Catholic Church in Uruguay

The Catholic Church in Uruguay is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

Overview

Religion in Uruguay (2014)^[1]

  Catholicism (38%)

  Protestantism (7%)

  None (41%)

  Others (15%)

In 2014, Catholics made up a minority of the population at 38%, second to the unaffiliated group, which came in at 41%.^[2]

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.^[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 being erected as a Vicarate in 1830. Missionaries followed the reduction pattern of gathering Indians into communities, training them in agriculture, husbandry, and other arts, while forming them in the Faith.^{[citation needed]}

The constitution of 1830 made Catholicism the religion of the state and subsidized missions to Indians. In 1878, Montevideo was elevated to Diocese and, in 1897, to Archdiocese.^{[citation needed]}

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

 

Image of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, patron saint of Uruguay

So far, there are not any Uruguayan saints, but several causes are open:^[9]

• Servant of God Jacinto Vera
• Servant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso
• Servant of God Walter Chango
• Servant of God Salvador García Pintos
• Blessed Francesca Rubatto
• 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):

• Franciscans (O.F.M.Cap.), since 1624^[11][12]
• Dominicans (O.P.), since 1660^[13]
• Society of Jesus (S.J.), 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 (O.F.M.Conv.)^[15]
• Betharram Fathers, known also as "Padres Bayoneses" (S.C.I. di Béth.), since 1856^[16]
• Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.), since 1877^[17]
• Sisters of Adoration (R.A.), known also as "Adoratrices", since 1885^[18]
• Sisters of Christian Charity, known also as "Hermanas Alemanas" (S.C.C.), since 1885^[19]
• Pallottine Fathers (S.A.C.), since 1886^[20]
• Brothers of the Holy Family of Belley (F.S.F.), since 1889^[21]
• Vincentians (C.M.), since 1892^[22]
• Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto (S.C.M.R.), since 1892^[23]
• Claretians (C.M.F.), since 1896^[24]
• Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.), since 1896^[25]
• Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.), since 1912^[26]
• Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, or simply "Dominicas" (D.A.), since 1913^[27]
• Sons of Divine Providence (F.D.P.),^[28] since 1921^[29]
• Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (O.M.M.), since 1924^[30]
• Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.), since 1929.^[31]
• Augustinians (O.S.A.), since 1932^[32]
• Marist Brothers (F.M.S.),^[33] since 1934^[34]
• Brothers of the Sacred Heart, known also as "Corazonistas" (S.C.), since 1935^[35]
• Dehonians (S.C.I.), since 1940^[36]
• Passionists (C.P.), since 1940^[37]
• Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.P.), known also as "Menesianos", since 1951^[38]
• Religious of Jesus and Mary (R.J.M.), since 1952^[39]
• Christian Brothers (C.F.C.), since 1955^[40]
• Opus Dei, since 1956^[41]
• Sisters Hospitaller of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (H.S.C.), since 1961^[42]
• Scalabrinians (C.S.), since 1970^[43]
• Missionaries of Charity (M.C.), since 1991^[44]
• Visitandines (V.S.M.)
• Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy, known as "Misericordistas" (F.D.M.)^[45]
• Poor Servants of Divine Providence (P.S.D.P.)
• Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco (F.M.A.)

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, S.J. (1925–1996), liberation theologian
• Servant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso, S.D.B. (1929-1992), streetwise priest
• Daniel Sturla, S.D.B. (born 1959), second Uruguayan cardinal and current archbishop of Montevideo
• Gonzalo Aemilius (born 1978), principal of the Liceo Jubilar^[46]

See also

•  Catholicism portal
•  Uruguay portal

• Religion in Uruguay
• Episcopal Conference of Uruguay
• List of Catholic dioceses in Uruguay
• List of Uruguayan Catholic priests

References

1. "Religion in Latin America, Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region". Pew Research Center. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
2. Latinobarometro, Opinion Publica Latinoamericana, Enero 2018.
3. "Catholic Church in Uruguay". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
4. "Sanctuary to the Virgin of the Thirty-Three". Roman Catholic Church in Uruguay. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
5. US Library of Congress
6. Byzantine Catholic Church of America website
7. "Our Lady of Lebanon". Archdiocese of Montevideo. Retrieved 30 March 2013. (in Spanish)
8. "Wedding with God" (in Spanish). EL PAIS. 4 August 2013.
9. Servants of God in Uruguay
10. "Institutes of consecrated life in Montevideo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 March 2013.
11. History of the Franciscans in Uruguay (in Spanish)
12. Province of the Friars Minor Capuchin in the River Plate Archived 2013-06-16 at archive.today (in Spanish)
13. Dominicans in Uruguay^{[permanent dead link]} (in Spanish)
14. History of the Society of Jesus in Uruguay 2013-05-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
15. Río de la Plata Province of the Conventual Franciscans (in Spanish)
16. "The Basque Fathers" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2013.
17. Salesians in Uruguay (in Spanish)
18. . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
19. Sisters of Christian Charity in Uruguay 2009-04-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
20. Pallottine Fathers in Uruguay 2012-08-02 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
21. Brothers of the Holy Family in Montevideo
22. History of the Vicentians 2012-11-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
23. Mother Rubatto in Uruguay (in Spanish)
24. Claretians in Uruguay 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
25. Encyclopedia.com website
26. Carmelites in Uruguay
27. Dominican Sisters in Uruguay 2013-06-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
28. Don Orione in Uruguay (in Italian)
29. Don Orione in the world (in Spanish)
30. "Maronite Church in Uruguay" (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2013.
31. Oblates in Uruguay (in Spanish)
32. Augustinians in Uruguay 2013-03-24 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
33. . Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
34. Marist Brothers in the world
35. Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Montevideo
36. Dehonians in Uruguay 2011-01-17 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
37. Passionists in Uruguay Archived 2013-07-05 at archive.today (in Spanish)
38. De la Mennais Brothers in Uruguay (in Spanish)
39. Religious of Jesus and Mary in Uruguay 2011-12-28 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
40. Christian Brothers in Montevideo 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
41. Opus Dei in Uruguay (in Spanish)
42. Province of the Sisters Hospitaller 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
43. Scalabrinians in Montevideo May 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
44. Missionaries of Charity in Uruguay (in Spanish)
45. Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy in Uruguay 2013-06-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
46. (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)