Scaffolding is down on the front facade of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, just in time for a photo competition hosted by the Patronato San Xavier.
Through July 15, the nonprofit is inviting photographers ages 18 and up of all skill levels to capture the Mission for an upcoming 2027 wall calendar.
“The Mission is probably the most iconic building in all of Arizona,” said Miles Green, executive director of Patronato San Xavier. The organization has been responsible for the upkeep and conservation of the Mission for the past 40 years.
“It’s probably the most photographed building of its type,” he said.
When the photo competition opened last December, the ornate entrance was covered by large scaffolding as part of a multi-year project that will be completed in the spring of 2028.
As of April 6, the scaffolding was taken down, and the Mission was uncovered so photographers and visitors can see all the church has to offer, Green said. The scaffolding will stay down throughout the competition.
“We thought it would be really fun to encourage people to see if they can see it in a new way,” he said.
The Patronato is accepting photos of the church’s exterior and interior, the conservation work and the surrounding desert landscape. All photos must be in landscape orientation, and there is a $6 entry fee.
Once the competition closes, 13 images will be selected for the Patronato’s 2027 calendar, which will be sold to raise money for the church’s restoration work.
The San Xavier Del Bac Mission on April 27, 2026. The Mission was founded in 1692, and Patronato San Xavier is looking to the community to capture its future.
An ornate history
Completed in 1797, the Mission’s opulent and historical architectural design is in the Folk Baroque style. Features include whimsy, overabundance of decoration and symmetry, said Squirrel Lovelady, a docent with the Patronato.
Lovelady has led tours on the history and significance of the church since taking the volunteer training in 2018.
During her tours, she highlights details of the church that can be easy for visitors to miss, like how depictions of critters make up the chandelier chain in the entrance of the chapel or on the entablature, or upper borders, that were painted to look like marble.
Visitors can see little critters, seashells, rabbits and snakes painted as well, she said. Many features represent symbols of the king and queen of Spain, the Catholic religion or the Tohono O’odham people.
Now, visitors can have their images of those details published in the upcoming calendar.
“It’s kind of win-win,” Green said of the photo contest. “People can enjoy the Mission, see it through new eyes, help us see it through a different light.”
For more about the photography competition, visit https://patronatosanxavier.org/, and learn about the San Xavier del Bac Mission at https://sanxaviermission.org/.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
