Catholic Church in Uruguay
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and San Felipe y Santiago in Montevideo
| |
| Spanish: Iglesia Católica en Uruguay | |
| Type | National polity |
|---|---|
| Classification | Catholic |
| Orientation | Latin |
| Scripture | Bible |
| Theology | Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Cardinal | Daniel Sturla |
| Region | Uruguay |
| Language | Latin, Spanish |
| Origin | 17th century Banda Oriental |
| Official website | iglesiacatolica.org.uy |
Catholic Church in Uruguay — The Catholic Church in Uruguay is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope.
Overview
In 2014, Catholics made up a minority of the population at 38%, second to the unaffiliated group, which came in at 41%.[1]
There are 9 dioceses and the archdiocese of Montevideo; the ordinaries gather in the Episcopal Conference of Uruguay. The current archbishop is Daniel Sturla, who was appointed on 11 February 2014.[2][3]
The patron saint of Uruguay is Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, venerated at the Cathedral Basilica of Florida.[4]
History
Evangelization of Uruguay followed Spanish settlement in 1624. Montevideo became a diocese in 1878, after its establishment as a Vicarate in 1830. Missionaries followed the reduction pattern of gathering natives into communities, training them in agriculture, husbandry, and other arts, while forming them in the Faith.
The constitution of 1830 made Catholicism the state religion and subsidized missions to natives. In 1878, Montevideo was elevated to Diocese and, in 1897, to Archdiocese.
The constitution of 1917 enacted separation of Church and state.[5]
Two Eastern Catholic churches are also present in Uruguay, the Armenian Catholic Church[6] and the Maronite Church.[7]
Careers
Uruguay is a country where religious calling is low. Every year, some young people engage in religious careers. In 2013, there were 34 students at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Montevideo.[8]
Saints
So far, there is one Uruguayan saint and one blessed, but several beatification processes are open:[9]
- Saint Francesca Rubatto
- Blessed Jacinto Vera
- Servant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso
- Servant of God Walter Chango
- Servant of God Salvador García Pintos
- Blessed Consuelo Aguiar-Mella y Díaz
- Blessed Dolores Aguiar-Mella y Díaz
Institutes of Consecrated life
Several religious orders are present in Uruguay.[10] Some of them arrived in colonial times (although their presence was intermittent during the first centuries):
- Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, since 1624[11][12]
- Order of Preachers, since 1660[13]
- Society of Jesus, 1680–1757, 1842-1859 and since 1872[14]
After Uruguay was established as an independent country, several other religious orders established their own missions in Uruguay:
- Conventual Franciscans[15]
- Betharram Fathers, since 1856[16]
- Salesians of Don Bosco, since 1877[17]
- Sisters of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, since 1885[18]
- Sisters of Christian Charity, since 1885[19]
- Pallottine Fathers, since 1886[20]
- Brothers of the Holy Family of Belley, since 1889[21]
- Congregation of the Mission, since 1892[22]
- Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto, since 1892[23]
- Claretians, since 1896[24]
- Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, since 1896[25]
- Discalced Carmelites, since 1912[26]
- Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, since 1913[27]
- Sons of Divine Providence,[28] since 1921[29]
- Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, since 1924[30]
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, since 1929.[31]
- Augustinians, since 1932[32]
- Marist Brothers,[33] since 1934[34]
- Brothers of the Sacred Heart, since 1935[35]
- Dehonians, since 1940[36]
- Passionists, since 1940[37]
- Brothers of Christian Instruction, since 1951[38]
- Religious of Jesus and Mary, since 1952[39]
- Christian Brothers, since 1955[40]
- Opus Dei, since 1956[41]
- Sisters Hospitaller of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, since 1961[42]
- Scalabrinians, since 1970[43]
- Missionaries of Charity, since 1991[44]
- Visitandines
- Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help[45]
- Poor Servants of Divine Providence
- Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco
Notable Uruguayan Catholic religious leaders
- Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga (1771–1848), naturalist and first Apostolic Vicar of Uruguay
- Juan Francisco Larrobla (1775–1842), theologian and patriot, writer of the Declaration of the Independence
- José Benito Monterroso (1780–1838), secretary of the national hero José Artigas
- José Benito Lamas (1787–1857), patriot and lecturer
- Manuel Barreiro (1787–1838), patriot and constituent
- Lorenzo Antonio Fernández (1792–1852), constituent and rector of the University
- Servant of God Jacinto Vera (1813–1881), first Bishop of Montevideo
- Blessed Francisca Rubatto (1844–1905), founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto
- Mariano Soler (1846–1908), first Archbishop of Montevideo
- Antonio Barbieri, OFM Cap (1892–1979), first Uruguayan cardinal
- Juan Luis Segundo, SJ (1925–1996), liberation theologian
- Servant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso, SDB (1929–1992), streetwise priest
- Daniel Sturla, SDB (born 1959), second Uruguayan cardinal and current archbishop of Montevideo
- Gonzalo Aemilius (born 1978), principal of the Liceo Jubilar[46]
See also
- Religion in Uruguay
- Episcopal Conference of Uruguay
- List of Catholic dioceses in Uruguay
- List of Uruguayan Catholic priests
References
- Back to citation Latinobarometro, Opinion Publica Latinoamericana, Enero 2018.
- Back to citation "Catholic Church in Uruguay". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Back to citation "In secular Uruguay, a populist cardinal rallies the faithful and kicks off a feud". The Globe and Mail. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- Back to citation "Sanctuary to the Virgin of the Thirty-Three". Roman Catholic Church in Uruguay. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- Back to citation US Library of Congress
- Back to citation Byzantine Catholic Church of America website
- Back to citation "Our Lady of Lebanon". Archdiocese of Montevideo. Retrieved 30 March 2013. (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Wedding with God" (in Spanish). El Pais. 4 August 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- Back to citation Servants of God in Uruguay
- Back to citation "Institutes of consecrated life in Montevideo" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- Back to citation History of the Franciscans in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Province of the Friars Minor Capuchin in the River Plate Deprecated link archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Dominicans in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation History of the Society of Jesus in Uruguay Archived 2013-05-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Río de la Plata Province of the Conventual Franciscans (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "The Basque Fathers" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- Back to citation Salesians in Uruguay Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Sisters of Adoration in Uruguay". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Back to citation Sisters of Christian Charity in Uruguay Archived 2009-04-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Pallottine Fathers in Uruguay Archived 2012-08-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Brothers of the Holy Family in Montevideo". Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Back to citation History of the Vicentians Archived 2012-11-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Mother Rubatto in Uruguay Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Claretians in Uruguay Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Encyclopedia.com website
- Back to citation Carmelites in Uruguay
- Back to citation Dominican Sisters in Uruguay Archived 2013-06-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Don Orione in Uruguay (in Italian)
- Back to citation Don Orione in the world (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Maronite Church in Uruguay" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- Back to citation Oblates in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Augustinians in Uruguay Archived 2013-03-24 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Marist Brothers in Uruguay". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- Back to citation Marist Brothers in the world[]
- Back to citation Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Montevideo
- Back to citation Dehonians in Uruguay Archived 2011-01-17 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Passionists in Uruguay Deprecated link archived 2013-07-05 at archive.today (in Spanish)
- Back to citation De la Mennais Brothers in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Religious of Jesus and Mary in Uruguay Archived 2011-12-28 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Christian Brothers in Montevideo Archived 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Opus Dei in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Province of the Sisters Hospitaller Archived 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Scalabrinians in Montevideo Archived May 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Missionaries of Charity in Uruguay (in Spanish)
- Back to citation Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy in Uruguay Archived 2013-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
- Back to citation "Aemilius reencounters Pope Francis" (in Spanish). El Observador. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
External links
- "Catholic Church in Uruguay". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney.
- Episcopal Conference of Uruguay (in Spanish)