From Rome to Madrid: Vicar General in Rome Returns to Lead Province of Spain
1/23/2012

In electing a new provincial in January, Viatorians in Spain brought back one of their own: Fr. Gregorio Esquibel, CSV, was elected for a second time to serve as their Provincial Superior. He returns after spending the last six years in Rome, serving as Vicar General to Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Superior General of the international congregation.

Prior to Rome, Fr. Esquibel led the Province of Spain from 1996 until 2004. In returning, Fr. Equibel brings his background as a teacher, catechist and theologian, as well as his international experience with Viatorian communities around the world.

Viatorians in Spain also elected two new provincial councilors. Fr. Jesús Arroyo and Fr. Fernando Sanz, who will advise Fr. Esquibel in leading the Spanish community.

The Province of Spain dates back nearly 65 years and remains the second largest community within the Clerics of St. Viator, with its 92 professed and 57 associates.

Its members operate six schools in Spain that serve 5,000 students, as well as St. Felix Villaverde Alto parish in suburban Madrid. In 1958, the province opened a foundation in Chile, before later sending missionaries to the Ivory Coast and Japan. In 1998, they opened a foundation in Honduras. Between six Viatorians and 17 associates, they serve a parish of 35,000, that stretches across 60 Honduran villages, all near the town of Jutiapa.

Fr. Esquibel replaces Fr. Pedro Maria Lahora, who served as provincial over the last six years, and led the observance of the Querbesian Year, which marked the 150th anniversary of the death of Fr. Louis Querbes, founder of the Viatorians.