Welcoming Novices 2024

The Society of Jesus

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam “For the Greater Glory of God”

Kevin Avilés
Aibonito, Puerto Rico

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. (USA Central and Southern
Province)

Isaac Beck
Mascoutah, Illinois

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. (USA Central and Southern Province)

Noah Bock
Temperance, Michigan

Noah attended the University of Michigan, where he met the Jesuits 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. (USA Midwest
Province)

Daniel Czajak
Syracuse, New York

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.
(USA East Province)
Christian Goedel
Sebewaing, Michigan

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. (USA Midwest Province)

Sergio Gómez
San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Sergio studied electrical engineering at Universidad Autónoma de San Luis

Potosí. 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)

David Goodwin
St. Louis, Missouri

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. (USA Central and Southern Province)

Paul Hosle
South Bend, Indiana

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. (USA Midwest Province)

Philippe Julien
Roseaux, Haiti

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. (Canada Province)

Nicholas Kelley
Knoxville, Tennessee

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. (USA Central and Southern Province)

Gabriel Lacroix
Petit-Trou de Nippes, Haiti

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 Jesuits 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. (Canada
Province)

Valentin Lobatos
Kansas City, Kansas

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. (USA Central and Southern Province)

Wilson Lombard
New Baltimore, Michigan

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. (USA Midwest Province)
Andrew Lukas
Annapolis, Maryland

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 Jesuits 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. (USA East
Province)

Michael McPherson
Clarksburg, Maryland

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 Jesuits. In
his free time, Michael enjoys playing the guitar, singing and playing
basketball. He loves the Boston Red Sox and enjoys musicals. (USA East
Province)

John “JP” Misheff

Canton, Ohio

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. (USA West Province)

Connor Murphy
San Jose, California

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 Jesuits while discerning
his vocation in college influenced his decision to join the Society.
Connor enjoys reading biographies, cooking, baking, watching historical
dramas and journaling. (USA West Province)

Samuel Newton
White Lake, Michigan

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
Jesuits 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. (USA
Midwest Province)

Nhat Nguyen
Portsmouth, Virginia

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. (USA West Province)

Anh Tuan “TA” Nguyen

San Jose, California

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 Jesuits 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. (USA West Province)

Vincent Nguyen
Westminster, California

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. (USA West Province)

Joaquín Pannunzio
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Joaquín 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. (USA East Province)

José Peralta-Salazar
Saltillo, Mexico

José 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. José
likes working out and watching baseball and movies. (USA Central and
Southern Province)

José Luis Plascencia

Baldwin Park, California

José 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. José Luis loves biking along
the beach and camping trips. (USA West Province)

Kevin Rolle
Nassau, Bahamas

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 Jesuits 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. (USA East Province)

Bryson Stevens
League City, Texas

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. (USA Central and Southern Province)

Robert Van Dyke

Fort Wayne, Indiana

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 Jesuits 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. (USA Midwest Province)

Grant Voss
Mission Viejo, California

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. (USA West Province)

Prayer for Jesuit Vocations

Creator and Lord,

You have created us to praise, reverence,
and serve You for Your greater honor and glory.
May the call of Christ be heard today by young people
with generous hearts and a passion for service.
Through the intercession of Your Blessed Mother Mary,
St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier and all Your saints,
inspire young men to consider serving You and Your Church
as Jesuit priests and brothers.
Grant them courage to overcome fear and doubt,
and strength to meet the pressing needs of the Church and world today.
Fill them with holy desires to serve the mission of Christ,
to find new ways to spread the Gospel message,
to defend and proclaim the faith of the Church,
and to promote the justice of Your Kingdom,
as companions of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Society of Jesus invites you to explore the possibility of becoming a

Jesuit priest or brother.

For more information about Jesuit vocations, visit beajesuit.org.

The Society of Jesus in Canada and the United States