Father Kino Priest to the Pimas
Vision Books #56
H. Lawrence Hoffman (Illustrator)
Farrar, Straus & Company, Inc.
1963
St. Augustine Academy Press
9781640510852
2019
St. Augustine's HEP
9798861823067
2023
This is one of the original 72 Vision Books for Young Readers. The originals were published between 1955 and 1969 by Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, Inc. Reprints of about half are available from Ignatius Press. This is not one of them. I wrote a piece about the series as a whole, Vision Books for Young Readers, after reading a few and wanting to know more about the series. This one had 2 editions currently in print but not from Ignatius. The description of the book states:
“Among the many brave Jesuit missionaries who explored the early American Southwest, one star shines Padre Eusebio Franciso Kino, a native of the Italian Tiröl. Though he dreamed of following St. Francis Xavier to China, obedience led him instead to Mexico, and his patience and kindness led him to be beloved by all. Here is his story, written by Ann Nolan Clark in 1963 for the Vision Series.”
A description of a different edition states:
“Father Kino, Italian priest from the Tyrol, had lived for the day when he would sail off to a foreign missionary assignment to China, he hoped. He was sent instead to Mexico where his great work was the mapping, exploration, and Christianization of the Pimeda Alta, that vast land in northern Mexico and southern Arizona. He became father and hero to the Pima nations, building 29 missions and baptizing 4,000 Native Americans. The people of Arizona have acknowledged their debt by choosing Father Kino to represent their state in the National Statuary Hall, Washington.”
About the author in a different vision book we are informed:
“Ann Nolan Clark is the author of Secret of the Andes (Newbery Medal, 1953), In My Mother’s House, World Song, Paco’s Miracle, and Medicine Man’s Daughter, among others. She lives in Santa Fe and for many years worked among the Indians of the Southwest as teacher, writer, and school supervisor. Her first Vision Book was Father Kino, Priest to the Pimas.”
I knew nothing about father Kino before beginning this volume. But I can easily state that this is an excellent volume. It gives a clear history of this man, his passion for the missions, and his determination against odds, and multiple failures. I can easily see why this volume is not currently in print. It goes against the current political narrative and political correctness. It is the story of a young man who studies across Europe, but whom felt a great need to follow God’s will and serve in the missions. And though his passion was for China, he followed orders and went first to Mexico, then stays in California, Arizona, and the regions thereabouts. He died just a few years before Saint Junípero Serra was born, who would ultimately see his passion for witnessing to the people of California to fruition.
Father Kino was beloved by all he ministered to. He was a man of deep faith, but also a priest with a tireless work ethic. Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, SJ was a Jesuit missionary who had trained as geographer, cartographer, mathematician and astronomer. He was also a great explorer, often pushing further and further into unexplored territory. The canonization cause of Father Kino is underway with an indication on 11 July 2020, Pope Francis advanced the cause and declared him Venerable. There appears to be a movie about his life starring Richard Egan from 1976.
This was a fascinating read. Once I started I could hardly put it down. It was amazing to read about this priest’s faith, his passion for ministry, his determination and his amazing work ethic. I can easily recommend this book, no matter which of the editions you track down.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Ann Nolan Clark:
A Santo for Pasqualita
Blue Canyon I!_ orse
In My Mother's House
Little Navajo Bluebird
Looking-for-Something
Magic Money
Medicine Man's Daughter
Paco's Miracle
Santiago
Secret of the Andes
The Desert People
Third Monkey
World Song
…
Books in the Vision Books Saints Biographies:
Bernadette, Our Lady's Little Servant
The Cure of Ars
Edmund Campion
Florence Nightingale's Nuns
Fr. Marquette and the Great Rivers
Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi
Kateri Tekakwitha
Mother Cabrini, Missionary to the World
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity
Saint Anthony and the Christ Child
Saint Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal
Saint Dominic and the Rosary
Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas
Saint Helena and the True Cross
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus
Saint Isaac and the Indians
Saint John Bosco
Saint Katherine Drexel
Saint Louis and the Last Crusade
Saint Philip of the Joyous Heart
Saint Therese and the Roses
Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars
Saint Thomas More of London
Vincent De Paul: Saint of Charity
Out of Print books in the Series:
Brother Andre of Montreal
Catholic Campuses, Stories of American Catholic Colleges
Champions in Sports and Spirit
Children Welcome: Villages for Boys and Girls
Christmas and the Saints
Columbus and the New World
Dear Philippine: Mission of Mother Duchesne
Edel Quinn: Beneath the Southern Cross
Frances Warde and the First Sisters of Mercy
Good Pope John b
Governor Al Smith
In American Vineyards, Religious Orders in the United States
Irish Saints
John Carroll Bishop and Patriot
John Neumann, The Children's Bishop
Kit Carson of the Old West
Lydia Longley, the First American Nun
Marguerite Bourgeoys, Pioneer Teacher
Martin de Porres, Saint of the New World
Modern Crusaders
More Champions in Sports and Spirit
Mother Barat's Vineyard
My Eskimos: A Priest in the Artic
Peter and Paul: The Rock and the Sword
Peter Claver, Saint Among Slaves
Pope Pius XII, the World's Shepherd
Rose Hawthorne: The Pilgramage of Nathaniel's Daughter
Saints of the Byzantine World
Sarah Peter: The Dream and the Harvest
St. Augustine and His Search for Faith
St. Francis de Sales
St. Gregory the Great, Consul of God
St. Jerome and the Bible
St. Margaret Mary, Apostle of the Sacred Heart
The Bible Story, The Promised Lord and His Coming
The Cross in the West
The Ursulines, Nuns of Adventure
When Saints Were Young
…
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