Located south of downtown Tucson, Arizona off of Interstate 19, Mission San Xavier del Bac is a most beautiful church. It was founded in 1699 by Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit missionary. The church that we visited was actually constructed between 1783-1789 , the original church having been destroyed by Apache Indians in 1770. In 1767 King Charles III of Spain banned the Jesuits from all Spanish lands because he distrusted them. With the departure of the Jesuits the Franciscan monks took over operation of the mission which served, as it does today, the Tohono O'Odoham (Papago) Indians.
The mission was named for the co-founder of the Society of Jesus. Translated, the name means the 'place where waters meet' or the 'place where water appears'. The Santa Cruz river is nearby.
The floorplan of the mission is in the shape of a Latin cross and the main chapel contains hundreds of statues, arches and paintings. The mission continues to undergo a lengthy restoration process and workmen were busy on the exterior of the building on the day we visited. Located on the grounds and within the original mission walls is a small museum containing artifacts from the area and the mission. An Indian arts center is located nearby where local artists show and sell their wares. Nearby Grotto Hill (not a part of the mission) contains an altar errected by the Bishop of Tucson to pay homage to the Virgin Mary.
