The story
Founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1692 and completed by Franciscan padres in 1797, Mission San Xavier del Bac is the oldest European structure in Arizona still in use. Thousands of Tohono O'odham and early Spanish settlers are buried in the cemetery surrounding the mission. Known as the "White Dove of the Desert", the beautifully preserved church remains an active place of worship and one of Arizona's most important historic landmarks. Visitors and locals report seeing robed figures in the church after hours, hearing chanting from the cemetery at night, and feeling a powerful, watchful presence in the main nave.
What's reported here
Visitors and locals report seeing robed figures inside the church after hours, hearing chanting or singing near the cemetery at night and experiencing an intense feeling of being watched within the main nave. Unexplained footsteps, shadowy figures and sudden cold spots have also been described.
History & background
Established in 1692 and completed in 1797, Mission San Xavier del Bac is one of the finest surviving examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the United States. Located just south of Tucson, it continues to function as an active Catholic mission while preserving more than three centuries of Arizona's religious, cultural and architectural history.