Bishop Nickless ordains two men to the transitional diaconate

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Dec. 21, 2006

It was a memorable evening for three men on Dec. 15. That was the night when two seminarians - Andrew Bao Tuan Vo and Brent Charles Lingle - were ordained to the transitional diaconate in a bilingual ceremony at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. It was also a special night for Bishop R. Walker Nickless as it was his first ordination as a bishop.

Vo is a parishioner of Cathedral of the Epiphany and Lingle is a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City. Both are students at St. Meinrad's School of Theology in Indiana.

The ordination rite for the diaconate is similar to that of the ordination to the priesthood. Following the readings of Jeremiah 1:4-9, Ephesians 4:1-7; 11-13, which was delivered in Vietnamese; and Matthew 20:25-28, the vocations director of the diocese presented the seminarians for ordination. Father Brian Hughes, in the name of the church, asked the bishop to ordain the men to the diaconate and told Bishop Nickless he had found them to be worthy.

Bishop Nickless said, "Relying on the help of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of the diaconate."

People applauded to show their approval.

In his homily, the bishop spoke of the joy of the coming of the Lord, adding that this ordination "added even more joy" to the season for the people in the diocese.

"After long years of seminary preparation, they, by the ordination tonight begin their final stages of their journey to becoming priests of Jesus Christ, priests of the Diocese of Sioux City," said Bishop Nickless.

He explained that through the ordination, Vo and Lingle were entering into the clerical state and they were no longer lay men. The bishop pointed out that the men would make a promise of obedience to the bishop and a commitment to the celibate state for the rest of their lives.

"The promise to remain unmarried for the sake of the kingdom means that they will be consecrated in a new way to Christ," said Bishop Nickless. "By their promise of celibacy, they publicly witness to the fact that nothing is more important to them then Jesus Christ, an undivided service to him and his church."

It was during his comments about the celibate life that the fire alarm went off due to the incense. The bishop paused in his sermon until the alarm ceased.

Bishop Nickless said the call to follow the Lord was never easy. He told the two men to remember that God will give them strength. Part of that strength will come through prayer and he urged them to remain faithful in their prayer lives.

He also reminded them that as deacons, they were called to serve others.

Reflecting upon the second reading, the bishop told the men that they were living in a manner worthy of the call with "humility, gentleness, patience and love."

After the homily, the Rite of Ordination continued with the Promise of the Elect. The men then pledged a commitment to celibacy before the bishop asked them a series of questions. The two then made a promise of obedience to the bishop before they prostrated themselves before the altar during the Litany of Supplication. Following that ritual, the bishop laid his hands in prayer on the candidates before he offered the Prayer of Consecration.

"Lord, send forth upon them the Holy Spirit that they may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry," prayed the bishop.

Each of the new deacons was assisted by a priest as they were fitted with their stole and dalmatic. Father Craig Collison, pastor at Sacred Heart, assisted Lingle. Father Peter Nguyen of Ruthven and Father Hieu Nguyen of Sioux City assisted Vo.

Vested as deacons, the newly ordained received the Book of the Gospels from the bishop. He told them, "Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach." The bishop and fellow deacons who were present at the Mass then congratulated them. The celebration continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

As the celebration drew to a close the bishop thanked the various individuals and groups who helped with the ordination. The bishop also thanked the families and friends of the two new deacons. He had Father Peter Nguyen translate to Vo's family in Vietnamese.

A reception followed in the church hall.

The two will study for a month in Rome before continuing studies at St. Meinrad. Their ordination to the priesthood is slated for June of 2007.