta hizkuntza jakinik, ez juat pentsetan iñok sinistu leikenik ez dakianik hire izendapenak zer esan gura dauen. Ze izendapena onartu izanak berak larritzen naik gehien. Hona nik (eta hik) ikusten ditudan akats larrienak:

• Eleizbarrutiak ez jok izan zeresanik hire izendapenean. Are gehiago, ez dok ezelan be bultzatu kontsultarik edo antzekorik, saihestu egin nahi izan diralako, konbentzituta nak. Ez egik espero irentsi behar ei hauen eleizbarrutiagandik ezelango harrera berorik. Harrera beroa egingo dosken bakarra "placet"-a emon dosken Ricardo izango dok eta bere zenbait adiskide, esaten dauana esaten dauala baietza emoten dotseen horreek berak. Ez nik, ez guk, ez askok, ezta gehienak be...
• Hire euskaldun izate hori saldu nahi izana gure borondatearen ordain modura. Guk nahi geunkek, seguru, geure gotzaina euskalduna izatea. Baina guztiaren gainetik gure eleizbarrutiak behar eta nahi dauen pertsona izatea. Eta hori lapurtu egin deuskuzue. Ezelango lotsa barik.
• Izan duan prestakuntzagaitik irakurri leikek OPUSen inguruko sentsibilitatea daukaala. Eta Antonio Mª Roucok -guk ez bezala- zerikusi handia izan dauala hire izendapenean. Hi pertsonalki epaitu gura barik -ez haut ezagutzen- burla itxura hartzen jotsat horri. Eta errespetu falta ikaragarria. Zelan izendatu leikek kredentzial horreek daukazan bat Bilboko eleizbarrutiko buruorde? Eleizbarruti honek hamaika akats jaukazak, baina hik ordezkatzen duan eredu horretatik oso hurrin jak, Jaungoikoari eskerrak.
• Komuniñoa aitatuko juek -dozue- hire izendapena onartu daigun. Bada, ez. Komuniñoari muzin egin dotseen lehenak hi izendatu habenak izan dituk. Beraz, ez espero guregandik jarrera otzanik. Hipokrisia itzela jak planteamendu horretan eta horretaz jakitun gazak. Kontutan euki.
  

Apirilean izango dok hire "gotzaintzea" Jaun Done Jakue Bilboko katedralean. Ez nok hor egongo, protestan egiteko ez bada.

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A new auxiliary bishop has been appointed for our diocese of Bilbao. He is suspiciously young (42) and so close to OPUS that many people among us are very worried. Because no one really knows what's going on the minds of the Church rulers (they don't want us to), even though everybody suspects the worst. In the letter above I tell him the 4 main mistakes I see in his appoinment: 1)The diocese had no say in it; 2)His being Basque is sold as a fulfillment of the diocese's will, which is not; 3)Bilbao Diocese being so self conscious and advanced in may fields, this appoinment sounds as a joke and a very big lack of respect for it; 4) They have not respected the communion in the Church, so it mustn't be an excuse to make us accept it.

Agur Jaunak Alemanian - "Agur Jaunak" in Germany

Hona bideoklip harrigarri hau, azken aldi honetan sarean zabaldu dutena. Kelly familia kantari Alemaniako Loreley-ko jaialdian. Hunkigarria benetan!



In this video we listen to the old Basque song "Agur Jaunak" ("Farewell, gentlemen")sung by the Kelly Family in a festival in Loreley (Germany). It touched my heart, deep. The translation for the song would be something like this:

"Farewell, gentlemen, farewell.
Everyone of us was created by God,
both you all and us too.
Farewell, gentlemen, farewell,
here we are.
Farewell, gentlemen."

This currently sung by most Basque people at the end of parties or public events, while everyone stands up. Enjoy it.

Ezin tentazioari eutsi! - I cannot resist the temptation!

Gure familian kontu "marroiak" beti izan dira barre algarako motibo. Horrexegatik, bideo hau ikusi dudanean, ezin tentazioari eutsi. . Asteburu ona izan.

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Farts and things of the kind always have been a good reason to have a laugh in my family. That's why I cannot resist the temptation. Here you are and enjoy the weekend.

Heath Ledger hil da - Heath Ledger is dead

Oraindik artega, ezin dut sinetsi Heath Ledger (argazkian) hil denik. Bere buruaz beste egin duela diote batzuek, gaindosiaz izan dela besteek... Berdin dio. Brokeback Mountain filmean izan zuen papera ahaztezina gertatuko zaigu asko eta askori, ni tarteko. Goian bego.

Informazio gehiago hemen

I am still shocked by the news that Heath Ledger, main character of Brokeback Mountain, is dead. It could be suicide, overdose... who knows. But his image won't disappear from the minds of all those who were somehow affected by that wonderful movie. Rest in peace.

More information here

Zilarraren Ibilbidea - The Silver Path

Nire lagun honek, Fran Llanos (argazkian), bere beste lagun batzuekin sekulako balentria egin dute berriki. Izan ere, erronka jarri zioten beren buruari 24 ordutan, 8 lagunen artean eta txandaka, "Ruta de la Plata" delakoa egingo zutela Extremadurari dagokion zatian (333 km). Bakoitzari maratoi oso bat (42 km) legokioke, nahikoa martxa onean, batez beste 13,85 Km/h.

BAITA LORTU ERE!!

Bertatik atera duten guztia (dirua, materiala, jokoak...) Sahararrentzat izango da eta badirudi jende askoren laguntza izan dutela. Zorionak eman dizkiot, jakina, baita bere emaztegai Soniari ere, haiekin egon baitzen erronkak iraun zuen denbora guztian, erizain lanak betetzen. Hemen beren bloga daukazu eta hemen Franen helbidea zorionak bidaltzeko. Argazkiak hemen.

My friend Fran (in the picture at the top) and some other 7 colleagues have recently achieved a wonderful goal: they bet they would run for 333 km (207 miles) in 24 hours top, in turns, running a Marathon (42 km - 26 miles) each. They had to run at 13.85 kph average speed (8.61 mph). All the goods they obtained from different sponsors is going to go to the Saharan people, from Western Sahara (occupied by Morocco for 32 long years now).

I have congratulated him and his girlfriend, Sonia, the wonderful blonde behind the flag (in the picture). If you want to do the same send Fran a message. More information at their blog. Pictures of the event here.

Pagolaren "Jesús": Hori liburu ederra! - "Jesús" by Pagola: what a wonderful book!

Joxe Antonio Pagolaren "Jesús - Aproximación histórica" liburua ia amaituta, azken aldiotan irakurri dudan gauzarik ederrena izan da. Nola ez, laster atera dira haren kontrako ahotsak. Betikoak, besteak beste. Tarazonako gotzainak gutun pastorala eta guzti kaleratu du, "arriskutsua" izan daitekeela argudiatuta (hemen). Nik, hori irakurrita, mezu hau bidali diot Joxe Antoniori.

Kaixo, Joxe Antonio. Elkar ezagutzen diagu, baina hi ez haiz nirekin gogoratuko, segurutik. Arrasateko San Viatorren ibili ninduan 16 urtez, San Viatorreko erlijiosoa naizenez, eta orduan ezagutu hindudan, hainbat aldiz gure Ikastolara hitzaldiak ematera etorri hintzen-eta.

Irakurri diat hire liburua (azken eranskinak baino ez zaizkidak falta) eta esan behar diat ikaragarri lagundu didala hilabeteko Gogo-Jardunen esperientzia berritzen. Nik ez diat irakurri teologo batek irakurriko lukeen bezala (Tarazonako webgunekoak, esaterako -horiek ere irakurri dizkiat), baina fededun baten begiradarekin. Eta hik heuk adierazten duan esperientzia hori, alegia, kapitulu bakoitzean Jesusi galdetzen hiola ea zer esaten zuen berak, nik neuk ere izan diat irakurtzean. Izan ere, ez diat jakin askotan otoitzean ari nintzen ala liburu ezin erakargarriago bat irakurtzen. Erabat hunkituta gertatu nauk irakurketagatik eta gogoratze hutsak negarrak eragiten zizkidak.

Esan behar diat, erabat zintzoa izateko, ez naizela ni izan, prezisamente, Jose Mari Setienekin ibili hintzen garai haren zaleetako bat. Ez, behintzat, zuen jardun pastoralaren (eta eliztarraren) aldekoa. Beti harritu izan naik hi ezagututa hainbeste kontu okerren aurrean ahotsa altxatu ez izanak (neure ikuspuntu partikularretik begiratuta, jakina). Baina ez diat honekin epairik bota nahi, ez bainaiz ni inor hi edo beste edonor epaitzeko. Hanka sartzen lehena izaten nauk, gainera; beraz, ezin inori ezer leporatu. Baina hik heuk esaten duk Vida Nuevan (uste diat) orain baduala ausardia garai batean esaten ausartuko ez hintzatekeenak esateko. Berdin sentitzen nauk; horrexegatik esan izan diat aurrekoa.

Bukatzeko ESKERRIK ASKO handi bat. Eclesalian argitaratzen duana zintzo-zintzo irakurtzen diat astero eta harengatik eskertuta egonik, liburuaren kontra agertutakoek aukera ematen zidatek neure elkartasuna adierazteko. Eutsi goiari eta nahi duan arte.

I have just finished my reading of the book "Jesús-Aproximación historica" by J.A. Pagola (Jesus: an historical approach). It happens to be a wonderful book which has renewed in me my deepest experience ever, i.e. the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius that I had in August 1993 (the whole month).

This book has been recently attacked by some bishop and theologians, all of them very concerned about losing the grip over Christians' minds. They deem it potentially "dangerous". You can read them here (in Spanish). The Jesus portrayed in Pagola's book, though, is so liberating, so very close to our humanity, no wonder some people can't stand him. That very same thing happened two thousand years ago...

Just in order to show him my solidarity I wrote the letter you have above (In Basque, sorry).

Radio Euskadin hitz egin dut - I spoke in Radio Euskadi

Aurreko sarrerako gaia zela eta, Radio Euskadiko Dani Álvarezek deitu zidan ea "cristianos de base" direlakoen izenean zerbait esango ote nuen. Baietza eman eta 6-7 minutuz aritu nintzen bere galderei erantzuten. Danik bere blogean haren inguruko komentarioa plazaratu du (gaztelaniaz). Hemen duzue esteka.

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Last Friday I got a call from Radio Euskadi broadcast station. They wanted me to talk about our opinion ("us" being the 'low church' Christians) on the events in Madrid. Dani Álvarez, the director of the show, wrote about what was said (link here-in Spanish)

Familia gora eta familia behera - The family all over the place

Madriden izan zen bilkura hari "ekintza liturgiko" izena ezarri nahi izan zioten, mitina dei ziezaioketen modu berean.

Penagarriena ez da pertsona batzuek horrela pentsatzea. Hori zilegi da. Baina Elizaren izenean egitea larria da, benetan. Han egon zirenetako askori ikaragarri gustatuko litzaieke eliztar denok iritzi berekoak izatea. Eta horri "komunioa" deituko liokete.

Bada, ez, hori ez da komunioa. Nire irudiko, desberdinen artean lortzen den batasuna da komunioa, desberdintasunei, aniztasunari eutsiz.

Eta Madriden iradoki zuten guztiz kontrakoa, alegia, "gure familia ereduarekin bat ez datorren guztia ez da familia". Eta kitto... Ez dut nik Jesus ikusten horrelakoak botatzen...

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There has been recently a so-called "liturgical act" which turned out to be a political demonstration. The motto was the defense of the Family and the callers the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Rouco Varela and most of the right wing movements of that diocese (specially Kiko Argüello's "neo-catechumenals"). The attendants were less than 180.000 where more than 1.5 million were expected.

As said, it turned out to be a pre-election meeting, conceived just against the policies promoted by the labour government of Rodríguez Zapatero, as gay marriage, the so-called divorce-express law and the funds for single mothers (!).

I don't see much of Jesus in that kind of demonstrations. In this State of ours Church and State are not yet completely separated, and Bishops feel they could have an influence over the politics of Spain. Another way to retain power...

What a pity!