Ecumenism in the Diocese of Málaga began to take shape over fifty years ago thanks to the vision and dedication of Father Ramón Delius Holdway, a Jesuit priest and the first Diocesan Delegate for Ecumenism and Interconfessional Relations. Convinced that divisions between Christians could be overcome, he worked tirelessly to encourage fellowship among the many non-Catholics settling on the Costa del Sol.
Born in Hove, England, in 1921, with English, German and Spanish roots, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1936 and was ordained in Granada in 1951. After serving in Guadix, Marbella and Málaga, in 1970 he was appointed Diocesan Delegate for Ecumenism — a mission that would define the rest of his life.
His greatest wish was to create a permanent centre for prayer, encounter and service. This dream became reality in December 1973 with the inauguration of Lux Mundi in Fuengirola, supported by the Society of Jesus, the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix — including his sister María — and lay people from various Christian traditions.
He lived ecumenism with passion: fostering friendship between Churches, training seminarians, and playing an active role in the Bishops’ Commission for Interconfessional Relations. Those who knew him speak of his calm wisdom, his generous and boundless love, his firm yet prudent character, and his deep faith. A visionary, faithful to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, he left his mark on the Lux Mundi logo, inspired by the Calaburras Lighthouse — a symbol of light shining out over Málaga and the Mediterranean.
His motto, “To love, to pray together and to serve”, continues to inspire every act of hospitality, every shared prayer, and every bridge built at Lux Mundi.
– A man ahead of his time
