A Spanish colonial mission church founded by the Jesuit Eusebio Kino in 1692 and rebuilt by Franciscans between 1783 and 1797, standing on the Tohono O'odham Nation about ten miles south of Tucson. It is a National Historic Landmark and is still run by Franciscans as a parish church.
What it needs
Cement plaster applied in the mid-twentieth century trapped moisture and damaged the decorated facade; conservators are removing it and stabilizing the original plaster in seasonal phases, with later phases to replace lost columns and the balcony. The Spring 2026 newsletter adds that the Convento and Granjon wings need foundation reinforcement, adobe wall rehabilitation, new water and electrical systems, treatment of insect-damaged mesquite beams and hazardous-material abatement. Donations to Patronato San Xavier pay for the conservation team, outside experts and the next stages of work.
Before you act. There is no single campaign target; the Patronato raises money continuously for conservation. No cost has been published yet for the convento wings, which were still being assessed in early 2026. The mission is a parish served by Franciscan friars, not an enclosed monastery.
The community says it is at capacity in its present building and tiny temporary chapel and is running out of room for new vocations, while the 1960s ranch house that holds the chapel is deteriorating. Ground was broken on 5 June 2026 for phase two, a two-story living-quarters building of about 30,000 square feet bringing capacity to 70 sisters; phase three is a permanent monastic church. Gifts go to the 'Help Us Build' fund, including a 'One Day Wage' appeal.
The nuns are building a complete monastery in traditional stone masonry and timber framing, meant to last for centuries. Work began in 2013 and is about one fifth complete; the oratory, dedicated in 2024, serves as a temporary chapel while the permanent church is built, and the plans also include a refectory, a novitiate (groundbreaking in autumn 2025) and quarters for the professed nuns.
