Tours now begin at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  When possible, we will note exceptions on the tour schedule.  See Visit or the main page for the docent calendar.  There is no charge for the tours, and for individuals it is not necessary to sign up in advance.

We will continue to accommodate groups on a limited basis. Please fill out a group tour request form here.

This year’s concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 15th at 5 p.m.  with an informal reception, beginning at 4 p.m. in the north courtyard (through the Museum entrance).

Seats for the concert are $75 each with $65 a tax deductible contribution to Patronato to aid the restoration of San Xavier, a National Historic Monument, and an Arizona treasure.

For more information call 520 407-6130. More about Chamber Music Plus here.

Request Spring Concert Tickets:

Sunday, April 15th at 5 p.m.

“I’m very excited that John agreed to continue and build on the work that Al started,” said Vern Lamplot, Patronato executive director.  “His decade of docent experience at the Tucson Museum of Art and love for San Xavier will serve the program well.”

Carhuff is a past president of the Tucson Museum of Art docent program with more than 1,500 hours of service there, including touring, public talks and the research library.  He was among the first class of docents who began giving tours of the two-century-old mission in April 2011.

“I understand the role of the docent in interpreting the significance of the Mission to the public.  At the same time I am concerned about the impact of the the program has on the MIssion since it is unique in being both an historic treasure and a working church,” he said.

Carhuff joins a strong management team that has organized, trained and now schedules more than 30 docent volunteers who offer regular tours of San Xavier six days per week.

“I continue to be amazed at how well the program has functioned in such a short time,” said Carhuff.  “Being part of the docent program has been very special for us all.”

See more about the docent program here

The awards are determined by the Arizona preservation community, and endorsed by the governor, to acknowledge “outstanding achievements in the preservation of Arizona historic and prehistoric cultural resources during the State’s first 100 years.”

The award, in part, cites Patronato for its dedication “to the restoration, maintenance and preservation of the Mission San Xavier del Bac, a National Historic Landmark.

“For 34 years now the organization has pursued this goal with determination and fervor.  For their long-term commitment to the preservation of this historic landmark, we are pleased to present the Patronato San Xavier with this Centennial Award in Historic Preservation.”

Patronato San Xavier was formed in 1978 by six Tucson community leaders who saw the need to protect the cultural icon.  Established as a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization solely to preserve San Xavier, Patronato has grown to a board of nearly 20.  One of the original founders, Bernard Fontana, remains active on the board.

“We’re very pleased to receive this award, recognizing the many years of hard work and effort by the board to raise funds and manage the project,”  said Fontana.  “It also affirms the craftsmanship and skill of our outstanding conservators and restoration experts.”

Over the course of the restoration,  Patronato has raised and spent about $10 million so far for the preservation and restoration of the church.

“Like many projects of this complexity and magnitude, there is still much to be done to insure that San Xavier will be preserved for the benefit of future generations,” said board president Charles Albanese.  “The church’s East Tower is in urgent need of restoration and intervention.”

The award will be presented at a special awards dinner as part of the Arizona Centennial Conference on April 19 in Phoenix.

This is the second time the restoration of San Xavier has been recognized by Arizona’s preservation community.  In 2006, Morales Restoration & Builders, the company that has been working on the exterior since 1989, received a  Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation from the Arizona Preservation Foundation and Arizona State Historic Preservation Office for long-term achievement.

You can see a list of all Arizona Centennial Legacy projects here.

Visit the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission Web site here.

Read the Arizona Daily Star story about the Centennial Awards.

New Jim Griffith Book

You’ve seen him on television for years, and now you can read more about the stories he has told to Southern Arizona audiences through the program “Arizona Illustrated.”  Patronato board member, storyteller and now a Heritage Fellow of the National Endowment of the Arts, Jim Griffith has written a new book  “A Border Runs Through It.”  The popular folklorist has translated his PBS series, “Southern Arizona Traditions,” into an engaging book.

This was the group’s second performance at the historic church – cellist Harry Clark & his wife, pianist Sanda Schuldmann played at the inaugural spring concert in 2009.

The two have performed on every important musical stage in America and abroad, having premiered and recorded some five dozen works by this country’s most prominent composers.”

The New York Times described the duo as “an exuberant pair, exhibiting artistic rapport and expressive unity with a quality of ardent commitment that shines through their work.”

More about Chamber Music Plus here.

(A.1) 10.12.11 SITE MEETING (9:30 a.m., 50º, cool, clear, light breeze)

PRESENT: Bob Vint, Danny Morales, Alex, Freddy, Jorge & Sonny (no Vince or Santi today)

WORK IN PROGRESS: Continued stabilization of Arch #1 (Jorge); interior wall of Arcade @ west side adobe wall (Alex & Santi) and north Pier #6 (Freddy); work @ NW corner of arcade (Sonny).

DISCUSSED: Detail of bond beam at top of wall [BV sketched section diagram – copy to Danny].

(A.3) 11.12.11 SITE VIST 2:00 PM (50º, cloudy)

PRESENT:      Bob Vint, Alexandra Fuente Navarro [UA grad student/intern in preservation]

WORK IN PROGRESS:    None; a Saturday visit to verify conditions @ entry way for design of dust control vestibule. Measured pews, aisles, doors etc. Confirmed HABS dimensions, some conditions have changed [such as removal of sloped wood floor that was present in 1940].

DISCUSSED:   Integration of shelves [or closed cabinets, with lockable door if desired] for prayer books in design of vestibule, to eliminate rolling book cart now stored in Baptistery that causes damage to walls as it id brought in and out of church [concept suggested by Patronato Pres. Chuck Albanese, during visit of conservator Aneta Zebala in September].

(A.4) 11.23.11 SITE MEETING (8:00 a.m., 45º, cool, clear)

PRESENT:      B. Vint, D. Morales, MRB crew [Sonny, Alex, Santi, Jorge & Freddy].

WORK IN PROGRESS: Continued stabilization of Arch #1 (Jorge); interior wall of Arcade @ west side

WORK IN PROGRESS:    Replacing fractured adobe at east wall bearing level; Danny uncovered a major pocket of deterioration at the inside corner of the south wall where a roof scupper (canal) has been leaking inside the wall for many years. The adobe was dissolved to powder and the mesquite beans rotted to the point of disintegration. The corner will have to be rebuilt. This condition underscores the importance of the work now being done on the arcade – for this roof was at the point of collapse, but the damage was unseen until the Morales crew removed the cement plaster coating. It also illustrates why it is impossible to fix the schedule or budget, as unforeseen conditions such as this emerge as the work progresses.

DISCUSSED: Work plan for restructuring Pier #1; lay burnt adobe buttress @ interior, building on historic partial-height buttress. Dome maintenance in progress – Vince & Santi mortar-washed main dome (cupola) last week as part of bi-yearly maintenance. Danny is hoping to continue with domes of Apse & Transepts, but there’s rain in the forecast and work may be delayed.

(A.5) 12.09.11 SITE MEETING (8:00 a.m., 50º, partial clouds)

PRESENT:      B. Vint, D. Morales & MRB crew [Alex, Freddy, Jorge, Vincent, Santi & Sonny]

WORK IN PROGRESS:  Re-pointing Arch #1; laying burnt adobe @ Pier #1

DISCUSSED:  Roof maintenance complete @ Apse and side altars (Transepts); BV & DM climbed tower to view condition of vaults. Mortar-washing is thorough.

(A.6) 12.22.11 SITE MEETING (8:00 a.m., 42º, cool, cloudy)

PRESENT:      B. Vint, D. Morales & MRB crew [Alex, Freddy, Jorge, Vincent, Santi & Sonny]

WORK IN PROGRESS: Laying burnt adobe @ Pier #1 interior (20” x 20”); Danny has drilled the adobe to install fiberglass 4 re-bar verticals set in lime mortar. Masonry @ north end of arcade (Freddy); Jamb @ north window @ Chapter Rm. (Danny)

DISCUSSED:  Top of wall stabilized @ parapet, continuously. Will start laying bond beam after 1st of year. MRB will take full week holiday from Friday before Christmas, to Monday after New Year’s Day.

A REMINDER OF THE BIG PICTURE:

[Show as slideshow]

END OF REPORT

Voices soared inside the cozy desert church, as the Sons of Orpheus and the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus sang in the holiday season with a selection of well-known favorites and several “new” pieces as well.

This was the 15th year for Patronato’s popular fundraiser to support the restoration of San Xavier.  The demand for seats for the three-night, six performance event was stronger than ever.

Both the performers and the board of Patronato are grateful to be part of what for many is a “must see” event for the holiday season.

The three-nights of six concerts feature the Sons of Orpheus and the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus performing a selection of classical and popular Christmas music.

Last year’s concerts were a return to sold-out houses. The Arizona Daily Star proclaimed it “beyond dazzling – San Xavier music, sights are spectacular.” The year’s anniversary event promises to be its equal in every way.

Patronato thanks our 2010 supporters: sponsor Ann Fallon and underwriters Laura & Arch Brown, John & Georgiann Carroll, Jim & Vicki Click, Chuck & Pat Pettis and Tucson Electric Power honoring Liz Ogilvy.

Also providing significant assistance: The DanMarben Group L.L.C., Lewis & Roca L.L.P., Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. and Tucson Electric Power. Last year’s concerts were dedicated to the memory of Elaine Stilb.

Seats are again $90 each with $70 of the price a tax-deductible contribution to the restoration. Invitations will be mailed the first week of October.

If you, or someone you know, would like to add your name to the invitation list, call 520 407-6130 or e-mail patronatoSX@earthlink.net.

Sponsorship and underwriting packages are available for the 2011 concert series. Please contact us to find out how you or your business can support

The project had two goals:  to repair and stabilize the arcade which has been “restored” haphazardly several times over the years and to isolate structurally the arcade from the main church for earthquake protection.

Excavating the ground below the arcade revealed some unexpected and potentially damaging developments.  Our crew from Morales Restoration and Builders found that the wall separating the Chapter Room from the East Transept of the main church had very little foundation support beneath.  Either portions of the foundation were never built or the footings became unstable and/or dissolved due to environmental conditions under the church.

Workers also found that the base support under the piers of the arcade was not stable.  As they excavated one of the piers, the foundation settled and one arch cracked.

The crew filled in the space under the East Transept/Chapter Room wall with a lime/concrete mixture.  The concrete provides structural strength and the lime is compatible with the original brick and mortal within the wall.

They stabilized the pier foundations with additional pours of concrete and lime and consolidated the walls with fresh lime and sand plaster.  The completed arcade will feature more authentic materials.

When the arcade is finished, Patronato hopes to move on to the East Tower project – long delayed due to funding problems.  The East Tower continues to deteriorate, but without sufficient support anticipated to complete the tower’s restoration, it’s not wise to begin stripping the exterior, exposing the structure to further damage.

The continued restoration of San Xavier would not be possible without your generous support.  We’re especially grateful now because we understand that the poor economy has affected everyone. Nonprofit organizations in particular have felt the recession deeply.  Many government grants have disappeared.  Historic preservation programs have been especially hard hit.

Despite public support, the White House and Congress have ended the Save America’s Treasures program, a public-private partnership through the National Trust. The program provided $250,000 in critical funding for the restoration of San Xavier’s West Tower in 2005.

Arizona’s legislature has repealed the historic preservation funding of the Arizona Heritage Fund that was created by voter initiative.  Earlier cuts to the program caused the State Parks board to rescind promised grants in 2009, including $150,000 to Patronato for work on the church’s East Tower.

These and other cuts put more pressure on nonprofits, private foundations and individuals to try to make up the difference.   We must count on friends to provide the necessary funds to continue.  Recently, the estate of James Geraghty has gifted $20,000 toward the East Tower project.  The Byrne Manson estate has made significant contributions to the Patronato Endowment Fund.  Please join these generous and thoughtful people and their families to help us finish the restoration of this great cultural legacy and provide for its perpetual care.