About the Mission:
San Xavier del Bac Mission was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692, located in San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation. This beautiful place was recognized as a US National Landmark in 1963. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797.The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church's interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space.The church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners.
There is museum at the Mission that explains more about our history with artifacts. The best way to start your experience is to begin with a 20 minute video which talks about the history of the Mission and its restoration. Then walk through the museum and look at the artifacts that give you a sense of the history and the way people lived hereat the Mission.The Mission was created to serve the needs of the local community here, the village of Wa:k (San Xavier District) on the Tohono O'odham reservation, as it still does today. We have people from all over the country, and the world, wanting to have their special event here at the mission, and sometimes that can be accommodated. but the policy of the Mission church is to only do Marriages, Baptisms, etc. for the local community. Everyone is welcome to attend masses, special celebrations (like feast days), etc., but it is our belief that ones sacramental life should be shared within their local community.
