San Xavier del Bac continues to host an active congregation on the San Xavier Indian reservation, with an adjacent school. I visited it three times in four days. This morning I saw the nuns walking from their quarters to the school. The photographers weren't too thick, probably because it's not photo season in AZ, and because the church is undergoing an extensive renovation that "ruins" the exterior.
The altar of San Xavier del Bac
The interior remodel was finished some time ago. Arizona Highways did a masterful photo spread using studio lights balanced to exterior conditions at sunset. Will be a long time before anyone has access and pristine conditions like that
Door to the Our Lady of Sorrows chapel at San Xavier del Bac
I enjoyed the peace and solitude of this chapel, not to mention the refuge from the wind and the people in the main sanctuary. There were dozens of saint statues, most common being Jesus showing the sacred heart and St. Jude in a green robe with a red flame on his head. I read on the Internet that this chapel had been troubled with vandalism; I noted the security camera and was grateful that the doors were still open so early in the morning.
I met John on my way back from San Xavier del Bac. He's following his divine guidance to walk the length of the border to advocate for a humanitarian approach to the illegal immigration problem. In my words (not his), to remember that underlying the "issue" are real, suffering, courageous individuals like us. The golden rule and all. Safe travels, John.
