The Birth of Assisi: A Story of Faith and Justice Amidst a Nation in Crisis

(based on an essay and interview by Ambassador Howard Q. Dee, November 23, 1930 – August 21, 2024)

As the Assisi Development Foundation prepares to mark its golden anniversary in 2025, it is fitting to return to the moment of its birth—to remember the storm out of which this quiet force for justice and peace first emerged.

The year was 1975. The Philippines was caught in a whirlwind of upheaval. Martial Law had just been declared. Civil liberties were curtailed. Political dissent was silenced. The streets of Manila trembled with unrest, as red flags of Communist movements clashed with military rule. Amid this turbulence, the nation stood divided, and many of the faithful were uncertain of their place and purpose.

But in this wilderness of fear and confusion, a prophetic voice began to rise: that of Fr. Francisco “Fritz” Araneta, S.J., then president of the Ateneo de Manila University. A man of intellect, heart, and deep conviction, Fr. Fritz was ahead of his time. Inspired by Pope Paul VI’s call for a “preferential option for the poor,” he spoke boldly of a renewed mission for the Church—one rooted in justice, economic ethics, and the full human development of the most vulnerable.

I first encountered Fr. Fritz as a young businessman, just beginning to find my way. I had joined a small group of professionals under his guidance called the Association for Social Action (ASA). There, in intimate and often impassioned gatherings, Fr. Fritz taught us the foundational principles of development work. He expanded our understanding of social justice—speaking not only of charity, but of distributive justice, which demands a fair sharing of the fruits of a nation’s labor, and restorative justice, which seeks to return to the people what is rightfully theirs. He spoke of ancestral lands taken from indigenous communities under the Regalian Doctrine of the Spanish colonizers, and of the historical wrongs that needed redress.

But Fr. Fritz was more than a teacher. He lived his convictions. In a radical act of solidarity with the poor, he left the Jesuit order and immersed himself in pastoral work, serving as parish priest in the humble community of Bayanan, Muntinlupa. There, far from the halls of academia, he ministered quietly to those on the margins, even while enduring personal hardship—including a serious bus accident that would later force him to relinquish his parish duties.

By the late 1970s, the seeds he had planted in ASA began to bear fruit. That same circle of committed professionals that discplied under him gave rise to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)—a groundbreaking initiative that united over 120 local corporations to support development work in the Philippines. Visionaries like the Soriano brothers, Don Emilio Abello, and Washington Sycip lent their names and resources to the infant organization. The sheer scale of response required the hiring of a new cadre of professionals trained in social development.

Yet, even as PBSP took root, Fr. Fritz and a small band of his closest collaborators felt the need for something more personal, more responsive to the critical needs of the poor and marginalized. And so, out of that desire to be closer to the ground—to the people themselves—the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) was born.

Named in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the Foundation carried forward Fr. Fritz’s vision: a society grounded in love, justice, and peace. Assisi began as a modest initiative, yet grew steadily into a dedicated team of Filipino professionals, all working for the development and dignity of the millions that Philippine society has largely ignored or abandoned.

Fr. Fritz eventually returned to the Jesuits in 1999 and passed into eternal life in 2006. But his spirit endures in every ADF program, project, and partner who works for peace through development.

Today, fifty years since its founding, the Assisi Development Foundation remains rooted in that same spirit. We continue to draw inspiration from a vision of a society shaped by love and service—where justice and peace are not abstract ideals, but everyday realities.

We live out this mission by bearing witness to the values of St. Francis: humility, compassion, and a deep respect for human dignity. As responsible stewards of God’s gifts—both material and human—we work alongside service institutions, local partners, and the communities themselves. Together, we design and implement transformative interventions that empower the poor and the marginalized, helping them achieve full human development and lasting security. With them and for them, we continue to advocate for a society built on fairness, dignity, and just relationships.

This is the seed of ADF’s ongoing story. And it began with a single voice, a small group, and an unwavering belief that love in action can shape an entire nation. The seed grows on and the story continues to be written.