They say a picture is worth a thousand words… and it has not been difficult to find the right image to remember Fr. Marcelino Álvarez on this twentieth anniversary of his passing. There it is: with his athletic bearing, fitted cap, warm and good-natured expression, surrounded by nature and brothers. An image that aptly summarizes what his life was: closeness, fraternity, simplicity, and dedication.
On April 6, 2006, in the midst of an ordinary day, the news shook many places: “this cannot be true.” Fr. Marcelino Álvarez, then prior provincial, passed away in Madrid at the age of 59 due to a heart attack. That disbelief shared by brothers, students, teachers, and friends in Spain, America, and other places gave way, over time, to a deeper certainty: his life had been fully fruitful.
A Vocation Lived in Service
Born on October 6, 1946, in Castro de la Lomba (León), Marcelino Álvarez entered the Order of Augustinian Recollects at a young age, making his profession in 1967 and being ordained a priest in 1971.
His first mission was linked to the formation of young people, a constant that would mark his entire trajectory. For years he carried out his work at Santo Tomás de Villanueva School in Granada, where he left an indelible mark as a teacher, tutor, director, coach, and, above all, as a comprehensive educator.
With a degree in Theology and Psychology and a diploma in Teaching, he was able to integrate knowledge, closeness, and pastoral sense into his educational work. His love for sports was not a secondary element, but a genuine pedagogical means: forming people through effort, companionship, and self-improvement.
Those who knew him remember his ability to make the profound simple, his spontaneity, his sense of humor, and his way of explaining life—and faith—as a shared journey toward a common goal.
A Close Pastor and a Man of Communion
Fr. Marcelino was also called to the service of governance, first as vicar and then as prior provincial, a responsibility he exercised with dedication and universal vision, accompanying the Province in Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela.
He lived his mission from a deep trust in God and in people, convinced that he himself was a simple instrument in the hands of the Lord. His style was always close, fraternal, Augustinian: building community, building bridges, trusting in others. It is as if his life reflected that insight of Saint Augustine: the human heart does not rest until it rests in God, but along the way it is built in communion, in the culture of encounter and love.
A Legacy That Continues: The Fr. Marcelino Memorial Race
The legacy of Fr. Marcelino did not end with his death. On the contrary, it began to multiply. In 2007, the Fr. Marcelino Memorial Race was born, promoted by Santo Tomás de Villanueva School and the Agustinos Sports Club, as a tribute to his figure. But it is not just a race. It is a living expression of his legacy: sports as an educational means, as he lived it; solidarity, supporting social projects in different countries; encounter and family, bringing together thousands of people of all ages. Each edition brings together runners, volunteers, and families in a festive atmosphere that reflects exactly what he sowed: community, joy, and commitment.
Many people know his name today thanks to this race. There are even people who have had their first experience with running by participating in this event. But behind this sporting experience is a concrete life: that of a priest, educator, and friend who was able to leave his mark on entire generations.
Continuing to Walk Toward the Common Goal
That “this cannot be true” continues to resonate in memory. But today another voice sounds louder: the certainty that his life reached the goal and that his legacy continues. Rather than lamenting his absence, his memory drives us to move forward: with his enthusiasm, his way of serving, his close way of being with everyone.
Marcelino taught—with words and with life—that walking together is essential. Like in that soccer match he so often referred to: we all move toward the same objective.
Today, 20 years later, the Order, the educational community, and so many people who knew him continue walking in that same direction. The memory of Fr. Marcelino is in the race that bears his name and that, each year, fills the streets of Granada.
Thank you, Marcelino. We follow your steps toward the common goal.
