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| Personal Information |
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| Surname: Belderrain |
Given Name: Juan Bautista de |
Sex: M |
| Place of Birth: Zizurkil, Gipuzkoa, Spain |
Date of Birth: 08/11/1747 |
Order: Franciscan |
| Place of Death: San Xavier del Bac |
Date of Death: 05/02/1790 |
Cause of Death: |
| Race or Tribe: Vizcaino |
Residence: Tumacácori; San Xavier |
Title: Misionero (OFM) |
| Place of Service: San Xavier del Bac; Tumacácori |
Burial Place: San Xavier del Bac |
Translation: (Basque - meadow land) |
| Notes: He was born on 11 August, 1747, and baptized the next day. His full surname as given in his and his seven siblings baptismal entries was "Belderrain Igarza." He always signed this name "Velderrain." He took his first vows in 1763 in San Sebastian, the capital city of Gipuzkoa. Some six years later he volunteered in Vitoria, the capital city of Alava, for the mission of 1769 to the College of Querétaro. By 1773 he was missionary to the Pimas Bajos at Tecoripa and Suaqui. In the face of much adversity he built a church at Suaqui. In 1776 his was one of eight missions that were turned over the the Franciscan province of Jalisco by the Querétarens. Belderrain took refuge at Tumacácori, joining his fellow Basque, Padre Pedro de Arriquibar for a couple of months. In early 1777 the lanky friar moved north to San Xavier del Bac and studied the Piman language under Padre Garcés. Garcés left for the Yuma Crossing and Padre Belderrain began construction of the famous "White Dove of the Desert." He died suddenly, vomiting blood, well before the church was completed. Padre Carrillo of Tumacácori arrived too late to administer the sacraments. Padre Juan Bautista Llorens replaced him at Bac and completed the magnificent church. |
