More than 95% of the population of the province of Lanao del Sur in the Philippines — where Marawi is situated - are Muslim, while Christians constitute less than five percent. In past decades, Columban missionaries strove to overcome distrust and hostility between these two communities by building bridges of mutual understanding, respect, and friendship. Below is a reflection by a former Columban seminarian from the Philippines, Alito B. Delos Santos, who continues to nurture the seeds sown by those Columban missionaries.
On May 14, 2025, I accompanied Fr. Ramon Torres to the city of Balabagan to retrieve election returns from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. These were required as part of the independent verification of the official election count. Despite reports of election-related violence in Malabang, a town we had to pass through, the roads were quiet, and a calm atmosphere prevailed.
Upon arriving at Balabagan parish, I was astonished at seeing a large, vibrant crowd. I had expected a simple religious event on the final day of preparation for the annual parish festival, but found instead a marriage ceremony involving ten couples presided over by Bishop Edwin Dela Peña as well as a temporary clinic operating on the church grounds. To my surprise, the medical team consisted largely of Muslim women doctors, their hijabs a striking symbol of interfaith generosity as they tended to patients of all (and none) faith traditions. Yes, that particular morning the “missionary church” in Balabagan had become the recipient of a missionary outreach by the local Muslims, a thought-provoking reversal of how many people think about mission.
The following day, May 15, my wife and I, who are members of Couples for Christ, returned to the same parish to join the local Catholic community for the traditional celebration of the feast day of San Isidro Labrador. En route, we paused at the site where Columban missionary Fr. Rufus Halley had been martyred in 2001, since it was his sacrifice for the sake of peace building in that province which had deeply influenced my decision to become a seminarian with the Missionary Society of St. Columban.
When we arrived at San Isidro Parish around 9 a.m., preparations for the festival were already well underway with tables, chairs, and a little stage set up in the midst of a Muslim-majority neighborhood. The Mass in commemoration of San Isidro Labrador, which was led by Bishop Dela Peña, also commemorated the 55th anniversary of the foundation of that parish.
In his homily, the bishop recalled the growth of the parish, crediting the sacrifices of early Christians in that area, notably Fr. Martin Dempsey, a Columban missionary and the first parish priest, who was shot dead in 1970 at the nearby Catholic High School where he had been teaching. His martyrdom became the foundation for the parish’s enduring presence.
The fragile peace thereafter in Balabagan, particularly during the turbulent 1970s, prevented Fr. Dempsey and his contemporary missionaries from witnessing the flourishing of that parish. Yet, their hope for improved Christian-Muslim relations endured. Even though fear of misunderstanding and hostility prevents some clergy from serving in that district up until today, the vision and courage of the Columban missionaries continue to inspire many ordinary Filipino Catholics to follow in their footsteps.
The sacrifices of Fr. Dempsey, Fr. Halley, and countless other missionaries inspires many Filipinos Catholics today to continue Christ’s mission through daily outreach and service to our Muslim sisters and brothers. The word “martyr,” meaning witness, captures their legacy. They bore witness to their faith not only by their deaths but also by their way of living. Now, we feel called to continue their missionary efforts by fostering mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation between Muslims and Christians in our day-to-day lives.
My experiences in the city of Balabagan revealed a community of Muslims and Christians that is thriving despite some ongoing challenges. The medical mission led by Muslim doctors, as well as the joyous festival of a Catholic saint in a Muslim neighborhood, demonstrate that peace building is possible through courage, dedication, and perseverance.
As a member of Couples for Christ, I continue to value my background as a Columban seminarian, and share it with other members of that organization so that together we can help build a more stable and peaceful society with our Muslim neighbors thereby becoming an inspiration for all those who live in similar circumstances, not only here in the Philippines but around the world.
Former Columban seminarian Alito B. Delos Santos shared his story with Columban Fr. Tim Mulroy, who lives and works in Britain.
