Although the story referenced here (
visit link) is in Spanish and appeared in the September 22, 2011 edition of Tijuana's Frontera newspaper, a similar story can be read in English about the event at (
visit link) which informs us:
"About 150 people attended a commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the death of the Jesuit mission founder Padre Eusebio Kino at the monument to Kino in Tijuana on Wednesday. Or, one might say, it was the 300 1/2th anniversary, as the Italian-born, German- and Austrian-educated Kino died on March 15, 1711, in what is now Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, shortly after dedicating a chapel there.
The ceremony was delayed until September for a number of reasons, including that the anniversary of his death fell during Easter season (Lent began on March 9) and to allow for the creation of a new wine, Gran Vino Tinto Conmemorativo Kino, as seen packaged in the wooden box at right. Kino introduced zinfandel grapes to New Spain. Another wine named for Padre Kino, made by Domecq, is reportedly Mexico's best-seller: it is cheap and sweet. The fine-tasting commemorative wine from Baja California's Guadalupe Valley, served after the ceremony, is neither inexpensive nor sweet.
Kino's work as a missionary in what is now Baja California Sur, Sonora and Arizona was lauded, as were his labors as a scientist, astronomer, geographer, cartographer, frontiersman, rancher, teacher and diplomat known for his generally good relationships with indigenous communities.
The commemoration was put together by Tijuana's Italian community and by the Jesuit-run Universidad Iberoamericana in Playas de Tijuana. The Jesuit community came to Tijuana 29 years ago to found the university. In 1767, the Jesuits had been expelled from New Spain, and their missions were taken over by the Franciscans, who still operate the San Javier del Bac mission near Tucson founded by Kino in 1692 (construction on the current church there began in 1783).
University Rector Sebastián Serra Martínez (right) said he hoped the event would not be seen as one just looking back in time at a great yet imperfect leader, but one that would inspire and help Mexicans building their future. He said the failure of the San Bruno mission Kino was a part of from 1683 to 1685 and how Kino rebounded from it shows Mexicans the spirit and values they can summon forth in order to recover from the crises their society has been enduring and move forward."
This huge apparently bronze sculpture depicts Eusebio Kino standing in his Jesuit robes. He holds his left arm out as he points a finger into the distance. With his right hand he holds a large object which this viewer can not identify. It touches the ground...but doesn't really appear to be a farm implement. Unfortunately, online research did not reveal much information such as the materials, date or what that thing is in his right hand. However, we do learn the sculptor is Federico Canesi.
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us:
"Eusebio Francisco Kino S.J. (August 1645 – 15 March 1711) was a Jesuit priest from a town in what is now northern Italy. For the last 24 years of his life he worked in the region then known as the Pimaria Alta in modern day Sonora Mexico and southern Arizona. He explored the region worked with the indigenous Native American population, including primarily the Sobaipuri and other Upper Piman groups. He proved that Baja California is not an island by leading an overland expedition there. By the time of his death he had established 24 missions and visitas (country chapels or visiting stations)."