Local opinion: Celebrating another iconic southern Arizona tradition

Last week marked the annual presentation of Patronato’s “Christmas at San Xavier,” often described as the “unofficial” beginning of the holiday season in Southern Arizona.

Launched 29 years ago as a one-time event with Tucson’s own legend Linda Ronstadt performing with the Tucson Arizona Boys Choir and the male choir Sons of Orpheus, to raise funds for the restoration of the interior art at the iconic Mexican baroque church, this concert series has become as iconic as the church itself.

Because San Xavier still functions as an active parish church, the concert series takes place across nights timed to fall between the feast days of San Xavier (the Church’s Patron Saint) and Our Lady of Guadalupe. For three nights the Church is “borrowed” by the Patronato San Xavier, the preservation organization that for 40 years has assumed the heavy lift of raising the millions required to preserve and rehabilitate the 18th century structure and its fabulous collection of Spanish colonial mural artwork.

During this period the church is transformed: On the outside the towers are lit at every level; inside, the interior art and the magnificent baroque retablo altar glow with the light of hundreds of candles providing the magical setting for a little over a thousand lucky Tucsonans to revel in the glory of a night of exceptional beauty. This year with active preservation work happening at the front of the church, the enormous scaffold has been hidden by a scaffold wrap featuring a clever digitized rendering of what lies behind.

In recent years the event has focused on Tucson’s youth choirs to provide the music. Two sections each of the Tucson Arizona Boys Choir and the Tucson Girls Chorus perform. An organ along with a small brass section provides the orchestration. Each year new stars are featured, a soprano and tenor to sing the Ave Maria and O Holy Night, the traditional highlights of the concert, accompanied by either cello or violin. This season saw some 120 performers grace the altar stage, including a special appearance by Tucson-based choral gem, True Concord, during the final Signature concert.

The repertoire is a mix of traditional and familiar Christmas carols interspersed with seasonal selections chosen by the choir directors to highlight their choirs' vocal “chops." The result is a feast for the senses. Every year, most in the audience are moved to tears.

This year, a special free concert was held exclusively for members of the Wa:k community. For years the community has tolerated guests coming into their community to share the beauty and wonder of Tucson’s oldest and most famous European building, built by the hands of their ancestors. It was gratifying seeing the people of Wa:k enjoying an event that for many would have been outside their budget. At this, and the final performance, children from the Mission school performed a version of “Silent Night” sung in the O’odham language.

You might has missed an opportunity to enjoy this wonderful Tucson tradition this year but visit our website www.patronatosanxavier.org to learn how you can participate next year. Or for a donation of any amount during December to assist with our preservation work at San Xavier, we will send you a link to stream a version of the concert that was created during the pandemic. It gives a wonderful taste of the real thing.