The last time – no, the time before last – we visited San Xavier del Bac near Tucson, one of the towers was shrouded in scaffolding while restoration work was done on the 200-year-old mission.
When we visited just this past week, at the end of a quick trip to Tucson, the restored tower had been unveiled, standing in contrast to its mate that has yet to undergo that process.
On the whole, the Mission has held up remarkably well, considering it welcomes 200,000 visitors every year and is still home to an active congregation.
Weekly masses are open to anyone, and we attended a crowded Easter Sunday service there one year. I love that it’s not just an empty historical building but the center of a vibrant community.
“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.”
Oh, beautiful. The old and the new. Love, love, love that first photo — the coloring and contrast are out of this world!
Thanks, Jess!
I love seeing old buildings being taken care of! And the before and after all in one, beautiful!
Yes, it makes me happy to see it being taken care of! I think they’re raising the funding to restore the other tower, but, in the meantime, it is neat to see the contrast.
Wow — the sky in that first photo! All of them, so gorgeous.
Thank you!
I really love the first picture, the composition is wonderful. AAhhhh, those candles are so great, once in a while I see them around here in Berlin, don’t ask the price, and they take me back to Chicago and its great Mexican-American community, specially la virgen de guadalupe one.
Crazy that those candles are so expensive by the time they make their way across the pond. Here you can even pick them up in the grocery store for a few bucks.
I love the photos – the building looks interesting, with an interesting history too. I’ve never heard of this before, but I do love learning about new places to go on my “one-day” list.
Yes, definitely put it on the list, and come visit Arizona sometime!