The Roman Catholic Church in Uruguay is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
There are 2.3 million Catholics in the country, 53% of the total population.
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.
The patron saint of Uruguay is Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, venerated at the Cathedral Basilica of Florida.
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.
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.
The constitution of 1917 enacted separation of Church and state.
Two Eastern Catholic churches are also present in Uruguay, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Maronite Church.
Uruguay is a country where religious calling is low. Every year, some young people engage in religious careers. Currently there are 34 students at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Montevideo.
So far, there are not any Uruguayan saints, but several causes are open:
Servant of God Jacinto Vera
Servant of God Rubén Isidro Alonso
Servant of God Walter Chango
Blessed Francesca Rubatto
Blessed Consuelo Aguiar-Mella y Díaz
Blessed Dolores Aguiar-Mella y Díaz
Several religious orders are present in Uruguay. Some of them arrived in colonial times (although their presence was intermittent during the first centuries):
Franciscans (O.F.M.Cap.), since 1624
Dominicans (O.P.), since 1660
Society of Jesus (S.J.), 1680-1757, 1842-1859 and since 1872
After Uruguay was established as an independent country, several other religious orders established their own missions in Uruguay:
Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M.Conv.)
Betharram Fathers, known also as "Padres Bayoneses" (S.C.I. di Béth.), since 1856
Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.), since 1877
Sisters of Adoration (R.A.), known also as "Adoratrices", since 1885
Sisters of Christian Charity, known also as "Hermanas Alemanas" (S.C.C.), since 1885
Pallottine Fathers (S.A.C.), since 1886
Brothers of the Holy Family of Belley (F.S.F.), since 1889
Vicentians (C.M.), since 1892
Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto (S.C.M.R.), since 1892
Claretians (C.M.F.), since 1896
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.), since 1896
Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.), since 1912
Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, or simply "Dominicas" (D.A.), since 1913
Sons of Divine Providence (F.D.P.), since 1921
Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary (O.M.M.), since 1924
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.), since 1929.
Augustinians (O.S.A.), since 1932
Marist Brothers (F.M.S.), since 1934
Brothers of the Sacred Heart, known also as "Corazonistas" (S.C.), since 1935
Dehonians (S.C.I.), since 1940
Passionists (C.P.), since 1940
Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.P.), known also as "Menesianos", since 1951
Religious of Jesus and Mary (R.J.M.), since 1952
Christian Brothers (C.F.C.), since 1955
Opus Dei, since 1956
Sisters Hospitaller of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (H.S.C.), since 1961
Scalabrinians (C.S.), since 1970
Missionaries of Charity (M.C.), since 1991
Visitandines (V.S.M.)
Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy, known as "Misericordistas" (F.D.M.)
Poor Servants of Divine Providence (P.S.D.P.)
Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco (F.M.A.)
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
Gonzalo Aemilius (born 1978), principal of the Liceo Jubilar
