Patronato San Xavier

PATRONATO SAN XAVIER FUNDS AND DIRECTS ETHICAL CONSERVATION, CONDUCTS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND INTERPRETS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IN THE COMMUNITY OF WA:K, PART OF THE TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION, NEAR TUCSON, ARIZONA.

OVER THE LAST FOUR DECADES, $14 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED AND INVESTED IN: 1. THE CONSERVATION OF SAN XAVIER DEL BAC, AN HISTORIC SPANISH COLONIAL MISSION CHURCH (BUILT BETWEEN 1783 AND 1797) AND THE ANCILLARY BUILDINGS. WORK INCLUDES: A. IN THE INTERIOR, THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE ORIGINAL INTERIOR ART WHICH, FOLLOWING AN INITIAL CLEANING AND STABILIZATION, REQUIRES ONGOING MAINTENANCE TREATMENTS. B. ON THE EXTERIOR, REMOVAL OF INCOMPATIBLE CONCRETE-BASED PLASTERS WHICH HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FIRED-ADOBE FABRIC OF THE BUILDING, AND REPLACING WITH TRADITIONAL LIME PLASTERS. C. PRESERVATION OF WOODEN ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STRUCTURE TO PROTECT AGAINST INSECT AND FUNGAL DAMAGE, AND DAMAGE CREATED BY EXPOSURE TO SUN AND RAIN. D. A RESEARCH PHASE ON THE NEXT MAJOR CONSERVATION PROJECT, PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC FACADE, WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE FALL OF 2021 BY A TEAM LED BY THE PATRONATO'S NEWLY APPOINTED CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER, STARR HERR-CARDILLO. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP THE PROTOCOLS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE FACADE; A PROJECT CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR THE FALL OF 2024. E. ANOTHER SET OF ORIGINAL DOORS TO THE MISSION WERE CONSERVED, AND FUNDING IS IN PLACE FOR THE THIRD PROJECT INVOLVING WOODEN ARTIFACTS. THE MULTI-YEAR CONSERVATION IN THE WEST TRANSEPT WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL 2022. THIS THREE-YEAR ENDEAVOR HAS SEEN EVERY SURFACE FROM THE DOME TO THE FLOOR CLEANED, STABILIZED AND CONSERVED. INVASIVE PORTLAND CEMENT WAS ALSO REMOVED AT THE FLOOR LEVEL TO PREVENT WATER INFILTRATION F. ACROSS THE CURRENT PERIOD A MAJOR PROJECT WAS ACCOMPLISHED, COMPLETING PRESERVATION OF THE EAST TOWER, A PROJECT IMPACTED BY THE LOSS OF GRANT FUNDING WHEN THE STATE OF ARIZONA WITHDREW PROMISED HERITAGE GRANT MONEYS DUE TO THE RECESSION AND THE STATE'S OWN FISCAL SHORTFALL IN 2009. THIS $1 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WAS LARGELY COMPLETED ON TIME AND ON BUDGET UTILIZING A NEW VENDOR TO THE ORGANIZATION. 2. MAINTAINING A DOCENT PROGRAM TO INFORM VISITORS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MISSION. THIS INCLUDES MANAGEMENT OF THE SMALL MUSEUM. 3. FUNDING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONSERVATION AND OTHER RELATED CRAFTS. 4. BUILDING AN ENDOWMENT TO ADDRESS ON-GOING MAINTENANCE IN PERPETUITY.