Order of Friars Minor (OFM)
Province of San Antonio de Padua – Southern Philippines

Archbishop Santiago T G Hayes SJ Award
For service to the church in Mindanao

For more than four decades, the Franciscan presence in Mindanao has been guided by a simple yet profound conviction: peace begins by being present.For more than four decades, the Franciscan presence in Mindanao has been guided by a simple yet profound conviction: peace begins by being present.

In 1983, guided by the vision of the late Fr Erwin Schoenstein, OFM, a small group of Franciscan friars chose to live among the predominantly Muslim communities of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte. As members of the Order of Friars Minor - a fraternity of brothers and priests following the life and example of St Francis of Assisi, they embraced a mission of humble service among the poor, the sick, the excluded, and communities at the margins. Rather than establishing a powerful institutional presence, they sought to walk with the people, becoming a presence rooted in trust, fraternity, and peace.

Following the example of St Francis, who crossed battle lines in 1219 to meet Sultan Malik al-Kamil, and made an enduring historical symbol of interfaith peace, the friars continue a mission rooted in humility, dialogue, and peace.

The early years were marked by challenges. The friars faced suspicion, threats, and difficult seasons, yet they remained. Living among their Muslim neighbors and sharing daily life with ordinary people, they gradually earned trust and friendship. For Fr Erwin, the heart of the mission was simple: “I believe much in the value of presence - just being with and among people.”

Over time, this presence grew into what the Franciscans call a “Reconciling Presence through Dialogue of Life and Faith.” More than a program,it became a way of life rooted in listening, friendship, and accompaniment.

As Fr Rolando Kee Abas, OFM reflects, “Friendship then is the beginning door for establishing peace and interreligious dialogue.” Living among Muslim communities taught the friars that peace is built not through power, but through relationships.

What began in Balo-i eventually grew into a wider ministry of reconciliation across Mindanao. Today, the friars continue the program under the leadership of Fr Rolando Kee Abas, OFM, Fr Benigno Flores, OFM, and Fr Salvador Cerbito Jr, OFM, while serving communities under the Prelature of Marawi. They also oversee the Kalilintad Learning Center, named after the Maranao word kalilintad, meaning “peace”- a fitting symbol of their mission.

From this humble beginning, the Franciscan Dialogue Program inspired ministries in Basilan, Kidapawan, Pagadian, and Pagalungan. Through the Franciscan Itinerant Community, educational outreach, healthcare missions, pastoral accompaniment, humanitarian assistance, and interreligious dialogue, the friars continue to respond to the material, spiritual, and developmental needs of communities. To this day, the friars remain a reconciling presence among Christian and Maguindanaon communities. In other mission areas, they foster peace, understanding, and hope through parish ministry, youth formation, and community engagement.

The most enduring contribution of the Franciscans lies not in any institution they have built, but in the relationships they have nurtured. As Fr Rolly explains, “the mission is about being among the people rather than doing something for the people.”

For decades, the Franciscans have shown that peace is cultivated through presence, humility, dialogue, and love. Their journey continues to affirm a profound truth: God is already present among the people, and reconciliation becomes possible when people choose fraternity over fear and encounter over division.

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In recognition of its forty-two years of faithful missionary presence in Mindanao, its commitment to Christian-Muslim dialogue, peacebuilding, care for creation, and service to all communities, and its enduring witness to a reconciling presence through dialogue of life and faith, Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan is honored to confer upon the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), Province of San Antonio de Padua - Southern Philippines, the Archbishop Santiago T G Hayes, SJ Award for Service to the Church in Mindanao during its 87th Commencement Exercises.