Mission San Xavier del Bac
by Joe Kozlowski
Title
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Artist
Joe Kozlowski
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Work on the restoration of the wast tower of the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac on the Tohono O'Odham reservation south of Tucson, AZ is finally complete.
The current church dates from the late 1700's, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. In 1783, Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain was able to begin contruction on the present structure usin money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. He hired an architect, Ignacio Gaona, and a large workforce of O'odham to create the present church.
Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico. The last resident Franciscan of the 19th Century departed in 1837. With the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the Mission joined the United States. In 1859 San Xavier became part of the Diocese of Santa Fe. In 1866 Tucson became an incipient diocese and regular services were held at the Mission once again. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet opened a school at the Mission in 1872. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity now teach at the school and reside in the convent.
Uploaded
July 17th, 2010
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