Mission San Xavier Del Bac: Condition of the Mission

In the book " A Frontier Documentary: Sonora and Tucson, 1821-1848" there is a chapter that discusses what the mission consisted of. Mission San Xavier del Bac was more than just a church. The mission consisted of many different parts to it. From cemeteries and chapels, to living quarters, the mission had it all. The chapter specifically talks about the missions condition during the year 1843. The chapel doors had been torn down and many of the burnt bricks were beginning to denigrate due to the many thunderstorms that would rush though the lands. The mission had eleven housing rooms. Of the eleven rooms, four of them had began to see structural issues. The beams were begging to crack and the supporting ribs were showing signs of rot; the roofs were begging to fall in. Within the mission walls was a recreational garden area that was enclosed by a cement fence that was begging to crumble. The communal agricultural lands were no longer being cultivated, leaving only eight percent of the lands cultivated. Water became a scarce commodity during this time leaving many of the natives hungry. With the lack of water, the mission was forced to get rid of all its cattle and sheep, only a few horses kept for trading, safety, and transportation purposes. This can almost be seen yet another hardship within the mission, but I felt as though this chapter did a better job of highlighting the state of the mission during this time.

This is a letter written by one of the head priests at San Xavier. It does a great job of showing just how the conditions were in the mission during the year 1843