Farewell to the African Priest Who Adored Gipuzkoa

Over 10,000 kilometers and nearly 19 hours of flight separate Malawi from Gipuzkoa. This was the colossal journey that priest Peter Chiopsa undertook in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, from his native country in southeastern Africa to reach Eibar. He was sent by the bishop of Zomba, George Desmond Tambala, to reinforce the diocese of San Sebastián, then led by José Ignacio Munilla.

As a passionate football fan, he had heard about the local team, then in the First Division. But he knew little else about his destination. It was also his first time leaving Africa, and the idea of heading to Europe fascinated him. The developed society and industrial character of Eibar impressed someone who had grown up in a vast agricultural land, known as 'the warm heart of Africa' for its hospitable people, yet heavily affected by poverty.

Back in 2020, Peter could not have imagined that his stay in Gipuzkoa, initially planned for three years, would extend to six. Now, that stay has a final date. On September 6th, he will return to Africa, once again called by the bishop who brought him. 'He needs me there to take charge of the youth of the diocese of Zomba,' explains the 34-year-old priest, who states that during this time he has felt like 'just one of them' in all the towns in Gipuzkoa where he has carried out his pastoral work.

He will never forget the afternoons at the Ipurua and Anoeta stadiums watching his football idols. 'Before being a Real fan, I'm an Eibar fan... I met a man named Félix who went to mass daily, was a huge Eibar supporter, and when I mentioned my passion, he started taking me to Ipurua,' he recounts. He speaks highly of the welcome he received from the people of Eibar during the challenging initial months of adaptation. The Covid health emergency in effect upon his arrival in Eibar did not make things easy, coupled with his initial struggles with Basque and Spanish, languages he did not yet master. 'But the people of Eibar compensated for it; for many, I was just another person at their table,' he values.

He spent ten months in Eibar. Afterwards, he lived for a year in Itsasondo, serving as coadjutor for the parishes of Itsasondo, Ordizia, Zaldibia, Legorreta, and Gaintza. Finally, he has served for four years in the Alto Urola region as coadjutor for the parishes of Urretxu, Zumarraga, Legazpi, Ezkio, and Gabiria. The parish house in Zumarraga has been his home, and the church of San Martín de Tours in Urretxu, where he has most actively worked. Therefore, the church in Urretxu will be the venue for his farewell this Sunday, at half-past noon, with a sung mass by the parish choir, followed by a lunch in the church portico.

Here he will leave his football training sessions with the Urola veterans at Argixao in Zumarraga, the Basque language classes given by teacher Mari Carmen Viedma in the local parish office, the rural atmosphere he so enjoys in Telleriarte, Brinkola, Gabiria... and a Basque culture to which he declares his admiration. 'I love the traditions here; people take great care of them,' says Peter, who is also a fan of the group 'En Tol Sarmiento'.

Destined to help the youth of Zomba, the priest does not hide his sadness at having to leave Gipuzkoa. 'I will carry a piece of Eibar, Itsasondo, Urretxu, Legazpi, Zumarraga, Ezkio, Gabiria... in my heart,' enumerates Chiopsa, whose open character and sympathy have earned him the affection of his neighbors, both inside and outside the church.

His faith comes from home; his family is very religious. Peter is the fourth of six siblings. He studied philosophy at the Catholic University of Malawi for 3 years and theology at the Major Seminary of San Pedro for 5 years. One of his grandfathers encouraged him to become a priest, which he did in 2019. Barely a month into his role at a small African church, his bishop assigned him to Eibar. 'He is a Carmelite and also served as a priest in the Basque Country for seven years, during which time he met many people from the Diocese of San Sebastián. He was informed that José Ignacio Munilla was looking for priests to assist in this area, which is how I came here,' explains Peter, who in recent years had the opportunity to further his education with a scholarship from the University of Navarra for a Master's degree in Moral Theology.

Returning to Africa entails a significant change for him. 'I have lived my first years as a priest here. I have to start anew as a priest in Africa, with young people for whom life is not easy, helping them escape worlds like drug addiction through faith and sport. I look to the future with hope,' he assures. He does not want to leave without thanking all the priests, faithful, and volunteers he has encountered in the parishes of Gipuzkoa. 'I have had six wonderful years in this place thanks to all of you,' he states.