Adventures 2014 - February: The Frescoes of San Xavier del Bac

          Over 30 years ago, my aunt and uncle took my mother and I to the San Xavier del Bac Mission Church southeast of Tuscson.  A few years ago, I returned with my sister.  However, we could not enter the chapel as it was the Saturday before Lent, and many, many services were going on that could not be accomplished after Ash Wednesday.

         It was always my goal to go back and photograph the frescoes of the interior.  We know only the name of one of the artisans who worked on this church, Pedro Bojorquez, a Spanish soldier believed to be working as a carpenter.  His name is carved into a wooden door.  The church was being built as Mozart played to the crowned heads of Europe, and George Washington was fighting for and then presiding over a new country.

       My goal is to not give a history, fascinating as that history is, but to share in the visual: the incredible frescoes left behind.

Virgin of Guadelupe



Bas relief of an angelic figure



The exterior

The vivid paint colors stand out



The Last Supper



San Xavier



This statue of Mary often has the dress changed to different colors.



The Choir Loft



The Tohono O'odham People converted to Christianity.  They still worship at San Xavier.



St. Joseph



Looking up into the frescoed dome.

If you go: 

• San Xavier is a working church, and there are always faithful there.  Please be respectful.
• Catholic or not: time a visit well before Ash Wednesday, and after Easter.  The Saturday before Lent starts is a very busy time for the actual parish members.  Holy Week before Easter is also very busy.