2025 Novices

James first met the Jesuits at Marquette University High School where he especially loved attending and leading various retreats. Afterward, he earned a bachelor’s in mathematical statistics from the University of Iowa. He became deeply involved at Iowa’s Newman Catholic Student Center, where he coordinated retreats and discernment activities. His time there sparked a desire to discern religious life, and he reconnected with the Jesuits. James loves reading books about various saints, driving on road trips, and watching baseball and soccer.

Son studied hospitality and culinary arts for two years at École Hôtelière Marie Dominique Mazzarello, during which time he catered events both at and outside of school and did a practicum at a restaurant. While discerning religious life, he researched religious communities and became interested in the history of the Jesuits in Haiti, including their involvement in the struggle for human rights. As he got to know the Jesuits, he was inspired by their humanity and worldview. Son enjoys reading, basketball and checkers.

Ivan was born in New York to a Dominican and Nicaraguan family and grew up in El Paso. At New York University, he double majored in political science and Spanish with a minor in social and public policy and studied in Argentina. After graduation, he completed a master’s in philosophy at the University of Cambridge and then enrolled in the graduate Hispanic studies program at the University of Texas at Austin. Ivan enjoys watching movies, reading, writing, traveling and hanging out with friends.

Roberto graduated from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston and then became a seminarian for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, completing a philosophy degree at the University of St. Thomas. After leaving the seminary, he earned a Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; served in the Alumni Service Corps at Strake Jesuit; and taught at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami. Roberto recently earned a master’s in Catholic educational leadership at Saint Louis University and enjoys museums and cooking.

Jon earned a bachelor’s in humanities for leadership and political science from Seattle University. He worked as executive director of a food bank, a policy director for substance use disorder and recovery for King County Council in Washington state, and a campaign manager. He was an active parishioner and volunteer at St. Joseph Church in Issaquah, Washington, and served migrants at the Kino Border Initiative — which was one of the experiences that inspired him to apply to the Society. Jon’s interests include volunteering, theater, rosary making and painting.

Eddie received a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in accounting from Southern Methodist University. After graduation, he worked for many years as a CPA at Ernst & Young in wealth and asset management. He then was a senior manager at BDO USA, P.C. He converted to Catholicism in 2020 and volunteered in his parish’s food pantry and served as a sponsor for the OCIA program. He enjoys spiritual reading, wine tasting and charcuterie, and volunteering at a cat cafe.

Daniel has a bachelor’s from the University of Illinois and a master’s from UCLA, both in chemistry, and he worked as a field service engineer for four years. Despite never having met a Jesuit, he discerned that God was calling him to the Society of Jesus, which was quickly confirmed upon encountering the Jesuits. He organized a group of discerners in Phoenix who came together monthly to discuss the highs and lows of discernment. Daniel enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and spending time with friends.

Nathan earned a bachelor’s in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and spent a decade working as a research and development scientist. He first encountered the Jesuits on a Christus Ministry retreat and spent the past year living at the Jesuits West Discernment House in Seattle. While there, he volunteered at several Jesuit apostolic works, including mentoring students at Seattle Nativity School and accompanying Seattle Prep and Seattle University students on retreat. Nathan enjoys playing badminton and pickleball with friends.

Noah has a bachelor’s in classics from the University of Florida and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, where he worked as an archives assistant at the library and interned at the Catholic chapel. His experience at Yale ignited his enthusiasm for ministry and reawakened his interest in religious life. He completed a year of service in Washington, D.C., with the Franciscan Mission Service, serving as a development associate. Noah enjoys reading, Dungeons & Dragons, poetry and nature walks.

Brett earned a degree in accounting and finance from Illinois State University and then worked in accounting and software engineering. He received the call to religious life while attending Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Miami. He spent the past year as a donné — one who lives and works with Jesuits to get a sense of Jesuit life — at the Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. Brett learned of the Jesuits when his identical twin brother, Scott, joined in 2021.

Grant received his bachelor’s from Saint Louis University (SLU) where he studied theology, philosophy and Catholic studies. He completed a master’s in education at the University of Notre Dame while teaching theology and social studies in Louisville, Kentucky. The seeds of his vocation were sown in his time as a student at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland and continued to develop through the ministry and friendship of the Jesuits at SLU. Grant enjoys reading, being with family and friends, and making music.

Ryan has a bachelor’s in linguistics from New York University and a law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. As an AmeriCorps volunteer, he was a project manager for Habitat for Humanity, renovating mobile homes for low-income families. He spent a year as a live-in volunteer at a Benedictine monastery in Kansas before moving to the Jesuits West Discernment House in Seattle, where he volunteered at St. Joseph Parish and Seattle Nativity School. Ryan likes tinkering with small electronics and cooking.

Nick studied philosophy and political science at the Université d’État d’Haïti and was a culture writer for the publication Le Nouvelliste. He volunteered with the Jesuit Service for Migrants on the northern border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which allowed him to live the Gospel in a concrete way and awakened his desire to serve others. His discovery of Ignatian spirituality, along with his experiences helping the most vulnerable, motivated him to join the Jesuits. Nick loves reading, cinema, fine arts and watching soccer games.

Peter has a bachelor’s in philosophy from Gonzaga University, where he met priests who influenced his decision to join the Society. He served as campus director and pastoral associate at the Eastern Washington University Newman Center and St. Rose of Lima and later taught religion and coached golf at DeSales Catholic High School. He also worked as a flight load coordinator, a Little League coach and umpire, and a youth minister at a parish. Peter’s hobbies include hiking, camping, baseball and golf.

Felipe holds a bachelor’s in literary studies from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, where he first considered a religious vocation inspired by his Jesuit professors. He taught high school literature and completed a master’s in Hispanic literature and culture at the Instituto Caro y Cuervo. He moved to Chicago for doctoral studies, earning a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from Northwestern University. After several years of discernment, Felipe’s devotion to the Sacred Heart deepened his call to join the Society.

John Henry attended the University of Notre Dame, where he received a bachelor’s in liberal studies. After graduation, he moved to Boston to work in the wine industry. Next, he moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a program manager at the Catholic University of America. He recently completed his master’s in political science at Boston College. In his free time, John Henry likes to read, cook and take long walks.

Jacob earned a bachelor’s in classics and medieval studies from Brown University and a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. While at Yale, he worked as a sacristan and lead graduate accessibility assistant and served as an acolyte at St. Thomas More Catholic Center and as president of the Roman Catholic Fellowship. A professor and mentor at Brown encouraged Jacob to look into discerning with the Jesuits. His hobbies include writing, cycling, singing, going to the theatre and editing manuscripts.

John attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston and then Boston College, where he received bachelor’s degrees in English and philosophy. During college, he lived with the Jesuits in Paris and studied in Chile. After graduation, he returned to Strake Jesuit for an Alumni Service Corps volunteer year. He worked at a parish in Houston and for a start-up called Credit Mountain and taught at a public charter school. John likes to cook, read and listen to music, and he is an amateur actor.

Dominic graduated from St. Louis University High School (SLUH) and then went to Georgetown University, where he double majored in philosophy and math with a minor in Russian. After graduation, he did an Alumni Service Corps year at SLUH and then returned to Georgetown to work as the Catholic Studies program coordinator. He recently completed his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. Dominic enjoys discussing philosophy and theology and cooking for dinner parties with friends.

Jack attended the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission for three years where he earned a diploma in Advanced Catholic Studies and was an intern on the formation team. He served the poor in downtown Vancouver with Catholic Street Missionaries, where he began to see Christ in the face of the afflicted. Reading about St. Ignatius in a book study enkindled in him a love for Ignatian spirituality. Jack enjoys playing sports and sharing a beer or coffee with family and friends.

Matt attended Columbia University, where he earned a bachelor’s in political science and history. After graduating, he spent a year serving with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Boston, working at Cristo Rey Boston High School. Matt was inspired by the many Jesuits and lay mentors he knew growing up in Omaha while attending St. John’s Parish and Creighton Preparatory School. In his free time, he loves exploring new cities, hiking and passionately supporting Creighton basketball.

James grew up in six different states and was most recently a resident of Highland Park. He earned a bachelor’s in econometrics and political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was active in the Newman Center community. From an early age, he was attracted to the life and mission of St. Ignatius, but he encountered the Jesuits themselves for the first time during a pilgrimage to Rome. James enjoys catching up with friends, reading and the music of Van Morrison.

José earned bachelor’s degrees in statistics, economics and classical civilizations from the University of Rochester. While there, he served as vice president of the Thomistic Institute and was active in the Newman Catholic Community. He worked at a Mexican restaurant and taught theology and assisted with campus ministry at Immaculata-La Salle High School. He also took graduate classes at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. In his free time, José enjoys reading, watching movies, working out and spending time with family.

Michael attended Texas A&M University and earned a bachelor’s in international studies and Spanish, with minors in Chinese and Japanese. He studied abroad in Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Beijing; Oaxaca, Mexico; Granada, Spain; and Tokyo. He also completed an internship at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Western European Affairs in Washington, D.C. In his spare time, Michael enjoys spending time with friends, singing sacred music, visiting coffee shops and attending Mass in different languages.

Talbird attended school at Centre de Formation Classique Sainte Croix in Léogâne, where he was born and raised. As a volunteer at L’Arche Haiti, he got to know the community’s residents and came to better understand the vulnerable nature of people. A religious sister told him about the Society of Jesus, which led him to get involved in Jesuit communities, learning about the Society’s missions and structure. Talbird’s interests include reading, learning new digital tools, teaching and culture.

Joseph received a bachelor’s in philosophy from Saint Joseph’s University (SJU), where he sang with the chapel choir and did volunteer work in Appalachia, Philadelphia and El Paso, Texas, at the border. He was a full-time volunteer with the Kino Border Initiative, providing humanitarian assistance to migrants. His experience of the campus ministry community at SJU, his work with those on the margins, and his mentor, Fr. Peter Clark, SJ, all influenced his decision to join the Society. Joseph likes to swim, read and draw.

Timothy earned a bachelor’s in human resource management at California State University, Long Beach and a master’s in marriage and family therapy at the Mercer School of Medicine. He has worked as a creative director, a marriage and family therapist, a program manager at a social services center, and a project manager at the Diocese of Orange. As a volunteer, he served as a youth leader for the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement and as a parish retreat leader. Timothy is also a photographer, poet, dancer and musician.

Hans received a diploma from Petit Séminaire Collège Saint Martin de Porrès. He volunteered with a group of young people to help renovate a rural school, which was an experience of solidarity, teamwork and service for him. While discerning with the Society of Jesus, he spent a year living in several Jesuit communities, which helped him better understand God’s call in his life and confirmed his desire to follow Christ in the manner of St. Ignatius. In his free time, Hans enjoys reading and playing soccer.

Matthew earned a bachelor’s in business administration and minored in philosophy at Fordham University, studying abroad in London his junior year. While at Fordham, he had the opportunity to meet Jesuits at “Java with the Jesuits” events, through spiritual direction and as professors in philosophy courses. He served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps at the Father McKenna Center in Washington, D.C., as a receptionist and in the food pantry. Matthew is a runner and reader and is learning to play guitar.

Nicholas attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he completed a bachelor’s in business administration. After graduation, he moved to Chicago and worked at CNA Insurance and in consulting at PwC and Strategy&. He moved to Denver and took some time to volunteer at World Youth Day in Lisbon and walk the Camino. After returning, he worked in operations at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and in programs and finance for the Archdiocese of Denver. Nicholas enjoys snow skiing, waterskiing and hiking.

MJ worked for 12 years at a major North American bank while completing his bachelor’s in political science from York University and MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. An experience with the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises was the catalyst for a year of inquiry, during which he felt a deep resonance to the Jesuit charism of availability for mission where the needs are greatest. MJ has travelled to 10 countries and was an amateur ballroom dancer for seven years.

Jacob graduated from Marquette University High School in 2024, where he was actively involved in campus ministry and retreats. He also participated in rugby and wrestling. He was introduced to the Jesuits during his time at Marquette and began discerning a vocation after his junior year Kairos retreat. Following graduation, he spent a year as a missionary in Cuba, Costa Rica and Africa as part of his discernment journey. In his free time, Jacob enjoys playing and watching sports, cooking, and spending time in nature.

Matthew has a bachelor’s in environmental science from the University of Scranton. He worked as a youth and young adult minister, which kindled a desire to teach in a classroom after he co-taught confirmation classes. He then taught at Jesuit High School in Tampa as a member of the Mission Corps. Ministering to young people is a motivating factor for him to live and serve in the Society. Matthew is an Eagle Scout and enjoys hiking, biking, golf, skiing, boating, fishing and bird-watching.

Nathaniel graduated from Loyola High School of Los Angeles and has bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and applied computational math and statistics from the University of Notre Dame. He spent three years working in private equity, first as a growth equity analyst in Boston and later as a senior associate of special projects in Los Angeles. He has a passion for mentorship, liturgy and language learning, and he spent a summer learning Chinese in Beijing. Nathaniel enjoys backpacking, playing chess, and reading continental philosophy and theology.

Richard attended Jesuit High School of New Orleans and then Dartmouth College, where he received a bachelor’s in history, was in the wind ensemble and spent a semester in Spain. He then attended the University of North Texas and earned a master’s in Spanish and began a doctoral program in history. Taking leave from the program, he returned to Jesuit High and taught world geography and Spanish. Richard likes reading and watching movies, TV and YouTube in English and Spanish.