San Xavier del Bac Mission.....

Just down the road from our campground is the beautifully restored San Xavier del Bac Mission. It is also known as "the white dove of the desert". For more information, click here. It is a National Landmark, over 300 years old. 

The mission is a fully functioning church, and when we were there, a private ceremony (baptism?) was going on so we could not enter the church for about an hour. Instead, we walked around the property, and wandered through the museum attached to the side of the church. We viewed an informational film on the mission, and the restoration of the church by an international team. We also learned a little more about Saint Francis Xavier.

along the Tucson roadway

the mission

simple cemetery near the mission

completely renovated mission-its beautiful

the outside restoration looks completed

mission school next to the church

courtyard

courtyard

courtyard

candles everywhere

more devotional candles in the courtyard

walking in front of the museum section of the mission

we did not go up there...not exactly sure what that is

This mission was restored by an international team of specialists. They worked painstakingly cleaning and restoring the artwork in the church. The results are amazing. You can tell its a special place from the minute you walk in there. Its like the "people's" church.

view of the altar from the front door

St. Francis-used in the celebratory feast in early December

the altar

ceiling

right side of altar

left side of altar

walking out towards the back of the church

one more view of the restored mission church

another chapel

with beautiful desert gardens

lots of lit candles here

in the courtyard

front of the Mission San Xavier

another view of the front of the Mission

the "white dove of the desert"

The skies have been cloudy/rainy since we arrived in Tucson. Finally, once we were back at "home", we had a bit of a clearing for the sunset. You can see in the back, how beautiful the mountains look at sunset. It looks fake, but its not! Just beautiful!

sunset coloring the skies

awesome pink for just a minute

the sky changes so quickly

its the simple things...really!

and the football continues

the extent of our Christmas decorations this year