Cardinal Cupich ordained two men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago May 21 at Holy Name Cathedral. Both men are in their 30s and were born and raised in the Chicago area. They begin their new assignments July 1.

Father Joseph Brom, SJC, 35

First assignment: St. John Cantius

Born in: Lisle

Education: St. Pius X, Lombard; Benet Academy, Lisle; St. Patrick High School; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Penn State University; University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary

Parents: Richard and Margaret (Burns) Brom

First Mass: May 22, 10:30 a.m., St. John Cantius

Canon Regular of St. John Cantius Father Joseph Brom said he first became serious about his Catholic faith in college, at the St. John Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I saw a group of people putting God first in their lives and realized that I should do the same,” he said.

He did not think he had a vocation to the priesthood then, so after finishing his degree in materials science and engineering, he decided to pursue a doctorate in the same discipline at Penn State University. While there, a homily about considering vocations to the priesthood reached him in a new way. “I had heard everything he said before in one form or another, but it struck me in a way that I could not ignore,” Brom said. “I knew I had to seriously consider the priesthood.”

He chose the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius because of their devotion to the sacred liturgy and their strong community life, he said, but decided to finish his doctorate before entering the community. “I defended my dissertation in materials science and engineering in May of 2014 and joined the Canons Regular a month and a half later,” Brom said. “After making first vows, I’ve had complete confidence in my vocation and desire to pursue holiness in my community and to serve God in priestly ministry.”

Father Colm Mitchell, 32

First assignment: St. Alexander, Palos Heights

Born in: Chicago

Education: St. Celestine, Elmwood Park; St. Patrick High School; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary

Parents: Bridget (O’Hagan) Mitchell and the late Brian Mitchell

First Mass: May 22, 1:30 p.m., St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church

Father Colm Mitchell attended Catholic elementary and high schools, and first thought of priesthood in his senior year of high school, thanks to a religion teacher who opened his eyes to the beauty of church tradition. He deepened his knowledge and understanding of the faith at the St. John Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was studying history.

He joined the Knights of Columbus in college and felt called to serve the church, but couldn’t decide how, although he looked into several religious orders and a career with the Knights of Columbus. He eventually settled on the idea of marrying and having a family and teaching in Catholic schools. “I would often use the excuse, ‘I’m gonna have like 10 kids, one of my sons will be a priest,’” Mitchell said.

But he made no progress on those goals and he felt, he said, like he was spinning his wheels, working as a substitute teacher but unable to find a full-time job. One sleepless night, he was struck by the idea of diocesan priesthood.

“I started at Mundelein in August of 2015 and since then not only have I grown in my relationship with Christ but I have been able to serve others in at a number of parishes and I have been able to experience the church in numerous places such as the Tohono O’odham Indian reservation in Arizona, my summer immersion in Guatemala, and the people of the Holy Land,” Mitchell said. “