OTEIZA IZAGUIRRE Luis (Father) - Spain
Azcoitia (Spain), 25 January 1930 - Mendelu (Spain), 30 November 2014
Father Luis Oteiza was born on January 25, 1930 in Azcoitia (Guipuzcoa, Spain).
He did part of his studies at Mendelu. When we were young, we got to know each other in Balarin and became friends then. I knew he was always interested in us, the Bel Sito alumni. His novitiate was in 1947 the year of the canonization. To the delight of Father Buzy we were 20 novices! He made his first profession at 18, at Balarin ... then he took the path to Bel Sito just when it was founded in 1948. He was ordained in the cathedral of Bordeaux in 1954. We were together in a district of the city for pastoral work. This friend had a noble bearing, was quite discreet, and not over talkative.
He was sent in 1960 to the communities of Barracas and Rosario in Argentina, where he spent four years before returning to the communities of Spain. When he returned to Mendelu he went with Father Ayerza to the College of Azpeitia about 60 km away, close to Loyola. He was also superior of the Apostolicate house. After the closure of Azpeitia, he was called to France in 1997 to the community of Pibrac, an opportunity for a year of ongoing formation. Then in 1998 he went to Our Lady of Refuge in Anglet, where he remained about four years.
I know that in Anglet, he was much appreciated. The Spanish and Basque sisters could share with him in their native language.
Returning to Mendelu in 2002, he was chaplain at a hospital in San Sebastian. He also eagerly embraced information technology.
But slowly he began to fade ... He often went to the parish of Hondarribia, on Sundays, but couldn’t always remember the way back ... This was becuase of a fairly rapid progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The new retirement home «Caser Betharram» right next to the Mendelu community was there to recieve him.
He spent about three years there. After a few minutes of a very friendly and smiling presence, he would then become vacant.
And he passed away in a similar fashion.
On 30 November, in the late evening, he died at the age of 84. We pray for his eternal rest and for Bétharram in Spain.
We thank Fr. Gabriel Verley SCJ
for sharing some of his memories.
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