Province of St. Francis in Brazil (São Paulo)
Mother Province: Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy)
On January 5, 1949, Friars Vittorio VALENTINI and Marino TEMPORIN, from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, arrived at the Senhor do Bonfim Parish Church, located on the outskirts of the city of Santo André, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
In the years to follow, after the Conventual Franciscan presence was consolidated in South America’s largest country, the former Province of Padua first recognized this presence as a “Missionary Delegation.” Later, during the Provincial Chapter of 1955, it became the “Commissariat for Latin America,” together with Argentina and Uruguay. In 1970, the region was made a Provincial Custody. On September 23, 1991, it was erected as the Province of St. Francis in Brazil (São Paulo).
Today, the Jurisdiction has forty-two solemnly professed friars, four simply professed friars and eleven friaries. The friars usually provide pastoral services and run various social and charitable works.
Caçapava: São Benedito Friary
This friary was erected in 1955.
Cascavel: Santo Antônio Friary
This friary was erected in 1981. It is a formation house for post-novices.
Curitiba: São Francisco de Assis Friary
This friary was erected in 1969. It is a seminary for adult vocations.
Guaraniaçú: Nossa Senhora de Fátima Friary and Parish
This friary was erected in 1978.
Mogi das Cruzes: São Maximiliano M. Kolbe Friary and Parish
This friary was erected in 1972.
Santa Barbara d’Oreste: São Francisco de Assis Friary and Parish
This friary was erected in 2012.
Santo André: Maria Imaculada Friary, Nossa Senhora Aparecida Parish and Santa Gemma Galgani Parish
This friary was erected in 1965. The friars here publish a Portuguese language edition of the Messenger of St. Anthony. They manage the Frei Paulo OBLACK Vocations Center and run the Cidade Dos Meninos [City of Children] – Maria Imaculada Charitable Institution
Santo André: Senhor do Bonfim Friary and Parish
This friary was erected in 1949. It is the first friary of the Province. It is the seat of the Provincial Curia and the theological seminary for post-novices.
São Bernardo do Campo: São José de Copertino Friary
This friary was erected in 2003. It is a flourishing center of the Militia of the Immaculata.
Ubatuba: Exaltação da Santa Cruz Friary and Parish
This friary was erected in 1967.
Curaçá Bahia: São Boaventura Friary and Bom Jesus da Boa Morte e São Benedito Parish
This friary was erected in 2022.
Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation