Pope Francis on February 12, 2019, named three new auxiliary bishops to dioceses in Nigeria, Poland, and Spain.
Appointment of auxiliary of Bilbao, Spain
The Holy Father has appointed as titular bishop of Basti and auxiliary of the diocese of Bilbao, Spain, the Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga, vicar general of the same diocese.
Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga
The Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga was born in Bilbao on 10 May 1958. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies in the seminary of Bilbao and was ordained a priest on 4 January 1985. At the University of Deusto (Jesuits) he obtained a licentiate in psychology and a doctorate in theology. He also obtained a doctorate in economics from Boston College, United States of America.
After priestly ordination, he served as parish vicar, pastor in solidum of various parishes, episcopal delegate for Caritas, diocesan delegate of social pastoral ministry and member of the diocesan pastoral council. From 2006 to 2017 he was sent to Ecuador to collaborate with the episcopal conference within national Caritas. Upon returning to the diocese in 2017 he was appointed as parish priest. In April 2018 he was appointed as vicar general of Bilbao and assumed office on 18 September 2018.
Appointment of auxiliary of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the Rev. Patrick Eluke, of the clergy of Port Harcourt, currently pastor of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Rumuokwuta, assigning him the titular see of Fotice.
Rev. Patrick Eluke
The Rev. Patrick Eluke was born on 25 March 1967 in Ekpeye, Ahoada, Rivers State, in the diocese of Port Harcourt. After primary school, he entered the Sacred Heart local minor seminary and continued with courses in philosophy in the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene, and in theology in the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu. He obtained a civil doctorate in biblical studies at the University of Port Harcourt. He was ordained a priest on 23 September 1995 and incardinated in the diocese of Port Harcourt.
Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Anthony’s parish, Igwuruta (1995-1996); pastor of Saint Bernard’s parish, Biara (1996-1997); pastor of Saint Dominic’s parish, Bane, and Saint Francis’ parish, Kpean (1997-2002); pastor of Saint Paul’s parish, Ngo (1997-2005); pastor of the Saints Peter and Paul parish, Elenlenwo (2005-2007); pastor of the Queen of the Apostles parish, Rumuepirikom (2007-2012); pastor of the Sacred Heart parish, Mile II Diobu (2012-2013); chaplain of the Annunciation Chaplaincy, University of Port Harcourt (2013-2015); lecturer in Biblical Studies, University of Port Harcourt (since 2014); parish priest of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish, Rumuokwuta (since 2015); and director of diocesan pastoral vocational ministry (since 2016).
Appointment of auxiliary of Pelplin, Poland
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary of Pelplin, Poland, the Rev. Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently pastor of the parish of Saint Michael Archangel in Kiłpino, assigning him the titular see of Cufruta.
Rev. Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj
His Excellency Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj was born on 27 May 1967 in Kartuzy (then diocese of Chełmno). After carrying out his philosophical and theological studies at the diocesan major seminary he was ordained a priest on 6 June 1992 for the diocese of Pelplin. After priestly ordination, he was parish vicar in the parish of Our Lady of Consolation in Drzycin (1992-1996) and in the parish of Saint Joseph in Wygod (1996-1997).
In the years 1997 to 2000, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, obtaining a doctorate in spiritual theology in 2002. He was subsequently spiritual father in the major seminary (2000-2010) and, from 2010, pastor of the parish of Saint Michael Archangel in Kiłpino. For a number of years, he was the guide of regional groups on the pilgrimage to “Jasna Góra”. Since 2002 Don Okroj has followed the formation of consecrated virgins of the diocese and since 2010 he has served as director of the sub-commission of the Polish Episcopal Conference for private forms of consecrated life. Since 2017 he has also served as moderator of the permanent formation of priests of the diocese of Pelplin.
In 2009 Don Okroj was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
He knows German, French and basic Italian.
Appointment of auxiliary of Bilbao, Spain
The Holy Father has appointed as titular bishop of Basti and auxiliary of the diocese of Bilbao, Spain, the Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga, vicar general of the same diocese.
Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga
The Rev. Joseba Segura Etxezarraga was born in Bilbao on 10 May 1958. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies in the seminary of Bilbao and was ordained a priest on 4 January 1985. At the University of Deusto (Jesuits) he obtained a licentiate in psychology and a doctorate in theology. He also obtained a doctorate in economics from Boston College, United States of America.
After priestly ordination, he served as parish vicar, pastor in solidum of various parishes, episcopal delegate for Caritas, diocesan delegate of social pastoral ministry and member of the diocesan pastoral council. From 2006 to 2017 he was sent to Ecuador to collaborate with the episcopal conference within national Caritas. Upon returning to the diocese in 2017 he was appointed as parish priest. In April 2018 he was appointed as vicar general of Bilbao and assumed office on 18 September 2018.
Appointment of auxiliary of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the Rev. Patrick Eluke, of the clergy of Port Harcourt, currently pastor of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Rumuokwuta, assigning him the titular see of Fotice.
Rev. Patrick Eluke
The Rev. Patrick Eluke was born on 25 March 1967 in Ekpeye, Ahoada, Rivers State, in the diocese of Port Harcourt. After primary school, he entered the Sacred Heart local minor seminary and continued with courses in philosophy in the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene, and in theology in the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu. He obtained a civil doctorate in biblical studies at the University of Port Harcourt. He was ordained a priest on 23 September 1995 and incardinated in the diocese of Port Harcourt.
Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Anthony’s parish, Igwuruta (1995-1996); pastor of Saint Bernard’s parish, Biara (1996-1997); pastor of Saint Dominic’s parish, Bane, and Saint Francis’ parish, Kpean (1997-2002); pastor of Saint Paul’s parish, Ngo (1997-2005); pastor of the Saints Peter and Paul parish, Elenlenwo (2005-2007); pastor of the Queen of the Apostles parish, Rumuepirikom (2007-2012); pastor of the Sacred Heart parish, Mile II Diobu (2012-2013); chaplain of the Annunciation Chaplaincy, University of Port Harcourt (2013-2015); lecturer in Biblical Studies, University of Port Harcourt (since 2014); parish priest of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish, Rumuokwuta (since 2015); and director of diocesan pastoral vocational ministry (since 2016).
Appointment of auxiliary of Pelplin, Poland
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary of Pelplin, Poland, the Rev. Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently pastor of the parish of Saint Michael Archangel in Kiłpino, assigning him the titular see of Cufruta.
Rev. Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj
His Excellency Msgr. Arkadiusz Okroj was born on 27 May 1967 in Kartuzy (then diocese of Chełmno). After carrying out his philosophical and theological studies at the diocesan major seminary he was ordained a priest on 6 June 1992 for the diocese of Pelplin. After priestly ordination, he was parish vicar in the parish of Our Lady of Consolation in Drzycin (1992-1996) and in the parish of Saint Joseph in Wygod (1996-1997).
In the years 1997 to 2000, he continued his studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, obtaining a doctorate in spiritual theology in 2002. He was subsequently spiritual father in the major seminary (2000-2010) and, from 2010, pastor of the parish of Saint Michael Archangel in Kiłpino. For a number of years, he was the guide of regional groups on the pilgrimage to “Jasna Góra”. Since 2002 Don Okroj has followed the formation of consecrated virgins of the diocese and since 2010 he has served as director of the sub-commission of the Polish Episcopal Conference for private forms of consecrated life. Since 2017 he has also served as moderator of the permanent formation of priests of the diocese of Pelplin.
In 2009 Don Okroj was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
He knows German, French and basic Italian.
