2021 Novices

Wilgenns, 21, graduated from Lycée Jean Marie Vincent in 2019. He worked installing electrical wiring in buildings and repairing telephones. He was also secretary at his parish, worked at Radio Saint Jean and lived among people with disabilities at a L’Arche community in Chantal, Haiti. Fr. Thomas Dabady, SJ, and Wilgenns’ older brother, a diocesan seminarian, both influenced his decision to join the Jesuits. His interests include basketball, soccer, reading and music.

Joseph, 21, graduated from the University of South Carolina last spring with a bachelor’s in business administration. He was active in FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and at the St. Thomas More Church on campus. He had read about the Jesuits as a child, and his interest solidified when, on a mission trip to Haiti in 2018, he realized the importance of missionary work. In his free time, Joseph reads, travels and sings Irish and Cajun folk songs.

Matthew, 27, received a bachelor’s in theology in 2016 from Spring Hill College, where he was introduced to Ignatian spirituality. He then pursued a Master of Divinity at Boston College. His decision to enter the Society follows a variety of influences and experiences, including service as a hospital chaplain intern and as a Vincentian Volunteer in England, as well as simply being around Jesuits. In his free time, he enjoys reading, traveling, and following college football and the NFL.

Carl, 32, earned a bachelor’s in philosophy and theology/religious studies from the University of Scranton and a master’s in student affairs in higher education from Miami University in Ohio. He has worked in residence life, campus ministry and academic advising. He got to know the Jesuits on campus while working at Xavier University and Creighton University. A former collegiate tennis player, Carl enjoys cheering on his favorite sports teams, watching films and playing basketball.

Aaron, 29, first encountered Jesuit life and spirituality when he attended Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he received a bachelor’s in theology and Italian language and literature and a master’s in theology through the Echo Graduate Service Program. Aaron spent the past few years teaching theology to high school and middle school students. He enjoys lighthearted TV, strategy board games, and reading or discussing classic science fiction and fantasy.

Nick, 31, graduated from Xavier High School in New York City, where he learned about St. Ignatius. He has a bachelor’s in philosophy from St. John’s University in Queens; a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome; a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome; and a master’s in Semitic languages from Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2015 for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Nick enjoys visiting museums and learning languages.

Ryan, 26, graduated from Upper Iowa University with a degree in financial management. He worked in the agricultural industry for four years as an agronomist’s intern and in supply management at John Deere. Ryan first heard about the Jesuits through the fantastic stories told by his grandfather, who attended Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska, in the 1940s. He is passionate about podcasts, board games, math and spending time with friends and family.

Rood, 26, studied philosophy at the Institut De Philosophie Saint Francois De Sales in Port-au-Prince and social sciences at the École Supérieure Saint Ignace in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. He worked for the Haitian Red Cross on a campaign to educate people on infectious diseases, which allowed him to help the most vulnerable. He also taught catechism at St. Ignatius Elementary School. His enthusiasm for Ignatian spiritualty influenced his decision to enter the Society. Rood is passionate about reading, music and soccer.

Joe, 22, graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, where he first came to know the Jesuits, and then studied English at the College of the Holy Cross. During college, he was exposed to various ministries that allowed him to work inside a hospital and a jail; encounter men and women experiencing homelessness; lead peers on retreat and in liturgical ministries; and provide academic and mentorship programming for elementary students of low economic means. Joe loves Major League Baseball, hiking and kayaking.

Scott, 34, studied education at Illinois State University and spent several years teaching. After experiencing a call to work for God, he was a laborer for the Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Joliet and liturgy coordinator and website manager at St. Joan of Arc in Lisle. He first encountered the Jesuits when a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City led him to read the story of Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ. Scott enjoys reading, listening to music, exercising and watching sports.

Michael, 31, graduated from Fontbonne University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s in biological and physical sciences. Over time, he became acquainted with the Jesuits and is entering the novitiate after nearly a decade of taking service trips to Belize, Bolivia and Kenya; teaching theology at a Catholic high school; and completing a master’s in theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. Michael has run seven marathons and enjoys traveling, blogging and spending time with friends.

Leo, 27, graduated from the School of Pharmacy at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in 2017. He continued his studies at the University of Minnesota, receiving a master’s in chemistry in 2020. A convert to Catholicism, he had a Jesuit priest as his RCIA instructor, who was a great witness to the Society. Leo is a language enthusiast who also enjoys composing, arranging, singing, playing the piano and good conversations.

Brian, 23, attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in finance. Throughout college, he interned for Kroger and Delta and was involved in the Greek community. During his fourth year in college, he began discerning his call to the Jesuits and revisited Ignatian spirituality from his time at St. Xavier High. Brian enjoys golf, movies, card games and watching University of Cincinnati sports.

Zen, 28, has a bachelor’s in music from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa; a master’s in musicology from Brandeis University; a master’s in choral conducting from the University of Notre Dame; and a master’s in music from Stony Brook University. He was a teaching fellow at Brandeis University and a graduate teaching assistant at Stony Brook University. Jesuits who influenced his vocation include Pope Francis and Gerard Manley Hopkins. Zen likes hiking, traveling and volunteering at animal shelters.

Joe, 22, is a graduate of St. Louis University High School and Saint Louis University. At SLU, he was a campus ministry intern and helped create an online module to help students adjust to campus life during the pandemic. In summer 2019, he served at Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas, which was particularly influential in his decision to enter the Society of Jesus. Joe likes to run, draw, write and play board games.

Peter, 22, has a bachelor’s in data science from Penn State University, where he learned about the Jesuits from a diocesan priest at the Newman Center as a freshman. He was an intern during college at the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, working as a data analyst and statistician. An Eagle Scout, Peter enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, playing clarinet and amateur radio. He has an interest in agriculture and meteorology.

Solomon, 23, entered minor seminary after high school and studied for the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for two years before discerning out of formation. He then completed his bachelor’s in finance and philosophy at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He was introduced to Jesuit spirituality by his philosophy professors and friends toward the end of college. Solomon enjoys playing piano and organ, singing, and hiking.

Niko, 23, graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School, where witnessing the joy of the Jesuits there first drew his attention to the Society. He double majored in biology and religious studies at the College of William & Mary, where he worked as an academic tutor, resident assistant and teaching assistant. His volunteer experiences, including at a hospital, helped him discover a love of service. Niko enjoys playing the piano and is a die-hard Mets fan.

José, 32, encountered the Jesuits at age 18 when he attended a retreat in Miami. He earned his bachelor’s in philosophy as a lay student at Saint John Vianney Seminary College, where professors introduced him to great Catholic thinkers and gave him a deep appreciation for his faith. Believing his life would only be fulfilled within a framework of service, José later worked with Catholic Charities. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies and TV shows.

Carlos, 47, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and entered the Catholic Church in 2002. The early seeds of his Jesuit vocation were sown during a visit to a Fe y Alegría school in Venezuela and exposure to Jesuit universities and Jesuits in Latin America. He completed a Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was executive director for Pioneers 21, which works to unleash the creative and economic potential of the U.S.-Mexico border. He enjoys travel and podcasts.

Steven, 30, double majored in Chinese and Portuguese at West Point and worked as a military police officer. He is an Eagle Scout and was an exchange student in Brazil, served as an RCIA sponsor and catechist, and studied in Hong Kong, Taipei and Beijing. Learning about St. Francis Xavier, SJ, and Fr. Matteo Ricci, SJ, and visiting the Jesuit community at Le Moyne College influenced Steven’s vocation. His hobbies include reading, hiking, sailing and martial arts.

Scott, 27, graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, with a degree in finance and then worked for Edward Jones before joining the Colorado Vincentian Volunteers. For the past three years, he worked at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver, serving in the school’s Corporate Work Study Program as a training and curriculum manager and program associate. While there, Scott found himself attracted to the Society of Jesus. He enjoys TED talks, hiking and skiing.

Titus, 25, graduated from Collège Louis Joseph Janvier in 2018. He worked as a shopkeeper and volunteer member of the Haitian Red Cross. He was also an instructor for several groups in his parish. After a long period of discernment, reading and retreat, he felt completely drawn to the charism of the Society of Jesus. In his free time, Titus likes to read books about spirituality and play soccer with friends.

Nader, 24, earned a bachelor’s in physics from the Université de Montréal, where he worked as a teaching assistant. As an active member of the Eucharistic Youth Movement, he discovered Jesus as a friend and learned to find God in all things, which influenced his decision to join the Jesuits. Nader’s interests include acting, design, photography, cycling and reading fantasy books.

Luke, 28, received a bachelor’s in theology, French and peace studies from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. At Duke, he worked at the Newman Center and met a Jesuit whose friendship and example had a large influence on him. Luke taught religion at Canisius High School, studied abroad at Oxford University, taught South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and lived in an intentional community with people of different abilities. He enjoys reading, soccer and backpacking.

Will, 27, graduated from Jesuit High School in Sacramento and earned a bachelor’s in English and philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross. After college, he moved to Los Angeles to teach middle school literature and religion with the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education. While in LA, Will was a parishioner and confirmation teacher at St. Monica Catholic Community. He has a deep desire to walk with God and others, especially those whom society labels as “least” among us.

Samuel, 24, has a bachelor’s and master’s in mathematics from the University of Ottawa, where he was a teaching assistant. He served as a middle school teacher and volunteer in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and spent this past spring planting trees in Ontario, where he lived in a tent among a group of 60 other young adults who were assisting in the reforestation of a logged area. Samuel enjoys reading sci-fi novels, bicycling, camping, traveling, winter sports and board games.

Ben, 25, attended Creighton University where he majored in economics and played on the golf team. While studying at Creighton, he was introduced to the Jesuits and Ignatian spirituality. He spent the 2021 spring semester living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota as a donné with the Jesuit community to get a sense of what life is like in the Society. In his free time, Ben enjoys fly fishing, hunting, backpacking and reading J.R.R. Tolkien.

Chris, 22, graduated from Jesuit High School of New Orleans. On service trips to Virginia and a pilgrimage to Italy and France, he saw the beauty of the Catholic faith and sensed a duty to assist God in works of charity. He earned a bachelor’s in philosophy and theology from the University of Notre Dame and was influenced by the writings of the first companions of the Society of Jesus. Chris likes to spend time outdoors, garden and cook.

Justin, 26, has a diploma of college studies in liberal arts from Champlain College and a bachelor’s in political science from Concordia University, both in Québec. He worked in customer service and as a military infantry officer. A sense of dissatisfaction with the military made him realize he was being called to something different. A weekend retreat at the Jesuits’ Villa Saint Martin solidified his calling to pursue religious life. Justin’s hobbies include reading, weightlifting and video gaming.

Paolo, 23, graduated in 2020 from Saint Joseph Abbey Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, and spent the past year teaching freshman theology at Jesuit High School of New Orleans. A visit to the tomb of St. Ignatius at the Church of the Gesù in Rome and the guidance of a Jesuit priest, who helped him discern his vocation, influenced his decision to enter the Society. Paolo likes to read, cook, sing and hike.

Pierre, 32, earned a bachelor’s in foreign service at Georgetown University and a master’s in peace studies at Uppsala University in Sweden. The Jesuits taught him a way of listening to God and walking with his people. Over the past decade, he has organized and advocated for community development, immigration services and integral disarmament. A Rotarian, he is drawn to diverse peoples, cultures and languages in the spirit of fraternity. Pierre enjoys both movement and stillness.

Fernando, 23, graduated from Regis High School in New York City. He has a bachelor’s in astronomy and computer science from Amherst College and worked as an IT specialist. The greatest influences on his Jesuit vocation were his high school English teacher, Fr. Philip Judge, SJ; the work of Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ; and the many Jesuits he has met over the past nine years. Fernando’s hobbies include stargazing, hiking, baking and learning to play the ukulele.