The Kino Heritage Society sponsored an inaugural mass and lecture today at San Xavier del Bac Mission commemorating the 300th Anniversary of Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino’s death. The talk was entitled “Arizona’s First Apostle” by Father Greg Adolf, of St. Andrew the Apostle, in Sierra Vista. Father Adolf spoke of Kino’s passion as an “apostolic”, delivering the important missionary mandate, as a Catholic ambassador of God, to include and instruct all peoples of the New World that he encountered. Padre Kino went on 50 expeditions on horseback in his 24 years in Pimeria Alta as a Jesuit missionary starting in 1687, and died in Magdalena, Sonora at age 66 in 1711 (where his grave lies).

Padre Kino

Portrait to the right by Frances O’Brien, courtesy of Arizona Historical Society.

The mission of the Kino Heritage Society is:”to promote the legacy of Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino and support his cause for Canonization.”

From the Tucson’s Birthday website:

“The eminent UCLA librarian and author Lawrence Clark Powell described Father Kino as “the noblest Southwesterner of all.” Professor Herbert Bolton, the father of the study of Spanish colonial history in the United States described Father Kino as “the most picturesque missionary pioneer of all North America -explorer, astronomer, cartographer, mission builder, ranchman, cattle king and defender of the frontier.” Professor Bolton continues his description of Padre Kino as the untiring protector of the O’odham and other native peoples. Padre Kino also was an university mathematics professor, area historian and thwarted ship builder. In 1965 the citizens of Arizona honored Padre Kino by dedicating before 700 dignitaries from all over the world a statue of Padre Kino at the United States Statuary Hall located in the United States Capitol Building. Padre Kino was one of Arizona’s two representatives so honored. In 2006 the petition for the cause for Padre Kino’s sainthood was completed with the delivery of over 35 pounds of documents to the Vatican. His cause for sainthood is presently under consideration. Padre Kino was born on August 10, 1645 in Segno Italy, a village located in the foothills of the Italian Alps. While doing his missionary work, Padre Kino traveled over 50 thousand miles, mostly on horseback.”

My husband Professor Albrecht Classen at the University of Arizona has done research and has lectured on Padre Kino and subsequent Jesuit missionaries for the Arizona Humanities Council. See his website: http://www.aclassen.faculty.arizona.edu/.

Upcoming 2010 events in the fall for this Kino 300th Anniversary sponsored by Kino Heritage Society:

October 17, 3 p.m.
Father Kino Concert at St. Augustine’s Cathedral
Stabat Mater by Rossini, University of Arizona Symphony & Orchestra, UA Choir & Community Choir

November 20, 7 p.m.
Concert in Honor of Father Kino’s arrival in Tucson, at St. Augustine’s Cathedral
Tucson Masterworks Chorale, Criolle Mass and music from the New World during Kino’s time

December 11
Latin Mass in honor of Our lady of Guadalupe at Holy Family Church

Stay tuned for updates on these events and for other 2011 events leading up to the 300th anniversary of Padro Kino’s death on March 15. Contact the Kino Heritage Society at 520-245-9564, c/o Diocese of Tucson, P.O. Box 31, Tucson 85702-0031. Chair is Rosie Garcia and Honorary Chair is Rev. Greg Adolf, who gave the lecture today.

Padre Kino on horseback statue in Tucson