Bishop of Tenerife, Monsignor Eloy Santiago, has presented a profound reorganization of the diocesan curia just one year after his arrival in the diocese, in a restructuring marked by generational turnover, the reduction of structures, and the increased presence of laypeople and women in positions of responsibility.
According to El Día, the changes will take effect from September, coinciding with the start of the next pastoral year.
The new organization reflects the pastoral model that Eloy Santiago aims to consolidate in the Canary Islands diocese, with a structure closer to the language of synodality promoted in recent years from Rome.
Antonio Pérez Morales leaves the general vicariate
One of the most significant moves is the departure of Antonio Pérez Morales as vicar general of the diocese.
The priest from La Palma, a key figure during the episcopates of Felipe Fernández and Bernardo Álvarez, was one of the names with the greatest internal weight within the Tenerife Church. During the transition period after Bernardo Álvarez’s departure, he also served as diocesan administrator until the arrival of Eloy Santiago.
Pérez Morales will continue as parish priest of Los Remedios, in La Laguna.
His successor will be Juan Antonio Guedes, until now vicar for the Clergy and considered one of the most highly regarded priests within the diocesan presbyterate.
The restructuring will also entail a simplification of the governance chart, as the diocese will now have only one vicar general.
Changes in various areas of governance
The changes also affect several territorial vicariates.
José Manuel García Matos will replace Guedes at the head of the La Laguna vicariate, while Óscar Guerra will replace Ángel Luis Pérez in La Palma, one of the diocese’s historic figures.
Furthermore, Ismael Pérez will assume the vicariate for the Clergy.
Greater prominence of laypeople and women
The new diocesan structure also grants greater weight to the participation of laypeople and women in various pastoral and administrative areas.
Nieves Montesinos will assume the Pastoral Coordination Secretariat, while permanent deacon Víctor González will expand his responsibilities in Education and Evangelization.
Rosa Martín, linked for years to Caritas, will head Social Pastoral and Human Promotion.
Jonás Álvarez will direct the area of Laity, Family and Life, as well as Youth and Childhood, together with Marta Delgado.
The couple formed by Elena González and Daniel Darias will coordinate the Lay Apostolate.
Reorganization before the Pope’s visit
Among the new appointments, Gladys Rodríguez, current vice-chancellor of the Diocese and one of the persons involved in the organization of the papal visit, also stands out; she will now assume the delegation for Missions.
Furthermore, permanent deacon Francisco Javier Afonso will direct Health Pastoral, while Maurizio Errico will head Tourism Pastoral.
With these changes, Eloy Santiago configures a new governance team for the Tenerife diocese in a phase marked by internal reorganization and the promotion of structures closer to the current synodal model.