Patronato San Xavier

A National Historic Landmark, Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded by Fr. Eusebio Francisco Kino, the Jesuit pioneer and explorer in 1692.

The present church was built between 1783 and 1797 and is widely considered to be America's finest surviving example of Spanish Colonial architecture. Statues dating to the 1750's, vivid late baroque altars, and original paintings adorn the interior.  Visitors come from all over the world to step into the 18th Century.

Since its beginning, Patronato has raised and spent more than $10 million to remove rigid, water-trapping cement plasters on the exterior, remove soot, dust and grime in the interior and stabilize salt-endangered pigments.

Brick from the 1780's is repaired, then protected with soft lim-sand plaster as used here originally.

But more remains to be done to ensure its preservation for future generations.

Please help us complete both the restoration and the preservation of this national treasure.