St. Francis Xavier Statues

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), was a friend and classmate of Ignatius Loyola at the University of Paris and one of the original founders of the Society of Jesus. He is most honored for his missionary accomplishments particularly in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

The statue of the University's patron saint is depicted wearing a standard Jesuit cassock, holding a liturgical book and wearing Japanese sandals to represent the years he spent in Japan. St. Xavier is posed reaching out in a welcoming gesture with his right hand as visitors enter the campus on St. Francis Xavier Way.

Quick Facts

Artist: Tom Tsuchiya
Dedicated: December 2, 2011, as part of the University's celebration of St. Francis' feast day on Dec. 3
Medium: Bronze
Height: 11'3" atop an 11' base
Location: Roundabout on St. Francis Xavier Way
Additional Notes:

• Depicted wearing his cassock and Japanese sandals as if he was in Japan on his journey toward Nagasaki
• Steps on which Xavier stands inspired by steps at the Himeji castle (4 hours outside of Tokyo)
• Holds a breviary (liturgical book)
• Reaches out in a welcoming gesture
• Took Tsuchiya about a year to sculpt the statue
• Tsuchiya also sculpted D'Artagnan (in front of Cintas) and Fr. James Hoff, S.J. (outside Hoff Dining Hall)

Learn more about St. Francis Xavier.

Plaque Inscription:

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
of The Society of Jesus

1506-1552
Patron of Xavier University
and of Foreign Missions

A.M.D.G.

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552), was a friend and classmate of Ignatius Loyola at the University of Paris and one of the original founders of the Society of Jesus. He is most honored for his missionary accomplishments particularly in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

This statue of the University's patron saint was erected in front of Hinkle Hall facing Victory Parkway, the original entrance of Xavier University. It was sculpted by Bernard L. Schmidt, a former faculty member of Xavier's Department of Art, and it was dedicated in 1985 with the combined gifts of the Classes of 1953, 1952, 1951, and 1939.

Quick Facts

Artist: Bernard L. Schmidt
Dedicated: 1985
Location: In front of Hinkle Hall on Victory Parkway

Learn more about St. Francis Xavier

Plaque Inscription:

1st Plaque:

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
1506 - 1552
of The Society of Jesus

Patron of Xavier University

Erected with the
Combined gifts of
Class of 1953
Class of 1952
Class of 1951

----------------------

2nd Plaque:

This Statue of St. Francis Xavier
was sculpted by
Bernard L. Schmidt
A faculty member of Xavier's Department of Art
and Dedicated in 1985
The new statue was made possible by
the 50th-anniversary gift of the
Class of 1934