San Javier Mission restrictions

THIS IS TRADITIONALLY WHEN SANXAVIER MISSION -- SEES ANINFLUX OF VISITORS.

BUT THEPANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THAT.

THEMISSION (IS OPEN -- BUT WITHMAJOR RESTRICTIONS FORTOURISTS AND PARISHIONERS.THE WHITE DOVE OF THE DESERT-- SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION-- SOUTH OF TUCSON.

SINCEPADRE KINO ESTABLISHED THEMISSION IN 1862 -- CATHOLICMEMBERS OF THE TOHONO O'ODHAMNATION HAVE CELEBRATED MASSHERE.

BUT NOT ANY LONGER --BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

I DON'TTHINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVEMASSES IN THE TRADITIONALWAY." "WE HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHINGSINCE MARCH WHEN WE FIRSTCLOSED.

THE VENTILATIONREALLY, THERE ISN'T ANYVENTILATION.

THEY DIDN'TFORESEE THE NEED FOR WINDOWSOR AIR CONDITIONING." NO AIRCONDITIONING -- BECAUSE THEFRANCISCANS COMPLETED THEPRESENT CHURCH IN 1797.

FATHERBILL MINKEL DID PERFORMOUTDOOR MASSES FOR SMALLGROUPS OF HIS PARISHIONERSEARLIER THIS FALL -- BUTRECENTLY STOPPED WITH THE RISEIN CORONAVIRUS CASES.

BUT SANXAVIER REMAINS PARTIALLY OPEN-- WITH MANY RESTRICTIONS.VISITORS CAN STILL COME SEETHE HISTORY -- AND TAKE TIMETO REFLECT DURING THIS TIME OFUNCERTAINTY.

"A PLACE FORPEOPLE TO SAY A PRAYER, JUST AQUICK PRAYER OR LIGHT ACANDLE." BUT NOW THE MISSIONIS EVEN CUTTING BACK ONVISITORS GOING INTO THE CHURCH-- WITH A REDUCTION IN HOURS.IT'S NOW OPEN JUST 9 TO NOONEACH DAY.

"WE'RE KIND OFSCALING BACK JUST A LITTLEBIT.

WE'VE SEE NOT JUST A RISEIN THE NUMBERS IN TUCSON ANDARIZONA, BUT HERE LOCALLY.SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERSHJAVE REPORTED COMING INCONTACT.

WE JUST HAVE TO BEMORE CAREFUL." VISITORS MUSTWEAR MASKS -- AND ARE LIMITEDTO JUST FIVE MINUTES IN THEBACK OF THE CHURCH.

"KIND OFGAUGE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATA TIME.

WE DON'T WANT MORETHAN ABOUT EIGHT OR SO PEOPLE.WE ASK THEM TO TAKE NO MORETHAN FIVE MINUTES IF THERE'SOTHERS WAITING." VISITORS THENEXIT THROUGH THE SIDE DOOR.WHILE FATHER BILL ISDISAPPOINTED CHRISTMAS MASSWON'T BE CELEBRATED WITH HISPARISH -- RECENT EVENTS AREGIVING HIM HOPE -- THAT BYEASTER -- HE'LL BE ABLE TOCELEBRATE MASS.

"THE VACCINE,YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF MYMESSAGES LATELY.

THERE ISHOPE.

WE JUST HAVE TO HANG INTHERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGSTO BE HOPEFUL FOR."RESTORATION CONTINUES AT SANXAVIER -- AND CONSTRUCTION ONTHE NEVER- FINISHED EAST TOWERIS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

A CONTRACTWILL BE AWARDED SOON -- WITHCONSTRUCTION STARTING BYMARCH.TUCSON HAS A RICH HISTORY