Honoring Fr. Kino "Three Statues for Three Nations"

By Jennifer Miraval

Italy, Mexico, and the U.S were all represented near the statue of Fr. Eusebio Francisco Kino standing at Kino Blvd on Aug. 8th, 2021. Thirty years ago on this day, this statue along with two others were erected in these countries. They are considered the "Three Statues for Three Nations." They represent Fr. Kino, who lived by breaking walls and building bridges among these nations in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He was known for loving all peoples and uniting them. He founded more than two dozen missions and, through his excursion, he took part in colonizing Baja California and mapped out Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora, Mexico. 


The Kino Heritage Society hosted the event in the hopes of keeping Fr. Kino's legacy alive: to love one another. Fr. Gregory Adolf, a member of the Society says, "Fr. Kino shared the Gospel through his life not just in words, but by example." The Society is also pushing for the canonization of Fr. Kino. 

Among those who spoke and attended the commemoration were the City of Tucson Council member, Richard Fimbres; the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard from Sierra Vista; Pima County Supervisor from District 5, Adelita Grijalva; City of Tucson Manager, Michael Ortega; Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Sierra Vista; Rev. Gregory Adolf; Mexico Counsul, Rafael Barceló-Durazo; General Consul of Italy in Los Angeles; Silvia Chiave; Bishop Emertius, Gerald Kicanas; and President and historian of the Kino Heritage Society, Rosie Garcia. 

Following the commemoration, Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral in honor of Fr. Kino. Presiding the mass was Fr. Chris Cobally, a Jesuit from the Vatican Observatory, along with other pastors. 

In Segno, Italy, where one of the Fr. Kino statues stands, the celebration was also taking place at the same time. 


For the whole proclamation in Tucson: 

For more images of "Three Statues for Three Nations click here: 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XkA5RzJRoQK3P7Eh8

For more information about "Three Statues for Three Nations," check out: 
https://tucson.com/news/local/father-kino-celebration-in-tucson-of-3-statues-for-3-nations-on-aug-8/article_a58911ac-e504-11eb-be97-bfb70c00cf96.html