Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Brazil 
Mother Province: Province of the Immaculate Conception in the USA, 
now the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA (OLA) 

The first Conventual Franciscan missionary settlement in Latin America had been attempted here four centuries ago, but it was short lived. The friars returned in 1946, when the bishops of Latin America asked our Order to establish a presence in the vast continent of South America. The Province of the Immaculate Conception in the USA was the first to accept that request and sent eight missionary friars to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The friars favored doing pastoral ministry in the “favelas” and working in education. In 1949, they established two rural universities, one in Rio de Janeiro near a student housing facility and the other in Andrelândia (State of Minas Gerais). In 1970, the mission was erected as a Custody.
Currently, the Jurisdiction has twenty-six solemnly professed friars, one simply professed friar, six friaries and one filial house.

Araruama: São Sebastião Friary
The friars here are entrusted with the pastoral care of the São Sebastião Parish and direct various social-charitable activities in the area.

Juiz de Fora: São José de Copertino Friary
The friars here are entrusted with the pastoral care of the Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro and the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Parishes. They carry out pastoral ministry over a vast area and direct various educational and social-charitable activities.

Paraíba do Sul: Santo Antônio dos Pobres Friary
The friars here are entrusted with the pastoral care of the São Pedro e São Paulo Parish and carry out pastoral ministry in the area. They direct various social-charitable activities.

Petrópolis: São Boaventura Friary
This friary is a formation house for aspirants and postulants. The friars also carry out pastoral ministry in the area.

Rio de Janeiro: São Francisco de Assis Friary
This friary is the seat of the Provincial Custody and was also a formation house for post-novices. The friars here carry out pastoral ministry in the city and direct various social-charitable activities.

Bello Horizonte (Minas Gerais): Nossa Senhora dos Anjos Friary
The friars here carry out pastoral ministry at the Santa Cecília Parish.

Andrelândia: São Francisco de Assis Filial House
The friary was once a formation house. Today it is a Conventual Franciscan hermitage. The friars here also carry out pastoral ministry at the local parish and look after what is the first Conventual Franciscan hermitage in Latin America.

Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation