Situated on 310 acres of rolling hills and woodland, the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, the home of the Shrine of St.Anthony, was designed by Fr. Benedict Przemielewski, OFM Conv., and constructed in 1930-31. The building itself comprises 20,194 square feet.

Fr. Benedict’s architectural plan was inspired by the great “Sacro Convento” of Assisi, Italy – the “Motherhhouse” Friary of the Franciscan Order.  Franciscan friaries originated in the Middle Ages and developed through the Renaissance into spiritual centers that combined prayer, learning, music, art, and science – all for the glory of God.  While incorporating some medieval elements, the building itself embodies a late Renaissance style of architecture.

The exterior walls are contructed of marble quarried at Beaver Dam in Cockeysville, Maryland. The Beaver Dam marble was selected for the beauty of its texture, and for the warmth of its variegated colours, which blend admirably with the woodland scenery. Arranged in a random ashlar pattern, the marble blocks are backed and trimmed by simple stone granite. Over 2000 tons of marble went into the construction.

Archbishop of Baltimore Most Reverand Michael J. Curley lays the foundation stone of the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, home of the Shrine of St. Anthony, in 1930.

The Coat of Arms of the Franciscan Order looms large over the Cortile. It depicts a Cross in front of which intersects the robed arm and stigmatized hand of St. Francis with the bare arm and wounded hand of Christ.