GARY | Ordaining three new priests Saturday for the Catholic Diocese of Gary was warm work.

Mick Kopil mopped sweat from his brow before a packed Cathedral of the Holy Angels as he, Richard Holy and David Link received their new vestments, marking the transition from deacon to priests.

Kopil, 39, of Schererville, said he also wiped away a few tears during the two-hour ceremony that was performed without air conditioning.

"It was a day full of God's grace. It was so very evident that I could feel God's love, the love of all the angels and saints and the love of all of the people of the Diocese of Gary," Kopil said.

Bishop Dale J. Melczek conducted a ritual examination of the three men,

"You must declare your intention to exercise the ministry of the Word, preaching the Gospel and doing acts of faith," he said.

The three answered "I do." Each prostrate themselves on the cathedral floor in a biblical symbol of humility.

The bishop and dozens of priests present laid their hands on the candidates' heads to signify the conferral of Holy Orders and welcomed them with hugs. The cathedral erupted in extended applause several times.

"This is a day of great joy and jubilation for the entire church of Gary," Melczek said. "The priesthood is not a job, it is a unique relationship of self giving love for Jesus, in whose person the priest acts. Their ordination is a manifestation of God's great love and care for the church of Gary."

He asked the congregation to "continue to support these three fine priests with your love and prayers."

The three immediately got to work afterwards during a reception in the cathedral school gymnasium, conferring blessings on long lines of family, friends and supporters.

"He was dean of the law school at Notre Dame when I was there. He taught me legal ethics," Mary Persyn, associate dean for library services at the law school in Valparaiso, said of 71-year-old Link, of LaPorte.

She said she couldn't have imagined his present vocation at that time.

"He was married and had all these kids, but he has always been interested in serving people," Persyn said.

Link's wife, Barbara, died five years ago of ovarian cancer.

"His vocation is a blessing on our whole family," Holy's mother, Virginia Mary Holy, said, "Rick has always been deeply spiritual and close to the church. He did hospital ministry, Bible studies and is very pro-life."

Claudia Schnurr, Holy's sister, watched her brother work his receiving line.

"This is what he was born to do," she said.