The Heart of the Camino Beats Again in Grañón: Emotional Tribute to José Ignacio Díaz
On the morning of Saturday, October 4, the small town of Groat, in La Rioja, became the meeting point of a universal feeling: gratitude. Hundreds of voices, many of them pilgrims and hospitaleros, joined in a emotional tribute to José Ignacio Díaz, the parish priest who dedicated his life to lighting the flame of the Jacobean spirit.
The day began with the celebration of the Eucharist, an act of faith and remembrance presided over by the archbishop emeritus of Mérida and Badajoz, Don Celso Morga, and concelebrated by Alejandro, the parish priest of Grañón. The Coral Concordia, under the direction of Estitxu Castellano, elevated his song, dressing the ceremony with a deep and moving solemnity.
The climax came in the hostel plaza, a place that José Ignacio turned into a home for tired souls. There was revealed a bust in his memory. Between applause and discreet tears, the author of the sculpture, together with local authorities, priests and members of associations from all over Spain, honored the silhouette of a man who became a giant through humble service.
The meeting concluded with a simple but significant snack and a subsequent meal, where the Volunteer Hospitallers They shared a table and, above all, countless memories of their mentor. Every hug and every anecdote told in the square resonated like a posthumous “thank you” to the man who taught them that the true Way is that of fraternity.
Who was José Ignacio Díaz for the Jacobean Community?
José Ignacio Díaz (Ausejo, 1954 – Logroño, 2023) was not only a Riojan parish priest; He was the invisible architect of the spirit that today surrounds the Camino:
- The Host Father: He is hailed as the founder of Volunteer Hospitaleros, the institution that since 1992 has organized the solidarity network in shelters. His legacy is measured in thousands of beds prepared and smiles offered.
- The Parish Priest with His Feet in the Clay: From the church of Santiago el Real de Logroño and, iconically, in the shelter that he promoted in Groat, showed that faith is lived among the blisters and fatigue of travelers.
- The Guardian of the Ideal: He took the reins of the magazine Pilgrim, turning it into a beacon that guided and shaped the modern Jacobean movement from the 80s.
- Mentor and Soul of Service: For the pilgrims and volunteers, it was a moral reference, leaving an indelible mark of simplicity, humor and dedication.
The final feeling of all those gathered was summed up in one phrase: «Thank you for having been part of our lives, José Ignacio Díaz.» His spirit remains, not in the stone of the monument, but in each footprint marked on the path.
