The St. Anthony of Padua Chapter of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis — based out of Southern California — was founded in 2004 by five companions who sought a more profound relationship with the Lord through the imitation of St. Francis of Assisi.

In late 2021, St. Anthony of Padua Chapter became head chapter of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis.

St. Anthony of Padua is typically regarded as the patron one should pray to when a trinket has gone missing, but he ought to be renowned for much more than being the "lost-and-found" saint. According to the Franciscan histories, St. Anthony, a priest, was so magnificent a preacher that his example convinced St. Francis to allow clergymen into the Order of Friars Minor (up to that point, Francis was incredibly suspicious of ordained men because so many led corrupt lives).

The marvellous vessel of the Holy Ghost, Messer St. Antony of Padua, one of the chosen disciples and companions of St. Francis, whom St. Francis called his vicar, preached upon a time in the Consistory before the Pope and the cardinals; in the which Consistory were men of divers nations, to wit, Greeks, Latins, French, Germans, Slavonians and English, and of other diverse languages of the world. And, being inflamed by the Holy Ghost, he set forth the word of God so efficaciously, so devoutly, so subtly, so sweetly, so clearly and so learnedly, that all those who were in the Consistory, albeit they spoke different languages, understood all his words as clearly and distinctly as if he had spoken in the dialect of each of them; and they were all amazed; and it seemed that the ancient miracle of the Apostles had been renewed, when, at the Feast of Pentecost, they spake in every language by the virtue of the Holy Ghost; and they marvelled and said one to another: "Is not this man who preacheth a Spaniard? How, then, do we all hear in his speech the language of our own countries?" The Pope likewise considering, and marvelling within himself at the deep wisdom of his words, said: "Of a truth this man is the Ark of the Covenant and a repository of Holy Writ".

(Little Flowers of St. Francis, XXXIX)

The BSP members of Southern California continue to be inspired by St. Anthony of Padua, who preached beautifully, understandably, and ceaselessly (even to wild animals if no human ears were available). Since many head chapter members are involved in religious education ministries throughout the region, we rely constantly on St. Anthony's intercession in order to convert sinners, sanctify souls, and strengthen and renew the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.