PRIESTHOOD: A Response of a Greater Love Given by the Lord

From the quiet streets of Rosalina 3 in Baliok to the altar of Holy Family Parish, Rev. Francis Alimeos Flores has walked a long, even painful path guided by faith, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in God’s plan.

As a child, Rev. Flores wasn’t introduced to the church early on. Living with his grandmother, his spiritual journey began only when he returned to his parents at the age of nine. His days started in the quiet hours before dawn, accompanying his family to 4 a.m. Mass at the cathedral. This consistent exposure to the Church sparked a curiosity in him, a spark that slowly grew into a desire to serve. Watching altar servers filled him with admiration and an earnest hope that one day he could stand where they stood.

His first steps into ministry began when his mother took him to GSIS Parish, where he became an altar server in 2006. He served for five years. During that time, he was invited to consider the seminary. At first, his parents were hesitant. The road ahead was uncertain, and seminary life was not financially easy. Still, one simple, powerful phrase carried him forward: “God will provide.” He entered the seminary not with a deep understanding of priesthood but with a willing heart.

What followed was an eleven-year journey, including regency, filled with trials that tested his vocation. During seminary formation, Rev. Flores offered himself to God not just through service but through sacrifice. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. He prayed, hoping his offering of self might bring healing to her. In 2015, she passed away. In his grief, he questioned God on why He took his mother when he had already given so much even himself? Despite his heartbreak, he pressed on. A year later, he remained emotionally broken and just going with the flow of life especially that he lost his inspiration. Yet through the waves of pain, he found a deeper truth: his vocation was not just for his mother or family but it was for the people of God. That realization grounded his calling.

As he prepared for his diaconate ordination, another blow came—his father passed away. He asked God again: why not spare his father just long enough to witness this milestone? But in the midst of sorrow, a clearer picture of priesthood emerged. This life he was entering required true sacrifice, a giving of oneself not partially, but completely. Through everything, he began to feel the unmistakable presence of God’s greater plan. In prayer, in silence, in grief, he felt the call and he realized his God-given mission.

In moments of loneliness and doubt during seminary life, Rev. Flores found solace in the chapel. He listened for God’s voice in silence, visited the cemetery on his day off, and prayed for strength. His greatest joy was found in service—to be among the people, even way back as an altar boy giving his whole Sundays to serve at Mass. That joy became more concrete as a deacon, where he found peace and purpose among God’s people.

As he now stands on the threshold of his priesthood, Rev. Flores offers gratitude. He thanked God first, acknowledging that all he has received including the desire for priesthood which is a gift. As part of his preparation, during his retreat he reflected and recognized that he has nothing to boast of, except the grace that brought him here. He expresses heartfelt thanks to the clergy of the Archdiocese of Davao for their unwavering support, to his family for being his source of strength, and to the many parishioners and communities he has served. From Immaculate Conception Parish Peñaplata by the sea to the remote hills of San Roque Parish in Malabog, to his home parish in Baliok in which every encounter affirmed his vocation. Especially meaningful was his return to GSIS Parish now as the Parochial Vicar, back to where it all began, serving once again in the place where his calling was born.

With deep hope, he looks forward to his priesthood. He prays that the Archdiocese of Davao continues its vibrant work through the GKKs, parishes, and organizations. He believes in the synodal path, walking together, proclaiming the Good News, and spreading God’s love to all. The theme of his ordination, “Lord, You know that I love You,” encapsulates his journey. His priesthood is not a reward, but a response—a response to the greater love God has shown him.

To the young people who feel a stirring in their hearts, Rev. Flores offers a message: listen. In silence, God speaks. Set aside time for prayer, not just to talk, but to listen, to allow the Shepherd’s voice to speak clearly. Discernment is born in quiet and in openness.

On August 4, 2025 at 9:00 A.M., at Holy Family Parish in Baliok, Rev. Francis Flores will be ordained to the priesthood. A Thanksgiving Mass will follow at 5:00 P.M. The celebration will be broadcasted live via DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM. But this is not just his celebration. As he humbly puts it, “It is not only for me, but for the people.”

And so, Rev. Francis Flores steps forward not as someone who has conquered hardship, but as one who has been formed by it. His story is one of grace, loss, faith, and above all, love—the kind of love that leads to service, that lays down one’s life, and that says with full conviction: “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”