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Nacho Estrella was instrumental in helping Fr. Joe start the Amigos' projects in the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato in 1963. In the following years up through 1968, Nacho was the key contact person who helped place Amigos in their various projects.
During the late 1930's and early 1940's, Nacho was a student at a seminary in New Mexico. There he met many other Mexican seminarians who were unable to study for the priesthood in Mexico as a result of the anti-clerical Cristero Rebellion predominant in central Mexico in that period. With the connections and friendships Nacho gained before leaving the seminary, he knew many of the priests who had become senor curas of their towns in the 1960's. When Fr. Joe met Nacho through Mario Carota and told Nacho about starting a student organization called Amigos Anonymous, Nacho made the initial contacts in Jesus del Monte in the hills outside of Morelia and in Apaseo el Grande where Nacho and his wife Coletta lived. Fr. Joe had been turned onto the idea of starting Amigos by UC Berkeley student Ron D'Alosio and another student who, like Ron, had spent the summer of 1962 on a student project in Zinapecuaro, Michoacán. [This history is told in more detail in articles under the "Roots" section of this website]. The short of this is that Nacho played a major role in helping Amigos' projects get established. His commitment shaped many of the Amigos' lives.
Beyond that crucial contribution, Nacho and Coletta opened their home to the Amigos each summer during the six years Amigos worked in Mexico. For many Amigos their home became a home-away-from-home while working in Mexico.
A native of Chicago, Coletta enjoyed talking with Amigos and listening to them as they were one of her main links to the country and culture she had grown up in. In their home, Amigos could speak English, let their hair down over a beer or tequila (or maybe even two or three), share their stories, their challenges, and their questions. Nacho and Coletta listened, laughed, and occasionally gave advice. And everyone sang heartily in their home.
Nacho and Coletta are survived by their seven children.
They will always be remembered so very fondly and with great gratitude by all of the Amigos who experienced the joy and inspiration of knowing them.
During the late 1930's and early 1940's, Nacho was a student at a seminary in New Mexico. There he met many other Mexican seminarians who were unable to study for the priesthood in Mexico as a result of the anti-clerical Cristero Rebellion predominant in central Mexico in that period. With the connections and friendships Nacho gained before leaving the seminary, he knew many of the priests who had become senor curas of their towns in the 1960's. When Fr. Joe met Nacho through Mario Carota and told Nacho about starting a student organization called Amigos Anonymous, Nacho made the initial contacts in Jesus del Monte in the hills outside of Morelia and in Apaseo el Grande where Nacho and his wife Coletta lived. Fr. Joe had been turned onto the idea of starting Amigos by UC Berkeley student Ron D'Alosio and another student who, like Ron, had spent the summer of 1962 on a student project in Zinapecuaro, Michoacán. [This history is told in more detail in articles under the "Roots" section of this website]. The short of this is that Nacho played a major role in helping Amigos' projects get established. His commitment shaped many of the Amigos' lives.
Beyond that crucial contribution, Nacho and Coletta opened their home to the Amigos each summer during the six years Amigos worked in Mexico. For many Amigos their home became a home-away-from-home while working in Mexico.
A native of Chicago, Coletta enjoyed talking with Amigos and listening to them as they were one of her main links to the country and culture she had grown up in. In their home, Amigos could speak English, let their hair down over a beer or tequila (or maybe even two or three), share their stories, their challenges, and their questions. Nacho and Coletta listened, laughed, and occasionally gave advice. And everyone sang heartily in their home.
Nacho and Coletta are survived by their seven children.
They will always be remembered so very fondly and with great gratitude by all of the Amigos who experienced the joy and inspiration of knowing them.