The origin of the Augustinian Recollect movement in Colombia evolved from the request of various religious living as hermits in a place known as “El desierto de la Candelaria”. These hermits found in Father Mateo Delgado an organizer of a community which would later become united to the Augustinian Recollects. In subsequent years the Recollection spread other regions of Colombia where, among other foundations, they established houses in Cartagena (La Popa), Panama and Bogotá. Various important persons tied to the social, military and cultural life of Colombia resided in the church of Candelaria in Bogotá. Among these we might name the painter, Gregorio Vázquez de Arce y Cevallos, whose remains are deposited in the recollect church along with his last work of art. Also attached to this community was Manuel del Socorro Rodríquez, the father of Colombian journalism. Exemplary religious, such as St. Ezekiel Moreno and Nicolás Casas, also resided in “La Candelaria”, so named after the most ancient neighborhood of colonial Colombia. The religious of the province were never numerous, usually around 100. Most of the religious lived in regular convents. For more than 100 years the religious administered the colonial church located in Suba where a seminary was also constructed. From the beginnings of the 18th century, the principal convent was always that of the Candelaria in Bogotá followed by El Desierto, Cartagena, Panama, Tunja and Honda. Also to be found in Bogotá is the parish of Consolation in the neighborhood of Boyacá which also serves as the seat of provincial government, and the parishes of San Joaquín de las Ferias and St. Nicholas of Tolentine. There are 4 schools administered by the Augustinian Recollects in Bogotá, namely, Agustiniano de San Nicolás (60 years old), Agustiniano Norte (35 years old), Agustiniano de Suba (18 years old) and Agustiniano Salitre (7 years old). In Ráquira (Boyacá), the recollects or “candelarios”, as the are sometimes called, possess one of the most ancient monasteries of Colombia. El Desierto de la Candelaria is the mother house of the Recollection in America and is located in an area renowned for its peace and beauty, its historical significance, architecture and spirituality. Also known for its history is the Convento de la Popa in Cartagena located in the heights above the city. The mission apostolate in America has long been the principal activity of the province. The Recollects have labored in the vast department of Casanare for more than three centuries where they engaged in the construction and development of many towns and villages. The Province of Our Lady of Candelaria has also developed the apostolate of education and ministry in various cities such as Medellin, Bucaramanga, Cali, Pasto and Manizales. In Manizales, for example, the Recollects were the first religious community to be installed in the city. They also promoted the first printed materials used in the city. They were also behind the campaign in favor of the enthronement of te Sacred Heart of Jesus in the homes of the faithful, a very influential apostolate in that period. Year of foundation: 1604 Number of religious: 113 Number of Communities : 23 Countries: Colombia and Chile Ministries: 32 Missions: Casanare Seat of provincial Carrera 73, Nº 69ª - 9 Santafé de Bogotá – Colombia