Nearly 800 people were on hand for the morning Mass, filling the pews and then attending a reception that followed in the Cathedral atrium. About 65 priests, both diocesan and members of the faculty at Mundelein Seminary, along with a number of deacons and diocesan seminarians were there to take part in the joyous liturgy.

Father Christopher House, director of seminarians for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, presented the candidates while Father Brian Alford, Father Christopher Brey, Deacon James Ghiglione and Deacon Larry Smith acted as masters of ceremonies.

Gift bearers for the Mass were Thomas and Elaine Arisman, James and Nancy Brown, Sister Maristella Dunlavy, OP, and Sister Francis Mary Phillip, OP.

In his homily, Bishop Paprocki spoke about the various kinds of fatherly love — from the standpoint of a father's love for his children, God's love for his people and a priest's love for his flock. "After ordination, Steven and Seth will be called 'Father' — not just as a designation but as the role they will be playing," he said, adding that a priest called 'Father' has many priorities.

The two young men were called by a loving God, he said, adding, "Thank you, both, for saying yes to this divine vocation."

After the homily, the soon-to-be priests made their 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 priests and other priests did the same.

After the Prayer of Ordination Father Brown was vested by Father John Titus, the priest who brought him into the church in 2004 and who was also his first vocations director. Father Arisman was vested by his uncle, Msgr. Leo Enlow, a priest of the Springfield diocese since 1975.

Next, Bishop Paprocki anointed the new priests' hands with chrism that was blessed at this year's chrism Mass and both priests received the bread and wine. Finally, Bishop Paprocki gave the fraternal kiss to both Father Arisman and Father Brown and the priests likewise welcomed them to the ministry. The liturgy continued with Fathers Arisman and Brown concelebrating.

Near the conclusion of Mass both Father Arisman and Father Brown gave the traditional first blessing to Bishop Paprocki and later the new priests were given a joyous welcome by their brother priests on the front steps of the Cathedral.

Both new priests celebrated their first Masses at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 25 — Father Brown at St. Peter Church in Petersburg and Father Arisman at St. Agnes Church in Springfield. Both Masses were followed by receptions in their honor.

Beginning July 1, Father Arisman will be parochial vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Collinsville and Father Brown will be parochial vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish.