Antonio de Olivares

Antonio de Olivares
Monument to Fray Antonio de Olivares in Moguer
Born	Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares 1630 Moguer, Andalusia, Spain
Died	1722 Querétaro, México
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Franciscan

Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares or simply Fray Antonio de Olivares (1630 - 1722) was a Spanish Franciscan who officiated at the first Catholic mass celebrated in Texas, and he was known for contributing to the founding of San Antonio and to the prior exploration of the area.

He founded, among other missions, the famous Alamo Mission in San Antonio, the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, and the Acequia Madre de Valero.

Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares was born in Moguer, Andalusia, Spain in 1630 and studied at the Franciscan convent of San Francisco de Moguer.

In 1665, at the age of thirty-five years old, involved a passenger on a religious expedition to the Americas, along with 19 other religious. Once in Americas, in the Convent of Querétaro, he received the training he needed to engage with the natives, in their work of evangelization. It was from this monastery from which they departed the various expeditions that take place in Texas, since this was a strategically important place for the crown. With that goal in 1675, an expedition made by Fray Antonio de Olivares, Fray Francisco Hidalgo, Fray Juan Larios and Fernando del Bosque, were sent to explore and recognize the country beyond the borders of Rio Grande, to test the possibilities of new settlements in the area.

On the 1st of January, 1699, Olivares was chosen to go along with Marcos de Guereña at the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro to work in northern Coahuila, in present Mexico. There, in San Juan Bautista, located in those times on the Río de Sabinas, the priests joined Father Francisco Hidalgo and since on January 1, 1700 Olivares participated at the founding of the second Mission San Juan Bautista, located in the present Guerrero, Coahuila.