People were celebrating the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the local hero, on 31st July 1931, in the small village in Guipuzcoa, Spain, called Aretxabaleta. From a house top, an elderly lady shouted, “Two angels have arrived”. These two angels were Ignacio Galdos and his twin brother, Pedro Galdos. Coming from a pious family both joined the Jesuit novitiate in Loyola in 1949.
The main responsibility of angels is to worship the Almighty and the second is to take the message of God to the people. Fr. Ignacio chose India as his missionary place, to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and arrived in India in 1951.
Fr. Ignacio went all out with various social works such as land levelling, Bore-wells, and distribution of water pumps, seeds and fertilizer. People were relieved from their misery and poverty due to his missionary works. Fr. Ignacio also started Balwadis, primary schools, high schools and higher secondary schools, along with hostels for children in all the mission stations he worked.
Fr. Ignacio began faith formation of the people, with the help of well-trained catechists. He was one with tribal people and accompanied them with deep admiration for their culture. He built Isunath Mandir in Zankhvav, Shrustigaan Mandir in Unai and Mukti Shikhar Mandir in Bardipada that are icons of local tribal culture. He also curated two Tribal Museums, first in Unai and then in Bardipada.
Fr. Ignacio Galdos returned to the Almighty on 4th November 2021, after completing 90 years on earth. But he will always remain in the prayerful hearts of his tribal people whom he loved with all his might and soul.
Robert Parmar, SJ
