# Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert

The Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert (Spanish: Misiones jesuíticas en el desierto de Sonora) are a series of Jesuit Catholic religious outposts established by the Spanish Catholic Jesuits and other orders for religious conversions of the Pima and Tohono O'odham indigenous peoples residing in the Sonoran Desert. An added goal was giving Spain a colonial presence in their frontier territory of the Sonora y Sinaloa Province in the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and relocating by Indian Reductions (Reducciones de Indios) settlements and encomiendas for agricultural, ranching, and mining labor.

## Geography and history

The missions are in an area of the Sonoran Desert, then called "Pimería Alta de Sonora y Sinaloa" (Upper Pima of Sonora and Sinaloa), now divided between the Mexican state of Sonora and the U.S. state of Arizona. Jesuits in missions in Northwestern Mexico wrote reports that throw light on the indigenous peoples they evangelized. A 1601 report, Relación de la Provincia de Nuestra Señora de Sinaloa was published in 1945. An important Jesuit report concerned the resistance in 1691 of the Tarahumara to evangelization, Historia de la tercera rebelión tarahumara. Another important Jesuit account of evangelization in Sonora is Estado y descripción de Sonora, 1730, which has considerable information about the size of the indigenous population, culture, and languages.
In the Spring of 1687, Jesuit missionary named Father Eusebio Francisco Kino lived and worked with the Native Americans (including the Sobaipuri) in the area called the "Pimería Alta," or "Upper Pima Country," which presently is located in northern Sonora and southern Arizona. During Father Eusebio Kino's stay in the Pimería Alta, he founded over twenty missions in eight mission districts.
On February 3, 1768, King Carlos III ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain and its overseas empire. Despite the order, many Jesuits remained in and around the present day Tucson, Arizona, as late as the 1780s.
The Jesuit missionaries were subsequently replaced by Franciscans, who divided the existing missions between two institutes: the Colegio de Querétaro and the Province of Santiago de Xalisco.

## Missions

Missions were organized hierarchically. Each province contained several missions (cabaceras), which might have dependent visitas. (A particularly successful visita might be promoted to a mission in its own right.) Each mission or visita in turn had subordinate pueblos.
The five provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa were:
* Tarahumara
* Sinaloa
* Ostimuri
* Sonora
* Pimería
As of the Jesuit expulsion in 1767, there were a total of 52 missions in the region: 41 in Sonora proper, and an additional 11 in Sinaloa.
| Name | Mission | Image | Location | Date founded | Order | Notes | Source |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe | Arizpe | | 30.33732, -110.16552 | 1648 (1648) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Miguel Bacoachi | Arizpe | | | 1648 (1648) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San José de Chinapa | Arizpe | | | 1648 (1648) | Jesuits | Briefly an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Vesuachi | Chinapa | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Miguel de Ures | Ures | | 29.42926, -110.39001 | 1644 (1644) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ignacio de Soniquipa | Ures | | | 1646 (1646) | Jesuits | Initially founded as a visita of Banámichi. Also spelled "Sinoquipe", and other variants. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Beramitzi | Huépac | | 30.00765, -110.21768 | 1639 (1639) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. Also spelled Banámichi or Banamitzi. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Lorenzo de Güepaca | Huépac | | | 1644 (1644) | Jesuits | Later a visita. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Pablo del Pescadero | Huépac | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora del Populo del Seri | Hermosillo | | | 1679 (1679) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Nacameri | Hermosillo | | | 1638 (1638) | Jesuits | At other times variously a visita of Ures, Pópulo, and Opodepe. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles | Hermosillo | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Pedro de la Conquista de los Seris | Hermosillo | | | 1742 (1742) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Baviácora | Baviácora | | | 1639 (1639) | Jesuits | Later a visita. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Pedro Aconchi | Baviácora | | | 1639 (1639) | Jesuits | Later became an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco de Borja de Tecoripa | Tecorípa | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ignacio de Suaqui | Tecorípa | | | 1620 (1620) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco Xavier de Cumuripa | Tecorípa | | | | Jesuits | Also spelled "Comusipa". Later became an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Inchoada de Hecatari | Tecorípa | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ignacio de Loyola de Ónavas | Ónavas | | | 1622 (1622) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Joseph de Soyopa | Ónavas | | | | Jesuits | Also known as San Francisco de Soyopa. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San José de Mátape | Mátape [es] | | | 1629 (1629) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa Cruz de Nacori | Mátape [es] | | | 1629 (1629) | Jesuits | Often called "Nacori Grande". | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Assumpción de Nuestra Señora de los Alamos | Mátape [es] | | | 1630 | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco Xavier de Rebeico | Mátape [es] | | | 1673 (1673) | Jesuits | Also spelled Robesco. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Javier de Arivechi | Arivechi | | | 1627 (1627) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ignacio Bacanora | Arivechi | | | 1627 (1627) | Jesuits | At another time a visita of Sahuaripa. | $^{:6}$ |
| Pondia | Arivechi | | | 1627 (1627) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Santa Rosalia de Onapa | Onapa | | | | Jesuits | Initially a visita of Arivechi. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Los Siete Angeles de Taraichi | Onapa | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ildefonso de Ostimuri | Onapa | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Valle de Tacupeto [es] | Onapa | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Jose de Teopari | Teopari [hr] | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa Maria de los Dolores | Teopari [hr] | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Nátori | Teopari [hr] | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Santa Ana de Mobas | Mobas | | | 1622 (1622) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Joaquín de Nuri | Mobas | | | 1622 (1622) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Sahuaripa | Sahuaripa | | | 1641 (1641) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Mateo Malzura | Sahuaripa | | | 1677 (1677) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Santo Tomás | Sahuaripa | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Idelfonso de Yécora | Yécora | | | 1673 (1673) | Jesuits | Initially a visita of Onapa. | $^{:6}$ |
| Santa Ana | Yécora | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco Xavier de Maycoba | Yécora | | | 1676 (1676) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Francisco de Huásaca | Huásabas | | | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Ignacio de Oputo | Huásabas | | | 1644 (1644) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Luis Gonzága de Bacadéhuachi | Nácori Chico | | 29.8077, -109.14075 | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de Nácori Chico | Nácori Chico | | | 1665 (1665) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santo Tomás de Serva | Nácori Chico | | | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Ignacio de Mochapa | Bacadéhuachi | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Sátachi | Bacadéhuachi | | | | Jesuits | Possibly earlier a visita of Nacori Chico. | |
| Mission Santa María de Bacerac | Bacerac | | | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Miguel de Bavispe | Bacerac | | | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Juan Evangelista de Huachinera | Bacerac | | | 1645 (1645) | Jesuits | Also spelled Guachintra. Later an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa Gertrudis de Techicadéguachi | Huachinera | | | 1688 (1688) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura | Oposura | | | 1738 (1738) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Cumpas | Oposura | | | 1643 (1643) | Jesuits | Later a visita of Huásabas. | $^{:6}$ |
| Térapa | Oposura | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission (Nuestro Padre) San Ignacio de Cuquiarachi | Cuquiarachi [es] | | 30.87454, -109.67032 | 1653 (1653) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco Xavier de Cuchuta | Cuquiarachi [es] | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Teuricachi | Cuquiarachi [es] | | | 1653 (1653) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa Rosa de Tebadéguachi | Cuquiarachi [es] | | | 1653 (1653) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Santa Maria de Tepupa | Batuc | | | 1629 (1629) | Jesuits | Flooded by Lake Novillo in 1964. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Francisco Javier de Batuc | Batuc | | | | Jesuits | Flooded by Lake Novillo in 1964. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Joaquín y Santa Ana de Tepachi | Batuc | | | | Jesuits | Later a visita of Oposura. | |
| Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama | Tubutama | | 30.88497, -111.46544 | 1691 (1691) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa Teresa de Atil | Tubutama | The mission at Atil through the ages with old and new side-by-side. | 30.84437, -111.58387 | 1687 (1687) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Antonio (Paduano) de(l) Oquitoa | Tubutama | | 30.74371, -111.73494 | 1689 (1689) | Jesuits | Later a visita of Atil. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission La Purísima Concepción de Nuestra Señora de Caborca | Caborca | | 30.69748, -112.14703 | 1693 (1693) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Jesus Maria de Busani | Caborca | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Los Cinco Señores del Busani | Caborca | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Valentin del Bizani | Caborca | | | 1694 (1694) | Jesuits | Established as Visita de San Juan de Bisaning (Bisanig). Elevated to the status of mission on Valentine's Day in 1694. The church ruins date to 1706. | |
| Mission San José de Imuris | San Ignacio | | 30.77742, -110.86257 | 1687 (1687) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestro Padre de San Ignacio de Cabórica [es] | San Ignacio | | 30.69696, -110.92431 | 1687 (1687) | Jesuits | Also known as San Ignacio de los Pimas. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Los Santos Reyes de Cucurpe | Cucurpe | | 30.3318, -110.70439 | 1647 (1647) | Jesuits | Founded by Marcos del Río. In ruins. | |
| Mission San Juan Bautista de Saracachi | Cucurpe | | | | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission San Miguel Tuape | Cucurpe | | | 1647 (1647) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de la Ascención de Opodepe | Cucurpe | | | 1704 (1704) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (de Cósari) | Dolores | | | 1687 (1687) | Jesuits | First mission founded in the Pimería Alta by Father Kino. It had a visita called San José at Aquimuri. Abandoned in 1744. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Doagibubig | Dolores | | | 1687 (1687) | Jesuits | Abandoned in 1740. Nonextant. | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Nuestra Señora del Pilar y Santiago de Cocóspera | Dolores | | 30.92866, -110.61148 | 1689 (1689) | Jesuits | | $^{:6}$ |
| Mission Santa María Suamca | Cocóspera | | | 1693 (1693) | Jesuits | Founded as Santa María del Pilar. The location changed and it became known as Santa María Suamca (spellings vary) or Santa María Bugota. Sometimes an independent mission, sometimes a visita of Cocóspera. It had visitas at San Lázaro and San Luis Bacoancos. | |
| Mission San Lázaro | Suamca | | | 1691 (1691) | Jesuits | Abandoned after an Apache raid. | |
| Mission Santa Gertrudis del Sáric | Sáric | | | 1690 (1690) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Ambrosio del Búsanic y Tucubavia | Sáric | | | 1690 (1690) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Bernardo de Aquimuri | Sáric | | | 1700 (1700) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi | Guevavi | | 31.41007, -110.90198 | 1691 (1691) | Jesuits | First church built in what is now southern Arizona. Abandoned in 1775. The church ruins date to 1751. | |
| Mission San Luis Bacoancos | Guevavi | | | 1691 (1691) | Jesuits | Abandoned after an Apache raid. | |
| Mission San Ignacio de Sonoitac | Guevavi | | | 1692 (1692) | Jesuits | Also named Los Reyes de Sonoita and Los Reyes del Sonoydag. A ranchería near Patagonia. | |
| Mission San Cayetano del Tumacácori | Guevavi | | | 1691 (1691) | Jesuits | The mission abandoned during the 1751 O'odham Uprising and rebuilt as Mission San José de Tumacácori to the west of the Santa Cruz River. | |
| Mission San José de Tumacácori | Guevavi | | 31.56861, -111.0509 | 1757 (1757) | Jesuits | Located west of the site of Mission San Cayetano del Tumacácori. Abandoned in 1828. The farming land around the mission was sold at auction in 1834. Nonextant. | |
| Mission San Cayetano de Calabazas | Guevavi | | 31.45252, -110.95945 | 1755 (1755) | Jesuits | Abandoned in 1786. | |
| Mission Santa Rosa de Bácum | Bácum | | | 1617 (1617) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Espíritu Santu Cócorit | Bácum | | | 1617 (1617) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de Belem | Huiribis [es] | | | | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | |
| Mission Santa Bárbara de Huiribis | Huiribis [es] | | | | Jesuits | Later a visita. | |
| Natividad Navojoa | Navojoa | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Ignacio Cohurimbo | Navojoa | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | Also spelled Curimpo. | |
| Mission Santa Catarina de Camoa | Navojoa | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | Later an independent mission. | |
| Mission San Fernando de las Amarillas del Carrizal | | | | 1773 (1773) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Andrés Conicari | Conicari | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Espíritu Santo Etchojoa | | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San José de Laguna de Guaymas | | | | 1701 (1701) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Santa Cruz del Río Mayo | Mayo | | | 1614 (1614) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Estanislao del Ootcam | | | | 1699 (1699) | Jesuits | Originally called Gubo Verde. Location now lost. | $^{:92}$ |
| Trinidad Pótam [es] | Rahum | | | 1617 (1617) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Rahum | Rahum | | | 1617 (1617) | Jesuits | | |
| Texas | | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Ignacio de Torin | Tórim [es] | | | 1617 (1617) | Jesuits | | |
| Trinidad Vícam | Tórim [es] | | | | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Xavier del Bac | | | 32.10722, -111.00797 | 1692 (1692) | Jesuits | 1692–1770, 1783–1837, 1859–present. The extant mission church was completed in 1797. | |
| Mission Nuestra Señora de Loreto y San Marcelo de Sonoyta | | | | 1693 (1693) | Jesuits | | |
| Mission San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón | | | 32.21346, -110.98703 | 1768 (1768) | Franciscans | Abandoned in 1828. Nonextant. | |
| Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción | | | 32.73052, -114.61557 | 1780 (1780) | Franciscans | Located in California but administered as part of the Pimería Alta missions. Destroyed during a Quechan raid from July 17–19, 1781. Nonextant. A reconstruction of the mission was completed in 1923, which currently serves as a parish church. | |
| Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuñer | | | 32.81636, -114.51511 | 1781 (1781) | Franciscans | Located in California but administered as part of the Pimería Alta missions. Destroyed during a Quechan raid from July 17–19, 1781. Nonextant. | |
| Mission Santa María Magdalena de Buquivaba | Mission Nuestro Padre de San Ignacio de Cabórica [es] | | | 1699 (1699) | Jesuits | | |