Santiago, Chile, Jan 19, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Francisco Jimenez Araya is 30 years old and has suffered from terminal cancer since last November. He has faced his illness with courage and although at some point he may have thought his life’s dream would never come true, it did just a few days ago: he was ordained to the priesthood.
Last June he was ordained a deacon and was preparing for ordination to the priesthood when he was diagnosed with the illness. Soon he began to receive treatment at a Hospital in Santiago.
Known by friends and family as “Panchito,” Jimenez was ordained a priest on January 11 at the Holy Cure de Ars Home, a home for priests in Santiago, during a ceremony led by Bishop Rafael de la Barra of Illapel.
Panchito chose a verse from Psalm 99 as his priestly motto: “Serve the Lord with joy.”