Originally a rancheria with a nearby silver mine at the confluence of two rivers, the Altar and the Magdelena, Oquitoa is considered by many to be the gem of the Kino missions.  Kino first makes mention of San Antonio de Uquetoa on January 19, 1689, when the Father Visitor Manuel Gonzales assigned Father Antonio Arias as its first priest.  In 1695, after getting riled up as the abusive Opata Indian Antonio beat an overseer, the Tubutama chased him to Uquetoa and killed him.  They then formed a raiding party of about forty Pimans and Sobas, who then proceeded to Pitiquito where, after the good Father showed them hospitality, killed Father Francisco Xavier Saetta and four of his servants. In 1705 there was some sort of chapel and no other church was constructed until 1730.  All was partially or mostly destroyed, however, during the revolt of 1751 when the Uquitoans attacked the Spanish again.  Oquitoa was first a visita of Tubutama in 1709, then of Caborca and of Átil.  In 1801, under the guidance of the longest resident priest, Fray Francisco Moyano, it became a cabecera without visitas.  It remained so until 1830.

Father  Antonio de los Reyes on 6 July 1772 submitted a report on the condition of the missions in the Upper and Lower Pimeria Alta.  This was his report on San Antonio del Oquitoa as translated by Father Kieran McCarty. Note that he spells Oquitoa as Huquitoa.

The outlying mission station of San Antonio at Huquitoa lies five leagues to the west of Ati.  There is no church nor are there living quarters for the Missionary.  According to the Census Book, which I have here before me, there are twenty-three married couples, nine widowers, five widows, ten orphans, the number of souls in all one hundred six.

The name San Antonio de Padua was taken from the patron saint of Oquitoa’s first priest, Father Antonio Arias.

Today there are only a few relics of the mission period.  A baptismal font made of copper was unlike the typical stone and copper models of its day.  Six pictures of the crucifixion were painted by Mexican artists in the early 1800s.  Perhaps the four old rifles and three small bronze bells noted in 1935 can still be seen in the sacristy.  The choir loft and two side windows were reconstructed in 1920.  The doors are made of mesquite.