Just in time for Christmas, San Xavier Mission worshippers can rock the baby Jesus in his cradle, thanks to restoration work on the O’odham Nativity scene at the church near ...

Santiago Gomez, with Morales Restoration, sprays off the word “rape” as he removes graffiti from in front of the San Xavier Mission south of Tucson, Ariz., on April 7, 2016.

The mission is about 9 miles south of downtown Tucson and is accessible via Interstate 19 and San Xavier Road. The church is free to visit, attracting 200,000 visitors per year.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The San Xavier del bac Mission is a National Historical Landmark in Tucson, built between 1783 and 1797, and is part of the Tohono O’odham Nation. It’s made of low ...

San Xavier del Bac, a national landmark. Green said the importance of the mission goes beyond the local community, calling it “one of the nation’s more important heritage buildings.” ...