30 Years of Journey with St. Francis of Assisi

On October 4, 2025, St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Ma-a celebrated its 30th Parochial Fiesta with the theme “Kauban ni San Francisco de Assisi, malipayong piniyalan nga nagalawig sa kahiusahan ug kalinaw.”

The parish’s feast activities kicked off with nine-day novena masses at 5:45 am starting on September 25, 2025, until October 3, 2025.

From September 1, 2025, known as the Season of Creation – World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4, 2025, feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the lay leaders of Gaymay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) and lay organizations offered tree seedlings during Sunday masses.

The yearly socio-cultural night was held last September 26, 2025. The event began at 7:00 pm at the parish’s outdoor stage. Raffle draw prizes were given to the parishioners throughout the night whose numbers were announced during the program. The leaders and members from the 13 zones, consisting of 45 GKKs, showcased their talents in acting and dancing with their performances inspired by the theme of the 13 virtues of St. Francis of Assisi. Zone 10 won first place with their performance of the Virtue of Obedience.

On the day of the fiesta, a solemn dawn procession of St. Francis of Assisi began at 4:00 am, with 45 images from the 45 GKKs being showcased. Parish Priest Fr. Russell Bantiles blessed the images of St. Francis of Assisi and the 45 icons from the GKKs after the procession.

At 6:00 am, a pontifical mass took place in the parish with Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, DD – Archbishop of Davao as presider, with six other diocesan priests concelebrating, led by Fr. Russell Bantiles—parish priest.

During his homily, Archbishop Valles told the parishioners that their patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, deliberately chose to be poor to tell us of his deep faith and love of God, who takes care of us, a radical proclamation of poverty.

Other Eucharist celebrations were scheduled throughout the feast day. The 9:00 am mass was presided over by Fr. Russell Bantiles—parish priest, the 4:00 pm mass was presided over by Fr. Julius Lugay—Parish Vicar, and the 6:00 pm mass was presided over by Fr. Jose Marie Escuadro—resident priest. At 3:00 pm, the blessing of animals happened, with Fr. Julius Lugay as presiding priest.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served to parishioners by the parish to celebrate the feast. (Pamela Caroline V. Millabe, SFAP Ma-a SoCCom | Photos: Maripet Elman, Pamela Millabe, and YASFAP Media)