SAN XAVIER MISSION

I VISITED THIS MISSION WITH MY HUSBAND WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO ARIZONA FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE LATE 1970'S. WE WENT TO SCHOOL AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE DAY WE PASSED THROUGH THIS MISSION WE WERE WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO TUCSON FOR A VISIT. SAN XAVIER HAD MANY PEOPLE PIMA AND PAPAGO NATIVES DRESSED IN COSTUMES AND THEY WERE DANCING TO THE BEAT OF SOME ANCIENT MUSIC. THEY HAD MELONS IN THEIR HANDS AND THEY WERE CELEBRATING THE GIFTS OF THEIR PLANTINGS.

THIS MISSION HAS A BEAUTIFUL WHITE MORRISH INSPIRED DESIGN WITH TOWERS THAT RISE IMPOSINGLY ABOVE THE DESERT. THE ENTRANCE IS ORNATELY DECORATED. SOME SAY IT'S THE FINEST MISSION AROUND. INSIDE THERE ARE FRESCOES COVERING THE ALTAR, WALLS, AND CEILING. SPANISH MISSIONARIES BUILT SAN XAVIER MISSION IN THE PLACE THE TOHONO OODHAM PEOPLE CALLED BAC - WHERE THE WATER APPEARS. THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER RUNS UNDERGROUND AND SURFACES NEARBY.

FATHER KINO FOUNDED THE CHURCH IN THE 1700'S AND USED IT AS A BASE FOR EXPLORING THE AREA. TODAY IT'S AN ACTIVE CHURCH FOR ALL. THE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 1787. SOUTHERN ARIZONA WAS PART OF NEW SPAIN. MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE WAS GRANTED IN 1821, AND THE MISSION BECAME PART OF MEXICO. WITH THE GADSON PURCHASE THE MISSION JOINED THE U.S. IN 1992 CONSERVATORS BEGIN A FIVE YEAR RESERVE EFFORT. THE CHURCH IS CONSTRUCTED OF LOW FIRE BRICK, STONE AND LIMESTONE MORTAR. IT'S ROOFED WITH MASONRY VAULTS, MAKING IT AMONG ONE OF THE OLDEST SPANISH COLONIAL BUILDINGS WITHIN THE U.S. BORDERS. IN 1992 THEY HAD TO RESTORE THE BUILDING. IT'S WONDERFUL TO VISIT THIS CHURCH AS IT HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OUTSIDE AS WELL AS INSIDE. AND THEIR FESTIVALS ARE WONDERFUL FOR TOURISTS AS WELL!