The Society of Jesus in the United States, Canada and Haiti welcomed 28 new Jesuit novices this August at novitiates in California, Minnesota, New York, Colorado and Haiti. They have taken the initial step on their journey toward Jesuit priesthood or brotherhood, known as “Jesuit formation,†which can take a total of eight to 12 years.





























Kevin studied at Universidad de Puerto Rico in San Juan and was the president of the meteorology club. He worked in the food industry, at Walgreens and at Banplus International Bank. He decided to return to his hometown and began ministering at Casa Manresa House of Retreats, as well as serving as the coordinator of altar servers at his local parish. Kevin enjoys watching movies and listening to music. He likes YouTube videos, particularly on the weather and geography.

Isaac majored in biomedical engineering and minored in math at Saint Louis University, where he was a manager for the men’s basketball team, a member of the Campion Society of Catholic Studies, and a participant in Labre Homeless Ministry and Overground Railroad tutoring. During college, he also helped in his diocese with Luke 18 and Teens Encounter Christ retreats. After graduating, he was a missionary at the Apostolate for Family Consecration and a pro-life sidewalk counselor. Isaac enjoys tennis and reading.

Noah attended the University of Michigan, where he met the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ for the first time at the St. Mary Student Parish & Newman Center. He graduated with a bachelor’s in public policy and a minor in economics. He was active in campus ministry — leading the men’s group, coordinating liturgies, bringing the Eucharist to hospital patients and working in the parish office. In his free time, Noah enjoys running, playing board games, reading the news and listening to classical music.

Dan earned a bachelor’s in history and psychology from Syracuse University, a master’s in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University, and a Master of Theological Studies from Loyola University Maryland. He worked as an Army and Air Force officer, a government management analyst for the Department of Defense, and assistant director of admissions at The Catholic University of America and Syracuse University. Dan also served as a youth minister, sacristan and lector. He enjoys distance running and classic fiction and film.

Christian graduated from Grand Valley State University, earning a bachelor’s in accounting with a minor in Spanish. He has worked in customer service, account management, logistics and, most recently, education. Christian is a convert and first became interested in religious life during RCIA. He discerned his call to the Society of Jesus while teaching and volunteering as a missionary in North Dakota. In his free time, he enjoys travelling, spending time with friends, learning languages and lifting weights.

Sergio studied electrical engineering at Universidad Autónoma de San Luis PotosÃ. During this time, he discovered cooking was his true passion, and he eventually moved to Houston to work in the food industry. Most recently, he was a chef for the restaurant group in Hobby Airport. Last summer, he went to MAGIS and World Youth Day in Portugal. Sergio likes listening to music in a variety of languages and cooking different types of food, as well as science fiction books and movies. (USA Central and Southern Province)

After graduating from De Smet Jesuit High School, David played junior hockey for three seasons before receiving a scholarship to play at Penn State University, where he majored in economics and Spanish. After graduation, he played professional hockey in Finland, Sweden, Poland, Spain and Northern Ireland, and he completed a master’s degree in international business from Ulster University. He has volunteered in Cuba and El Salvador. In his free time, David enjoys traveling, experiencing new cultures and playing golf.

Paul received his bachelor’s from Oxford University, where he studied classics and Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew. He then completed a master’s at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he focused on early Christianity, followed by a second master’s in Chinese philosophy and culture at Fudan University in Shanghai. During his time in China, Paul researched and translated the writings of Jesuit missionaries and Chinese Catholic converts from the 16th and 17th centuries. He enjoys reading, writing and studying foreign languages.

Philippe studied educational sciences at the Université Publique des Nippes. He was a teacher at the École Presbytérale Sainte-Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus de Berquin in his hometown, as well as other educational institutions in the area. He was attracted to the charism of the Society of Jesus and Ignatian spirituality. To nurture his vocation, he did internships at the Centre de Spiritualité Manrèse in Port-au-Prince and at Paroisse Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Philippe enjoys reading, music and sports.

Nicholas was born in Fort Riley, Kansas, but moved around while growing up because his father was in the military. Eventually, his family settled in Knoxville, Tennessee, and he earned a bachelor’s in computer science at the University of Tennessee. He then worked as a senior site reliability engineer and a senior cloud engineer. He volunteered with Catholic Charities Pregnancy Help Center, Haiti Outreach Program and two homeless ministries and sang in his parish choir. Nicholas enjoys running and karate.

Gabriel studied public administration at the Université d’État d’Haïti. He was the choir director and a choir member at Notre-Dame de la Caridad and Saint-Gérard parishes, both in Port-au-Prince. He volunteered teaching music theory and the recorder to Petits Chanteurs de la Caridad, a boys’ choir. His desire to join the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ stems from his search for the magis that he experienced during his vocational discernment. In his spare time, Gabriel enjoys reading, singing and playing music.

Valentin attended the Cathedral of St. Peter’s parish school and remembers meeting the Jesuit novices who were on an apostolic experiment there. After graduating high school, he helped with Get Out the Vote initiatives before working in the Kansas State Legislature. He taught religious education at his hometown parish and was director of faith formation and community life coordinator. He was also a live-in intern at Cherith Brook Catholic Worker. Valentin enjoys walking, biking and going to coffee shops with friends.

Wilson attended Loyola University Chicago as a freshman and then transferred to Oakland University where he earned a bachelor’s in history and philosophy. While at Loyola, he was introduced to Ignatian spirituality and was inspired to discern religious life by the example of his Jesuit professors. After graduating college in the spring of 2023, he worked in insurance sales. In his free time, Wilson enjoys golfing, boxing, and spending time with family and friends.

Andrew has a bachelor’s in theology from The Catholic University of America and a Master of Theological Studies from the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. Getting to know the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ at Boston College and discovering Ignatian spirituality influenced his vocation. He worked as an evangelization intern at the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, a receptionist at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., and a theology teacher at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland. Andrew likes playing trivia, hiking and camping.

Michael received a bachelor’s in philosophy from The Catholic University of America and then spent three years working with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) at Stony Brook University in New York and in Denver. During his time with FOCUS, he participated in two five-day Ignatian retreats that set him on the path to the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing the guitar, singing and playing basketball. He loves the Boston Red Sox and enjoys musicals.

JP recently graduated with honors from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s in philosophy and religion. Originally from Ohio, he has since lived in megacities and tiny rural towns, five different states, and three countries. He has been a teacher’s apprentice, a chef, a journalist, a DJ, an art consultant and, most recently, a cantor at his home parish in Berkeley, California. JP loves slow walks along high ridgelines, hosting radio shows on whatever frequency is available, and making and listening to music.

Connor received a bachelor’s in English with a minor in religious studies from the University of California, Davis. He taught middle schoolers social studies and religion at St. Joseph Catholic School in Mountain View, California. He was also a catechist at St. Christopher Parish in San Jose and St. James Parish in Davis. Meeting ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ while discerning his vocation in college influenced his decision to join the Society. Connor enjoys reading biographies, cooking, baking, watching historical dramas and journaling.

Samuel received a bachelor’s in music from Oakland University. He then completed a year of service, working as a pharmacy technician and patient advocate for the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati. Most recently, he served as a donné — one who lives and works with ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ to get a sense of Jesuit life — for The Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, where he taught choir to middle school boys. Samuel enjoys hand embroidery, playing the ukulele and baking.

Nhat has bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy from James Madison University, where he was on the wrestling team, and a master’s in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University. He was rector of Duncan Hall at the University of Notre Dame for 10 years, sharing life’s highs and lows with residents. Nhat loves to travel and has visited 20 states and 10 countries. He also enjoys visits with family and friends, golf, service to others, and power sports, including riding motorcycles and jet skis.

TA received a bachelor’s in human physiology from San Francisco State University. He has been a longtime volunteer in various youth ministries throughout San Jose. He was in the first cohort of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ West discernment house in Seattle where he coached sixth grade boys’ basketball at Seattle Nativity School and served food in the St. Joseph School’s kitchen. TA’s favorite saint is St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, the holy porter, because he saw Christ in each person that walked through the doors.

Vincent has a bachelor’s in philosophy from St. John’s University and did graduate studies in theology at St. John’s Seminary. He taught theology and was interim assistant campus minister at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California, for two years and served as a youth leader in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. Vincent enjoys traveling, which has included trips to Rome, where he met Pope Francis and visited St. Ignatius’ rooms, and to Vietnam, where he spent time at the Jesuit Curia House.

´³´Ç²¹±ç³ÜÃ²Ô has an associate degree in business administration from Miami Dade College and a bachelor’s in finance and international business from Georgetown University. He was an intern at Google and worked at Citi in Latin America government affairs and at the New Zealand Consulate in New York City in the exports promotion office. He was a Princeton in Africa Fellow in Sierra Leone and has volunteered for the Kino Border Initiative. Joaquin’s hobbies include rugby, beach volleyball, Portuguese and improv.

´³´Ç²õé was born in Texas but raised in Mexico. He grew up playing baseball, and around the start of high school, he considered playing professionally. He majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio, graduating with honors. During college, he worked as an engineering tutor. He recently served in the Volunteer Service Corps at Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston. ´³´Ç²õé likes working out and watching baseball and movies.

´³´Ç²õé Luis studied philosophy at Marymount California University. He led Ignatian retreats inside California state prisons while working with the Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative, and his decision to enter the novitiate was in part shaped by this work. He was also director of high school ministries at St. Mariana de Paredes Catholic Church in Pico Rivera, California. He has a passion for working with youth and families, especially those in underserved communities. ´³´Ç²õé Luis loves biking along the beach and camping trips.

Kevin received a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He worked at Amazon Data Centers as an engineering technician testing and replacing UPS battery systems and as an academic tutor. Seeing the selflessness of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ and their commitment to serving the Church and the world helped him to decide to join the Society of Jesus. In his free time, Kevin enjoys reading, traveling and listening to music.

After graduating from Clear Creek High School, Bryson studied at universities in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Houston before attending the University of North Texas, where he converted to the Catholic faith. During high school, he began working in Landry’s family of restaurants and most recently was a server and sommelier at Mastro’s Steakhouse. He was active in teaching RCIA and religious education at his parishes. Bryson plays the violin and is an avid bowler. He enjoys studying languages and reading.

Robert was born in the Philippines and raised in Fort Wayne. He spent 10 years in car wash operations management, which led to his relocation to Cincinnati. There, he was inspired by the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ and the faith communities at Bellarmine Chapel and St. Xavier Church. He attended the University of Cincinnati for three years, studying communications. In his spare time, Robert enjoys traveling, attending live theatre performances, and spending time with friends and family.

Grant has a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Fullerton and a law degree from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law. He was manager of privacy governance and compliance at Hyundai Capital America and an associate attorney at a law firm. He served as commissioner on the Community Services Commission in Mission Viejo, California, receiving the state’s 2017 Outstanding Commissioner of the Year Award. Grant’s hobbies include scuba diving, snorkeling, travel and cooking.
In these first two years as novices, the men will learn what it means to live in community, adopt the rhythm of daily prayer and deepen their understanding of God’s call to the Society. They have selflessly devoted their lives to the service of the marginalized, to the church, to God and to each other.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, who co-founded the Society in 1540, first defined the elements of Jesuit formation in his Jesuit Constitutions. Jesuit novices still follow this plan today — adapted to the modern world.
The novices will complete a comprehensive program of service, ministry, study and prayer, methodically devised to help ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ grow in their relationships with Christ and identify how they can best serve him and all humankind. The new ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ attend orientation sessions, take on house jobs, share vocation stories and visit local Jesuit ministries.
Typical days at the novitiate consist of classes taught by the director and his assistant (known as the Socius), as well as daily Mass, group prayer and discussion of their spiritual journeys.
The novices will complete a series of “experiments†to explore their vocations and help them discern the specific ways they might be called to serve the church.
Novices also make St. Ignatius’ 30-day Spiritual Exercises silent retreat, which they commonly regard as the most meaningful part of the novitiate.
In the second year of their novitiate, novices are missioned to an assignment at a Jesuit-run organization, similar to an internship. Called a “long experiment,†this segment of the novitiate lasts several months.
As novices, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ in the U.S. and Canada spend one of their summers at Regis University in Denver at a conference on Jesuit history, delving more intensely into St. Ignatius’ life while meeting their peers at other novitiates.
After two years, the hope is that novices will have become confident in their vocations, nurtured a more intimate relationship with God and developed a profound love for the Society of Jesus. At the end of their time as novices, they profess first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. No longer novices, they are called “scholastics†as they continue to the next stage of Jesuit formation, First Studies, for two years of graduate-level philosophy courses.
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