The weather outside may have been stormy and gloomy, but the mood inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was a happy one on Saturday, May 25, as Bishop Thomas John Paprocki ordained Father Hyland L. Smith to the diocesan priesthood.

Several hundred people were there for the ordination that was attended by Father Smith's friends and loved ones, at least 40 of his fellow priests, a number of deacons and some of his seminarian friends from Mundelein Seminary.

Presenting the candidate was Father Christopher House, vocations director, while Father Daren Zehnle, Father Christopher Brey, Deacon James Ghiglione and Deacon Lawrence Smith served as masters of ceremonies.

Seated right up front in the Cathedral (and handing out prayer cards later) were Dr. James "Doc" and Doris Reid of Greenfield, the couple who welcomed the young Hyland Smith (who had lost his mother to cancer) into their family and eventually guided him in RCIA training.

In his homily Bishop Paprocki spoke of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Moses and St. Leo the Great, all people who were chosen by God and said yes to the Lord. He commented that as a priest — as a man who also said yes to the Heavenly Father — Father Smith will use his calling to assist others. "I can assure you, Hyland, that you will make a huge difference for years to come in the parishes ... all over the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois," he said.

"Hyland, we rejoice in your ordination," Bishop Paprocki said. "You will have the blessed privilege ... to proclaim the Lord's salvation to the world."

After the homily the soon-to-be ordained young man made his promises to the priesthood and lay prostrate in the sanctuary while the assembly prayed The Litany of the Saints. The ordination took place as Bishop Paprocki laid hands on the new priest and then the other priests did the same. After the Prayer of Ordination Father Smith was vested with his chasuble by Father Henry Schmidt.

Father Schmidt is the parochial administrator of St. Michael in Greenfield, the parish that Father Smith calls home. It was Father Schmidt who received the young Hyland Smith into the Catholic Church and confirmed him during the Easter Vigil in 2004. Father Smith also credits Father Schmidt in part with his priestly vocation, as Father Schmidt often prayed for vocations after Sunday Masses.

Next, Bishop Paprocki anointed the new priest's hands with the chrism that was blessed at the chrism Mass during Holy Week earlier this year, and Father Smith received the bread and wine. Finally, Bishop Paprocki gave the fraternal kiss to Father Smith and the priests likewise welcomed him to the ministry. The liturgy continued with Father Smith concelebrating.

Following the Prayer After Communion, Father Smith gave his traditional first blessing to Bishop Paprocki and the Mass was completed. A long line of well-wishers waited in the Cathedral to ask for Father Smith's blessing and then joined him for a reception lunch in the Cathedral atrium.

Father Smith traveled to Greenfield to celebrate his first Mass on the afternoon of Sunday, May 26 at St. Michael. On July 1, he will begin his first official assignment as parochial vicar at Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville.