Mission San Xavier del Bac

On our way from Patagonia to Phoenix we stopped at San Xavier del Bac, near Tucson.

This was one of many mission churches established in the 18th century by Father Kino, a Jesuit priest whom the King of Spain sent to Sonora (as it was then, part of New Spain) to spread Roman Catholicism to the native Pima and Papago indians. He was welcomed by the people and they willingly took up the new religion, which the Tohona O'Odham people still follow.

The church is on Tohona O'Odham land and is lovingly tended by the local people. Restoration work is in progress on the west facade - the tower on the right has yet to be restored.

The gleaming white church stands high in the desert, with no other buildings around it. The wooden shelters in the square in front are traditional ramadas, cosntructed from local trees or cactuses.