Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco (Mexico). In a solemn session of the City Council held on Thursday, 8 May, Arturo Álvarez Ramírez was officially named an “Illustrious Son of Zapotlán el Grande.” The honor, approved unanimously, pays tribute to his academic, human, and spiritual legacy, which impacted generations of students and colleagues.

The ceremony was presided over by Mayor Magali Casillas Contreras; Fr. Rubén Rodríguez Balderas, President of the Historical Commission of the Diocesan Beatification Process; and the 15 council members. Also in attendance were university officials, former students, friends, and family members of the honoree, who passed away in 1992 and whose memory has gained renewed relevance in recent years as his cause for beatification progresses.

Born in Ciudad Guzmán in 1935, Arturo Álvarez was the youngest of eight children in a hardworking and deeply Christian family. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Guadalajara and later pursued advanced studies in the United States. He then devoted over three decades to teaching at the university’s Faculty of Chemical Sciences, where he was known not only as a demanding professor but also as a joyful mentor and character builder.

^{Left to right: Fr. Juan Pablo Wong González, Vicar of the Opus Dei Delegation in Guadalajara; Arch. Héctor García Curiel, General Coordinator of Cultural Heritage at the University of Guadalajara; Magali Casillas Contreras, Mayor of Zapotlán el Grande; Fr. Rubén Rodríguez Balderas, President of the Historical Commission of the Diocesan Beatification Process; and Alejandro Barragán Sánchez, State Deputy for District XIX}

Affectionately known as “Inge Arturo” by his students, he organized excursions, offered spiritual guidance, and fostered a professional ethic that went beyond the classroom. His commitment was such that, after officially retiring, he asked to continue teaching without pay.

In addition to his academic work, Arturo Álvarez joined Opus Dei in 1966, from which he carried out intense apostolic work among students, workers, and farmers. Dozens of people testify that their encounter with Arturo led them to discover their vocation and live a more vibrant, authentic Christian life.

In 2021, his cause for beatification was opened in Guadalajara and is now in the “Roman phase.” More than 200 people have testified about his life of heroic virtue, and over a hundred favors have been reported through his intercession.

By recognizing him as an Illustrious Son, Zapotlán el Grande honors not only a brilliant academic, but a man of integrity, remembered for fully embracing his vocation as a teacher, believer, and citizen.

For more photos of the ceremony click here.