Humanities students explore San Xavier Mission

Reflecting the multi-faceted nature of the Humanities, this excursion included a service project at the Mission school, a celebration of the Mass at the Mission, interdisciplinary assignments, and teachings that explored the Mission's art, architecture, religion, and history. In addition, students engaged with the oral tradition and storytelling of the Tohono O'odham people.

“Our day at San Xavier is a perfect opportunity to bring what we teach as a department alive for our students,” said Christine Huey, Humanities and art history teacher at Salpointe. “We are able to show them, in person, how the history, theology, art, and literature intersected in a real place with real people, and why that still matters and is still impacting us today.”

“The Mission is an important part of our local community historically, culturally, and spiritually,” said Elena Malovich, Humanities and English teacher at Salpointe. “We are blessed to have this beautiful rainbow in the desert of our backyard.”

The students and faculty started the excursion with service at the Mission School. They pulled weeds, raked the grounds, and gathered trash. The efforts to polish up the property were certainly noticeable. “I love seeing students work in concert with one another and teachers, breaking down cliques and walls that might exist in the classroom,” Malovich said. “Instead, everyone works together to accomplish something very special for these students. When our students get a glimpse of the youngsters at the school, their drive and effort intensify because they know who they are doing this for. It's magical.”

Fr. Paul Hensen, O.Carm., vocations director of the Carmelite order, joined the service and trip to the Mission. “Fr. Paul's homily stood out to me: so simple, so apt: ‘just look up,’” Malovich said. “He offered a gentle reminder that we all need to look up from our daily lives and our busyness, to form relationships, which is as simple as making eye contact; but also, to continue to look up to God for guidance and support.”

The rest of the day at San Xavier included class rotations between stations for theology, art, literature, and history. The six Humanities teachers expanded on various aspects of the Mission’s story, including the oral tradition, art inside the church, the facade outside the church, religious portrayals, the grotto, and the museum. 

“The Humanities offer students opportunities to see the ways in which our interests and worlds overlap and intersect,” said Malovich. “Too often, we are guided academically to narrow and focus our content and interests, but the Humanities open doors, windows, and minds to the very fact that we, as a humanity, are diverse, integrated, and ever-changing.”

“Coming to the San Xavier Mission has really brought the whole picture of the Humanities department together,” Lafevre said. “All four components of art, literature, history, and theology are really shown through our experience at San Xavier.”

“The Mission is so close,” Huey said, “yet I find that most of our students have never been there. It's a renowned monument, and unique to our region. Using San Xavier as a ‘teaching tool’ allows all of us teachers to make the historical content we teach more relevant and local.”

“It is a poignant reminder,” said Malovich, “of the historically and culturally rich community we live in and how we are able to serve to our neighbors in simple yet significant ways, while we simultaneously build important relationships with all generations.”

Junior Juan Hernandez ‘19 reflected on how this day at San Xavier Mission incorporated all of the senses. They worked with their hands, feeling the texture of the earth; observed the hidden details of the architecture; smelled candles burning; and listened to the children laughing and to the stories that were passed down through generations. “Even at lunch we could eat the Indian fry bread, so we also got a taste of the Mission,” Hernandez said. “All of the senses were combined into one journey.”