Diocese of Vitoria reassigns pastors and names new canons for the coming year

The Diocese of Vitoria, in Spain's Basque Country, has announced a series of appointments and changes to its pastoral structure for the 2026-2027 year. The changes include retirements and new arrivals. The year will formally begin on September 1, the same day Josu Antón, 29, is ordained a priest.

Gregorio Esquivel is retiring and has been replaced by Manuel Lacruz as pastor of the church of San Andrés, in the Txagorritxu district of Vitoria. Esquivel will continue to help out in the parish. Alfonso Urbiola will take charge of the San Martín parishes following the retirement of Luis Ángel de Santiago. Urbiola will also direct the seminary's priests' residence, a post held by Quino Guerra before he returned to his home diocese in Tenerife.

Changes at the New Cathedral and in the parishes

At the New Cathedral, Christian Baya is leaving his post to become pastor in Abetxuko, where he will also serve as chaplain to the Hermanas de María Inmaculada (Sisters of Mary Immaculate). Sergio de Ávila will take his place. In the Lakua district, José Antonio Badiola joins the parish of Santa Teresa, and Tasio Donamaría de Lesaga stays on as a collaborator.

In Salburua, Javier La Rosa takes over the church of San Joaquín y Santa Ana, working with Deacon Daniel Corral and collaborator Jesús Santamaría. Hector López takes over the parish of Nanclares de la Oca. In El Prado, Farid Abdul and César de Los Heros become pastors of Sagrada Familia, with De Los Heros also serving as chaplain of the CEU Virgen Niña school.

Goikolarra and other assignments

In Goikolarra, a growing district with a young population, the diocese has assigned three young priests from the Peregrinos de la Eucaristía (Pilgrims of the Eucharist): Father Francesco as pastor, together with Father Maximiliano, 28, and Father Lucas, 32. A deacon will assist them.

Pilgrimages and the cathedral chapter

Asier López de Arcaute becomes the new director of the diocesan pilgrimage office and will organize a trip to Assisi and Umbria in November as part of the Franciscan Year. The bishop has also renewed the chapter of the Cathedral of Santa María and the co-cathedral of María Inmaculada, adding new canons, among them Miguel Ángel Saenz de Villaverde and José Luis Martínez.

Vanesa Martínez Tomé joins the diocesan governing council, replacing Maite Sebal. In vocations ministry, Javier La Rosa will head the secretariat alongside Nicolás Fiz Sánchez, Ane Miren Bilbao Sánchez and Sister Begoña Zarco. Jaime Tapia will chair the Jeiki Foundation, and other priests will take on roles in various diocesan institutions.