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About Us

During this two- to three-year period that follows First Studies, scholastics and brothers work in active ministry while living in community. Typically, Jesuits are assigned to teach at high schools or universities, but some work in parishes or some other Jesuit ministry.

Michael Bachmeier, SJ

Woodland, California

Michael attended Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California and graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Theology. Prior to entering the Society, Michael worked as support staff at a residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Davis, California. He completed First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri. He is now performing his Regency at Bellarmine Preparatory School in San Jose, CA.

Myles Kelley, SJ

Dallas, Texas

Myles attended Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas. He graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s in management and completed the sacrament of confirmation on campus at St. Ignatius Church. Myles returned to Jesuit Dallas to serve in the Alumni Service Corps, then pursued a master’s in counseling while working in campus ministry at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He completed First Studies at Loyola University Chicago. Now he is working as a regent at Brophy college Prep in Phoenix, AZ.

Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ

Santa Clara, California

Daniel attended Loyola High School in Goa, India before moving to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota. At U of M he received a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Later he worked as a design engineer for a semi-conductor equipment company in the Silicon Valley. Daniel was actively involved with the Young Adult Ministry at Saint Martin of Tours Parish in the San Jose Diocese. Completed his first studies as a teacher at Jesuit High Sacramento. He is working as a regent at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California, as a teacher of mathematics and theology.

John Meyers, SJ

Mission Viejo, California

John received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where he was also a resident assistant in the dorms. He participated in summer study abroad trips to Zambia and following graduation he lived in rural villages in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. There he taught residents how to obtain clean water as well as basic computer skills. He completed his First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri and will be undertaking Regency working at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California.

James Millikan, SJ

Tulalip, Washington
Prior to entering the Society, Millikan graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and economics served as an Americorps volunteer for three years. He went on to earn a master’s degree in teaching from Seattle University before working as a high school math teacher. After the novitiate he completed his First Studies at ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara in Mexico. Currently, he is doing his regency as a math teacher at Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles, California.

Chris Chinh Nguyen, SJ

San Jose, California

Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego, and a master’s degree in information systems at Santa Clara University in California. He worked in information technology at startups in Silicon Valley and was also a sales system engineer. For over 20 years he volunteered as a catechist in the San Jose Vietnamese community and worked with youths and young adults. Completed his first studies at Newman Center at University of California, San Diego. He is working as a regent in the Newman Center at University of California, San Diego.

Jaret Ornelas, SJ

Turlock, California

Jaret earned a bachelor’s degree in Chicana/o studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was active in Intervarsity Christian Leadership, St. Mark’s Newman Center, and as a liaison for student government to labor unions and campus workers. Prior to entering the Society, Jaret served as a Jesuit volunteer in Belize working in campus ministry at St. John’s College and at a detention center for youth. He completed his First Studies at ITESO (Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education) – Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara in Mexico. He is currently working as a regent working at the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales (Arizona and Mexico).

Danilo Mendoza Rugama, SJ

Oakland, California

Danilo moved to the United States from Nicaragua then went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to entering the Society, he worked as a library supervisor at UC Berkeley and ministered to Hispanic young adults at his parish. Danilo discovered Ignatian spirituality when he attended the Instituto Hispano at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California. He completed First Studies at Loyola University Chicago. He is performing his Regency at Hogar Divina Infantita, in Nador, Morocco.

Vincent Truong, SJ

Los Angeles, California

Vincent attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and while there he assisted in leading retreats and interned at the Newman Center. He graduated from Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He completed First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri. He is now performing his Regency at St Andrew Nativity School in Portland, OR.

An Hoang Vu, SJ

Westminster, California

An Hoang was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam until his family moved to the United States in 2010. He graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Educational Sciences. For the five years prior to entering the Society he taught catechism at his local parish. Completed his first studies in campus ministry at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose. He is working as a regent in the office of Campus Ministry at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California.

An Nguyen Vu, SJ

Portland, Oregon

An Nguyen moved with his family to the United States at the age of 9 from Vietnam. He graduated from Portland State University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. He completed further studies in pre-dentistry and evolution before discerning religious life. He taught Vietnamese in the local parish school and participated in the local diocesan discernment group before applying to the Society of Jesus. Completed his first studies Vocation promotion for Jesuits West. He is doing his a regency as a vocation promoter in the Jesuits West Office of Vocation Promotion.

Victor Yanez, SJ

Bloomington, California

Victor graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He was a member of the United States men’s national under-17 soccer team and played Division I soccer for UCLA. After college, he worked at Wabash College as an assistant soccer coach. After suffering a career-ending injury on his left ankle Victor found inspiration in Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s conversion. He has concluded his First Studies at Fordham University in New York. He is currently working as a regent at the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales (Arizona and Mexico).

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