Vicariate of Argentina and Uruguay (VIARUR)

The Betharramite mission in south Argentina was one of the most courageous and most important choices made by St Michael. Everybody knows the whole story. Countless Basques had immigrated to the New World in search of work and a better life, but most of them were living like pagans according to Father Guimon, without any care for their religious formation. The Bishop of Buenos Aires had written to the Bishop of Bayonne asking him to send him some Basque priests. Mgr Lacroix spoke to Betharram about the problem. During the general assembly of the Congregation on 16 October 1864 our Founder included in the programme the following question: “Will our Society accept the mission which is offered to it to go and minister in the diocese of Buenos Aires?” The response was unanimous and the adventure in America had begun. (Read more...)