About Us
Special Studies
Roberto Carlos Durán, SJ
Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ, is the Director of Vocations for the USA West province. He is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana and a graduate of Indiana University. He was an award winning actor in Los Angeles, appearing on film, TV, and stage before entering the Jesuits in 2001. Fr. Radmar now uses his acting skills to witness to his faith and calling as a Jesuit priest. Prior to his ordination in 2011, he chronicled his path to priesthood in a series of YouTube videos, before serving as the vocation promoter for the former California Province. He later returned to Hollywood for a few years when he was missioned to be a full-time actor once again. Most recently, he served as the associate chaplain for the students at Boise State University and coordinator for FirePit Ministry, an inter-parish, post-college, young adult ministry in Boise, Idaho. He is a seasoned spiritual director who is passionate about Ignatian Spirituality and ministering to young adults in their 20’s and 30’s, especially with Christus Ministries. Fr. Radmar recently completed the final stage of Jesuit formation called tertianship in Salamanca, Spain, and is excited to call the LMU Jesuit Community home for the next few years. During his free time, he enjoys CrossFit, hiking, cooking, baking, watching movies, good conversations, and people who make him laugh. (UWEVocationDirector@jesuits.org)
Daniel Flores Estrella, SJ
Daniel earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in studio art and communication arts from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. As a professional multidisciplinary artist and designer, he previously worked for nonprofit arts organizations and art institutions as artist-in-residence, graphic designer, administrator, project coordinator, and curator. Prior to entering the Society, he worked as an arts educator with a broad spectrum of diverse communities. In this work he created projects with his students that utilized the arts as a conduit for social and restorative justice. For 16 years he volunteered with SEARCH Youth Ministries where he coordinated weekend retreats and workshops for young adults in disenfranchised communities throughout Los Angeles. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York. During regency, he was the assistant to the dean of students at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He is currently a graduate student at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Phillip Ganir, SJ
Phillip earned a BA in political science and Asian studies from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in Honolulu. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York and performed Regency as a teacher of theology at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, CA. Since entering the Society, he has worked as an associate pastor at St. Ignatius Church in Sacramento and gone on to further studies. He completed the Master’s program in Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame in 2017 and currently he is a doctoral student in catechetics at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
John W. Guyol, SJ
John received a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Villanova University in Villanova, PA. After joining the Society he completed his First Studies at St Louis University in Missouri. He later performed his Regency as a teacher for two years at Jesuit High School in Portland, OR and then in Cameroon he studied French while working for JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service). His Theology studies were completed at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkley, CA and he was ordained in 2021. Currently, he is a graduate student working toward an MBA in Sustainable Solutions at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, CA.
Brett Helbling, SJ
Brett met the Jesuits at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington and attended the University of Portland earning a BBA in accounting. Hoping there was more to life than financial statements and unqualified audit reports, Brett became a professional volunteer in the Peace Corps and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where he respectively served in Costa Rica and at Dolores Mission Parish in Boyle Height, Los Angeles. Brett enjoys eating (always), running (sometimes) and sharks (never). He completed First Studies at ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara. Currently he is working toward a Master of Social Work at University of Washington in Seattle, WA.
Alex Llanera, SJ
Prior to entering the Society, Llanera graduated from Jesuit High School in Carmichael, California and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He completed his First Studies at Saint Louis University in Missouri and finished Theology studies at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, CA. He did his Regency at St Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco as well as at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. He was ordained in 2018. He is currently a graduate student in Ignatian spirituality at Pontifical Comillas University in Madrid, Spain.
Eddie Ngo, SJ
Eddie earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Dallas and completed graduate studies at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston. Prior to entering the Society and having long been active in the Christian Life Community, he worked as a family physician and took part in medical mission trips to Ethiopia and Peru. Eddie completed his First Studies at ITESO (Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education) – Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara in Mexico and completed his Regency as the Immersion Program Director at Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education at Santa Clara University in California. He studied Theology and is currently working on completing his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
Henry William Perez, SJ
Henry grew up at Saint Bernard’s Parish in the Long Beach, California area. Upon graduation from Saint John Bosco High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve while attending Long Beach State majoring in Business Management. After working in the printing and advertising industry for most of his career, he decided to pursue his passion for cooking and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu as valedictorian. While he was involved with the Catholic community in Los Angeles, Henry enjoyed teaching catechism and singing in the choir. He completed his First Studies at Loyola University Chicago. For Regency he worked at The Center at Blessed Sacrament Parish, a non-profit committed to ending isolation and homelessness in Hollywood, California. He is now studying Family and Marital Therapy, with an emphasis on Art Therapy, at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA.
Lucas Sharma, SJ
Lucas graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington with a BA in sociology and economics and an MA in sociology from Loyola University Chicago. In between his academic studies, Lucas served as a Jesuit Volunteer in Washington, DC. He has also been a volunteer in homeless shelters in the US, as well as in Florence, Italy, while a student at Gonzaga. Lucas completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York and performed his Regency as a lecturer in sociology at Seattle University in Washington. He completed his theology studies at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California and was ordained in June 2022. Currently, he is working on a PhD in Sociology at UC San Diego.
Phillip Sutherland, SJ
Phillip earned a degree in religious studies and chemistry from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. While attending college he served as an ongoing intern with the Washington State Division of Developmental Disabilities and served as an assistant to a L’Arche community. He completed his First Studies at Loyola University Chicago and performed his regency at St Andrew Nativity School in Portland, Oregon and Gonzaga University in Spokane. He completed his Theology studies at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He was ordained in 2017 and then returned to student life. Currently, he is a doctoral student in philosophy at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Rob Van Alstyne, SJ
Prior to entering the Society, Rob earned a degree in philosophy from Boston College. He completed his First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri and performed his Regency at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. He studied Theology at Regis College in Toronto, ON, Canada. He was ordained in 2019. Currently, he is a doctoral student in philosophy at Boston College.