San Xavier Needs Community Support

By Carissa Krautscheid

San Xavier del Bac Mission is a national treasure. It is the finest example of baroque architecture in the Southwest. The art and architecture of the Mission continue to be revealed through the conservation efforts of Patranato San Xavier. 

San Xavier needs community support: Arizonans have the opportunity to make a difference today. 

In his op-ed article for the Arizona Daily Star, Steve Farley explained the history of funding for Arizona’s cultural, historic, and natural heritage sites. “The Arizona Heritage Fund was created in 1990 as a voter initiative which passed with over 62% majority,” said Farley, board member of Arizona Heritage Alliance, whose mission it is to "protect, preserve, and enhance Arizona’s historic, cultural, and natural heritage.” 

Previously, $10 million was directed annually “from the state lottery to the State Parks Heritage Fund to be used for local, regional, and state parks, trails, and open spaces, and cultural heritage sites. Grants provided key funding ... for communities, tribes, and agencies to enhance and create parks and trails, and restore, repair, and reuse historic properties.” 

However, the Great Recession in 2009 left the state with a budget deficit that was addressed by eliminating the $10 million funding for Arizona’s heritage sites. In the 12 years since, “the fund has lost $120 million that should have been used for parks, trails, and cultural sites.” 

In the 2021 legislative session, a bill was passed that approved a one-time allocation of $5 million to the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund in 2022, yet did nothing to restore the annual use of $10 million in lottery revenue to be directed to the Heritage Fund. 

The result? Some say that cherished and shared local spaces are not receiving the funding they need to be properly maintained.  

Mission San Xavier del Bac is the icon of our region, recognized internationally as a historic and cultural landmark that must be protected. San Xavier was among the first in the nation to be ranked as a historical landmark in October 1960. Today, there are thousands of sites across the United States that are designated as historical landmarks. 

Miles Green is the Executive Director of the Patronato San Xavier. “We often take the Mission for granted because it’s in our backyard, that quaint little church southwest of Tucson, but it’s so much more,” he said. “Anyone who has an interest in Arizona and the history of our Nation should have an interest in preserving the Mission. Not only is it an extraordinary example of Mexican baroque architecture, but it also remains an active Catholic parish continuing to serve the population it was established to serve in 1692.” 

The native Tohono O'odham people collaborated with the famed missionary Venerable Padre Kino and discussed how they might be mutually benefitted by a Catholic Mission in the village of Wa:k. To this day, the story of the O'odham people continues to be intertwined with the story of San Xavier Mission. 

Continual restoration efforts ensure the preservation of this important landmark. These efforts take considerable financial resources. The Patronato Board was established in 1978 because, at that time, religious organizations were not able to appeal for funding from state and government entities. As a non-denominational 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Patronato can seek funding from all sources. 

San Xavier Mission is a crucial component of the Catholic heritage in the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and the United States. However, it is not just a landmark for Catholics. 

Green points out that American history is not only found on the East Coast. Padre Kino arrived in the Pimería Alta region in 1687. The community surrounding Mission San Xavier del Bac dates almost a hundred years prior to the Revolutionary War, while the church’s construction began in 1783. 

Patronato describes its work: “funding and directing ethical conservation, conducting scientific research, and interpreting the significance of Mission San Xavier del Bac, a National Historic Landmark in the community of Wa:k, part of the Tohono O’odham Nation.” 

"State money is important because it preserves and protects Arizona’s historical and recreational sites,” said Green. “The legislature has yet to make funds available annually.” 

The Arizona Heritage Alliance encourages widespread participation by writing letters to news editors and local representatives to request support for the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund. Make your voice heard to protect the Catholic and cultural heritage of the White Dove of the Desert.  
 
Arizona Heritage Alliance