Padre Kino came as a missionary to Mexico and worked with the natives on Baja California. At the time, most people thought it was an island, based on Sir Francis Drake’s assertion. However, Kino was sure it was a peninsula. He had to abandon the mission there because it was too hard to get supplies there crossing the gulf of California. So as he worked to build up other missions on the mainland, he constantly sought a land route to Baja. His missions were thriving! And he was a staunch supporter and defender of the Native Americans. He had to battle the greed and jealousy of the Spanish colonists constantly. To this day he is a beloved patron of the Pimas and people in the area of Sonora in Mexico.

Jack Steffan (Author)
Jose Cirilo Rios Ramos (Artist)