Rioplatense Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Argentina-Uruguay
Mother Province: Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy)
In 1946, the Chapter of the Province of Padua decided to open a new presence in Argentina. After a period of preparation, the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires entrusted the Parish of Nuestra Señora de las Gracias to the friars. Thus, the first Conventual Franciscan presence was established there. In 1953, the friars canonically erected their first friary in Uruguay, namely, the St. Joseph Friary in Montevideo. In 1966, the Archdiocese built a parish church near the friary with the same name and entrusted it to the friars.
Today, the Jurisdiction has twenty-eight solemnly professed friars, one novice and seven friaries.
ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires: Provincial Curia, Nuestra Señora de las Gracia Friary and Parish
The friars began their presence here in 1949, but the friary was not canonically erected until January 5, 1952. Today, it is the seat of the Provincial Curia. The friars minister at the parish, which serves almost 8,000 faithful. The friars are also involved in running a school.
José León Suárez: Inmaculada Concepción Friary and Parish
The friary was opened in 1951. The parish is located on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and serves approximately 120,000 faithful. Apart from doing parish work, the friars help with various charitable activities, such as the famous cardboard drive. They also run primary, secondary and vocational schools, whose doors are always open to the poorest of the poor.
Moreno: San Francisco de Asís Friary and Seminary
The friars have been here since 1956. The friary currently functions as a home for elderly or sick friars. The friars teach at a local high school and provide spiritual care to the Poor Clares.
Olavarría: San Francisco de Asís Friary and Parish
The friary was canonically erected on March 28, 1949. The friars run the parish, which serves 25,000 faithful and the schools, which offer instruction from kindergarten through high school.
Olta: Beato Fray Carlos de Dios Murias Friary and Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Parish
The friars have been here since 2018. They perform pastoral ministry in the parish and in the chapels of various villages. They also carry out charitable activities in the area with the help of the laity. In 1976, the Blessed Martyrs Friar Carlos de Dios MURIAS; Father Gabriel LONGUEVILLE, a French Fidei Donum missionary; the layman Wenceslao PEDERNERA; and the Most Reverend Enrico Angelo ANGELELLI CARLETTI, Bishop of La Rioja, Argentina.
URUGUAY
Montevideo: San José Friary and Parish
The friary was canonically erected on May 25, 1953. The friars run the parish, which serves 40,000 faithful. The friars minister at the headquarters of the Franciscan University Residence (RUF), which houses eighty young people from all over the country.
Maldonado: San Carlos Borromeo Friary and Parish and the San Pio X and Inmaculada Concepción Parishes
The friars have been here since 2004. They run the parishes with the help of the laity and carry out charitable works in the area.
Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Mission Animation