Reflecting upon his call, he noted, "It's a thought that has been there for me even at a young age - even at second or third grade I can remember thinking about it and then very strongly during my high school years."

A life-long parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City, Brent pointed out that it was a combination of things that drew him to priesthood but "it was one of those things of attending Mass every Sunday - being faithful to that and faithful to prayer."

He is the son of Janet Lingle of North Sioux City, S.D. and Doug Lingle of Akron. Brent, who was educated in Dakota Valley Public Schools, has one brother, Keith of North Sioux City.

While thoughts of becoming a priest were there, Brent mentioned that he really didn't know how to move forward until his pastor, Father Bruce Lawler invited him to one of the Operation Andrew gatherings that were organized in the diocese by Father Brian Hughes, vocations director.

"My senior year of high school, I was a confirmation sponsor for my cousin and after one of those meetings Father Bruce Lawler pulled me aside and told me he wanted me to go to Operation Andrew. For me, that was the breakthrough moment because I had been thinking a lot about the priesthood and I wasn't quite sure what to do with it," recalled Brent.

It was also affirming for him to know that someone else thought he might be a good priest.

"That really opened doors," he noted. "From there I had that connection."

Brent met with Father Hughes several times after the Operation Andrew gathering and it was determined that he should go to college seminary. He took the traditional route - from high school to four years of college seminary and four years of major seminary studies.

He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minn., where he majored in philosophy. Next, he studied theology at St. Meinrad, graduating on May 12.

"Those eight years really changed my life," stressed Brent. "It was a complete transformation - helping me get in touch with what God really wanted me to do. It helped me to be formed as a good, Catholic man above all and as a priest."

He mentioned that the witness of his grandparents, who died this past year, enriched his faith. Their strong married and family life provided a great example to him.

The examples of great priests affirmed his desire to become a priest.

"At Sacred Heart, we've had great pastors who have loved the priesthood and liked it in such a way that I could look at them as a young person and see that it is a good life," said Brent.

The Knights of Columbus from Sacred Heart and the parish community itself, he noted, have been very supportive. He mentioned that he would be the third priestly vocation that the parish has nurtured in the last 10 years.

"The witness of the people's faith has been an inspiration to me," he said.

While he is firm in his decision to become a priest, some of the responsibilities of this ministry he finds to be somewhat daunting.

"Dealing with people's spiritual lives can be humbling. People come to you with all of their problems, all of their joys. You share the ups and downs of people's lives," he stressed. "There is a part of me that says will I be able to be what they need me to be for them. It's a little scary standing at this step."

The eight years of formation has kept him grounded and focused on Christ. Brent said that being able to receive the Eucharist daily has helped him remember that God comes into people's lives "in the simple form of bread and wine - it's broken and poured out. In a sense, that is what the priest is - broken and poured out for the people. That is a great sense of strength."

He was ordained to the Order of Deacons along with his classmate Andrew-Bao Vo on Dec. 15.

Since becoming a deacon, he noted that he has been able to do a lot of preaching and that has enabled him to know what works for him.

"You sort of learn what works for you and you develop a style - try different things on to see what works and what doesn't. The experience to be able to stand up there and preach in front of people in various situations at funerals and regular Sunday Masses has been the highlight of being a deacon," said Brent.

He pointed out that as a priest, he looks forward to being able to celebrate the liturgy.

"For me the Mass has always been important and being able to celebrate the sacraments and dealing with things that relate to the liturgy is a passion I have," he said.

Brent said that he looks forward to joining the presbyterate as the priests of the diocese are a wonderful group of men.

Given that he will be ordained with Andrew-Bao, he called it a "fitting way to wrap up eight years of seminary. We've journeyed through the process together these last eight years and it's a great joy to know that we will be side-by-side for the ordination."

Andrew Bao-Vo was born in 1971 and grew up in Vietnam. Sponsored by Humanitarian Operations, he and his family came to Sioux City on April 18, 1995. Andrew is the son of But V. Vo and Lien Thi Nguyen and has four siblings: Linh

Vo, Tracy Trang Vo, Dominic Quoc Vo, and Devon Quy Vo.

Before coming to the United States, Andrew worked as a veterinarian in Vietnam while studying in the underground seminary.

"My relationship with God started when my family moved to the countryside

(forest) as a result of the Vietnam War," he noted.

Andrew explained that in 1945, Vietnam was split into North and South. The North was governed by communism and the South was governed as a Republic. In 1975 the country was completely taken over by communism; everyone who worked for the Republic was put in prison.

"My father was put in prison for six-and-a-half years because he was a

policeman," he explained. "My family lived in the forest and left everything behind in Saigon. Growing up in a remote village with family helped me to focus on God's help, love and grace in an intimate way. Living in a small village

without churches challenged my family to stay active in the church."

He mentioned that they walked 12 miles through the forest to attend Sunday Mass.

"I came to know who God was and how God was central in my life through these journeys to church," said Andrew. "I realized that faith is a gift from God, who freely gives the gift of faith. The gift of faith is a great seed that grows and develops in me so that I am able to bring forth actions of love and care for others."

He mentioned that when he was 8 years old, a priest came to his village and built a church that is called St. Joseph Suoi Nho Parish. On a daily basis Andrew helped out at this parish, setting up everything before Mass. He served at the parish for 12 years.

There were 20,000 Vietnamese Catholics in his parish, which was served by only one priest. Andrew credited that priest - Father Tran Van Bai - for inspiring his vocation to the priesthood.

"I have been following this call to the priesthood for 12 years," noted Andrew.

By becoming a priest, he wants to provide a bridge to connect people more closely to Christ. Andrew said he has chosen to live a life of simplicity and give himself to humanity.

His vision of a good priest is like bread broken into pieces for everyone.

Andrew referred to this Scripture verse, Philippians 2, 7-8, "Rather, he emptied himself, take the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross."

Christ is true God and true man, described the transitional deacon.

"Christ handed himself over for the church. He loved the church so much that he gave himself completely to her, to the very last drop of his blood.

The priest acts 'in the person of Christ, the Head and the name of the Church'. He bears the image of Christ's passion at the altar and the sacramental Body and Blood of Christ," said Andrew.

He received a philosophy degree from Saint Mary University, Minn. before attending St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana. On May 12, he graduated from St. Meinrad's, earning a Master of Divinity.

Since his ordination to the diaconate last December, Andrew noted that he has learned how to celebrate Mass and has practiced the sacrament of Baptism, marriage, penance and the anointing of the sick.

"I am ordained to carry out the bishop's ministry and take to promise of working together with other priests as teams. I am open to all ministries to bring the best out of the people. I try to love the people of God and get them to teach me how to serve them well," said Andrew.

Given that he has studied the last eight years with Brent Lingle, he pointed out that he is happy that they will be ordained together.

He is thankful for having received much support from the community. Andrew noted that Father Hieu Nguyen, the Vietnamese pastoral minister at Cathedral of the Epiphany, has been very generous to him.

"I am grateful for their loving support and courage," said Andrew.