The General Chapter of 1938 determined that the formation of a new province in the United States and one in Venezuela should be studied. On the 13th of August of 1943, this authorization for a new province was received from the Congregation of Religious This would be the Province of St. Augustine made up of the houses of the Province of Our Lady of Candelaria in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico . The decree was immediately executed. On the 5th of January of 1944, the first superiors were named. The installation of the province took place in Kansas City with a prolonged celebration held from the 5th to the 7th of March. At the time, there were 52 religious, 45 priests, 6 professed clerics, one brother, and 5 novices. The province came into existence at the time of a great international conflict. The birth of the same seemed premature. The war had inhibited its growth. Vocations were not as numerous as had been expected and the economy was precarious. The majority of the religious continued in the parochial ministry and held back from the establishment of centers more in tune with the charism of community. But the province held fast to its prospects, and, with the aid of the sister provinces, overcame obstacles and created a basis for future growth. During the first years of its existence, the province was limited to the parochial apostolate in three areas, the center of the country, Nebraska with 3 parishes, Kansas with the convent and 2 parishes. There were also 3 parishes in California in the West and 5 parishes in Texas, the southern region of the country. In the majority of these parishes special attention was given to the Spanish-speaking, a population frequently neglected in the churches. Later, the province made changes by increasing the presence of the province in the Dominican Republic with the acceptance of pastoral responsibility for the parishes of Salcedo (1945), Haina (1957), Yaguate and Boca Chica (1962). In California, the parish of Lamont (1962) was accepted. Further expansion occurred with the following ministries: Santo Rosario (1956) and Sacred Heart (1959 in Kansas, and St. Roch in Newark, New Jersey (1963). A house was opened in Mexico in 1946. Among the notable ministries was that of the spiritual direction of the Centro de San Jose of the Cursillo de Cristiandad in the Archdiocese of New York. Coinciding with the time of the Second Vatican Council, the province entered into a period of insecurity and an anxious search for future orientation. Meetings and studies proliferated in an effort to clarify the common goals of the province. Parish life and ministry dominated the life and labors of the friars. A study by outside experts noted that the province ministry was chiefly sacramental in character. By 2004, the province is made up of 56 religious and 2 novices distributed in 10 parishes, St. Joseph Center of the Cursillos, and two houses of formation. One religious of the province, now retired, became the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark dedicating himself to the Hispanic apostolate both within and beyond the Archdiocese. Another religious, Bishop Alphonse Gallegos served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento. The diocesan process for the cause of his canonization has recently been completed. Year of foundation: 1943 Number of religious: 56 Number of communities: 10 Countries: United States and Mexico. Ministries: 12 Missions: None Seat of the provincial Provincial Residence Saint Cloud Monastery, 29 Ridgeway Ave West Orange NJ 07052-3217. Tel. 973-731-0616. Fax. 973.731.1033.