News Release

Documentary Presentation: Pilgrimage to Magdalena

Date: September 13, 2022

The documentary film, Pilgrimage to Magdalena, will be shown on Sunday, September 25 at 2:00 p.m. inside the historic mission church at Tumacácori National Historical Park. The screening will be followed by a question and answer and general discussion session, led by members of the Border Community Alliance (BCA). The documentary, created by BCA, was funded in part by grants from the National Park Service’s Southwest Border Resource Protection Program and the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

In late September of each year, Mexicans, Mexican Americans, Tohono O'odham, Yaqui, Mayo and others commence a journey from within Sonora, Mexico and Southern Arizona to Magdalena de Kino, Sonora. They walk or ride horseback to celebrate the feast days of Saint Francis Xavier and to honor Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, the Jesuit priest who founded Tumacácori and many other missions throughout the area in the 17th century. They travel to fulfill a manda (vow) to Saint Francis Xavier, or serve the travelers for the same reason. This tradition of 300+ years is unique in that during the days of the pilgrimage, borders do not exist for the travelers, and people of various cultures mingle to celebrate together. The film Pilgrimage to Magdalena celebrates this wonderful Borderlands tradition and honors its adherents.

Reservations to attend the program may be made at www.BorderCommunityAlliance.org or by calling BCA at 520-398-3229. There is no charge to attend this presentation, and entrance to the park is free during the program. Border Community Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Tubac, Arizona, with a mission of bridging the border and fostering community through education, collaboration and cultural exchange.