There are five of them --- three born in Vietnam, one in England and one honest-to-goodness Valley boy.

Two are over age 60 --- one a widower inspired by a vocations talk at church, the other about to realize a dream that began in a Vietnamese seminary academy nearly half a century ago. One is mid-40s, a former actor and standup comic. The two youngest are (like the ex-actor) graduates of St. John's Seminary College in Camarillo.

And all five --- having completed their theological formation at St. John's Seminary --- are more than a little excited to finally be realizing their ordination to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Ordinands Robert Garon, Khoa Mai, Joseph Nguyen, John Tran and Joseph Wah will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Cardinal Roger Mahony on June 4 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. It is an event whose anticipation already has brought out much joy and humility in the priesthood class of 2005.

"To realize this is too big, almost beyond my imagination --- almost unbelievable," smiled Tran, 61, whose formation has taken 49 years.

"I am very excited," enthused Mai, another Vietnamese native who said he is anxious "to practice my Spanish in the parish community. It is a gift for me to be able to speak Spanish, and to serve as a priest."

"I remember hearing Sister Kathy Bryant (Vocation director for the archdiocese) talk about vocations at Mass, just seven months after my wife died," noted Wah, who has a daughter and three grandchildren. "I had thought about what would I do with my life. Now, I just pray I can meet the expectations of the people I will be serving."

"I see how much I need to rely on God," said Nguyen, the youngest (28) of the group. "Just as Pope Benedict described himself as a man of 'insufficient means,' we all need to put our faith and trust in God."

"I recall vividly my first week here nine years ago, adjusting to a life of studying, getting to meet people embarking on the same journey," observed Garon, whose entry into the seminary was part of a long conversion process. "It's exciting to think that in less than a month, we'll be celebrating Mass as presiders."

"There are still things I don't think I'm completely ready for," added the former actor. "But I put it all in the hands of God."

Recently, the five men offered reflections on several questions in an interview at St. John's as they neared their final preparations for ordination and priesthood.

Q: What about your formation process has surprised you, or enlightened you in some way?

Joseph Nguyen: I saw during my internship at St. Anthony of Padua (Gardena) how much love and attention our youth need from the church. Maybe they don't get it in their families, but whatever the reason they are so hungry, so desperate for God's love. I found a lot of brokenness in these young people, and I saw how much I need to be present to them, to validate their feelings, to show them they are loved.

Joseph Wah: During my internship under Father Joe Brennan at St. Linus (Norwalk), I began to recognize how great the need is to help people from all backgrounds --- age, socio-economic, ethnic. The need is really greater than the priest who can fill them, but we do our best. We try to inspire them, and we try to see the face of Christ in all we meet.

Khoa Mai: I remember pulling up to my internship parish, St. Joseph in Hawthorne, at night, and seeing two police cars arresting someone. I thought, "Wow, what am I in for?" But then the next day, I saw a very different side of the church and the neighborhood. And the parishioners were so hospitable, they helped me with my Spanish, and they prayed for me. And Father Perry Leiker, my pastor, was so open to having me there; he let me be myself, which encouraged me.

Bob Garon: At St. John of God in Norwalk, my internship parish, everyone was so welcoming to me. Father Bernie (Msgr. Bernard Leheny, pastor) encourages everyone to be involved in the life of the parish, and so many are. It was a wonderful example of how alive a parish is when so many participate. And being involved in a lot of different areas of ministry was very enlightening for me --- youth group, Bible study and especially attending to those grieving, like journeying with a couple where the husband was dying. It gave me a real clear picture of what my priestly ministry was all about.

John Tran: I have realized in this process what I lack in the way of gifts, and I see how the grace of God goes beyond my worries and shortcomings. This gave me encouragement, and continues to affirm my call to the priesthood.

Q: Having begun your formation under one pope, and now about to become part of the first group of priests ordained under the new pope, what effect do you think that might have on your priesthood?

Bob Garon: I don't see how that would make a big difference. There are similar qualities in Pope Benedict XVI as there were in Pope John Paul II. Benedict might challenge priests to take a closer look at themselves in relation to their ministry, to better discern how they are called to serve.

John Tran: I see how priesthood might be better. I see that Benedict has very clear positions and ideas, but also that he has an open mind and tries to listen to God's word and do God's will. That's a very good sign.

Joseph Nguyen: Pope Benedict said at his inauguration Mass that his plan was not to govern, but to do God's will. I see him as a man very rooted in Jesus Christ, a man of great holiness. His vision of the church is my vision as well.

Khoa Mai: I've read much about him. I had thought someone else might be selected, but I think he is a good choice. He is a leader, a shepherd; he is a caring person who dedicates his life to the church.

Joseph Wah: I admit I was surprised and a bit skeptical at first. But after a day or two, I thought, "We have to give him a chance." And the more I read of him and saw what he was about, the more I could see he will be a good shepherd. He is a man filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is the Spirit who leads our church.