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Theology
After active ministry as a regent, Jesuits begin a period of focused theology studies. In the United States, these are the studies that lead to the Master of Divinity degree for scholastics in priestly preparation. The brothers usually work toward a Master’s degree in theological or religious studies.
The vast majority of Jesuits in the United States spend these years at either Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry or the Jesuit School of Theology (JST) in Berkeley, California, now affiliated with Santa Clara University. Some may be sent to schools outside the United States. Along the way, those on the priestly track are ordained as transitional deacons, before ending this stage with their ordination to the priesthood.
James Antonio, SJ
James earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Prior to joining the Society he spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, first assigned to the Nashville, Tennessee community, and then to a community in Portland, Oregon working with Operation Nightwatch, a hospitality center for people on the street. He completed his First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri. He performed his Regency working at Seattle Preparatory School for two years and then as a full-time student of Spanish at University of Guadalajara in Mexico. He is currently completing his theology studies at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Peter Berger, SJ
Prior to entering the Society, Peter earned an associate degree from Yakima Valley Community College and was a seminarian for the Diocese of Yakima. As a seminarian he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He spent two years with a traveling retreat youth ministry that provided him the opportunity to travel across the Northwestern and Mideastern United States, as well as northern British Columbia, Canada. He also attended World Youth Day in Canada in 2002 and in Germany in 2005. He completed his Regency as a teacher of religion at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California. Currently he is studying theology at Regis College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Timothy Breen, SJ
Timothy graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles where he worked in Campus Ministry in addition to assisting with young adult ministry and confirmation preparation at his parish. He went on to study theology and Spanish at Loyola University Chicago for a year before entering the Society. He completed his First Studies at Loyola University Chicago and performed his Regency as a teacher of Spanish at Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. Currently he is studying Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Dominic Heesang Chai, SJ
Dominic was born in Seoul, Korea, and grew up in Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate from the London School of Economics. Prior to entering the Society, he held a faculty position at Birkbeck, University of London. He has taught courses in strategic management, and international business ethics, and served as an executive advisor for a Korean multinational corporation. As part of his discernment to join the Jesuits, Dominic walked the Camino de Santiago, made pilgrimages to Yamaguchi, Japan, and Loyola, Spain, and volunteered at the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. He completed his regency working at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development where he serves as a co-coordinator of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission’s Economy Taskforce. Currently he is studying theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He plays the oboe and enjoys making pottery.
Edward Chow, SJ
Edward graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California. He completed a bachelor’s degree in political economy at the University of California, Berkeley. While in college he studied Mandarin Chinese in Taipei and after graduation facilitated the service, advocacy and justice ministry team for youth ministry with the San Jose Chinese Catholic Community. Prior to entering the Society, he worked as a budget analyst at NASA Ames Research Center. He completed his First Studies at St. Louis University and did his regency at the Newman Center of the University of California, San Diego. He is currently studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
Ulises Covarrubias, SJ
Ulises received a bachelor’s degree in international development studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in public diplomacy from the University of Southern California. Prior to entering the Society, he volunteered at Tierra Blanca Arts Center, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing dance and music to underserved communities. He completed his First Studies at St. Louis University in Missouri. During regency, he taught Spanish and philosophy at Seattle Preparatory School. He is currently studying theology at Centre Sèvres in Paris, France.
Joseph Dickan, SJ
Before entering the Society, Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles. Later he worked in the advancement office at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California. During the summer of 2012, he participated in the “Six Weeks a Jesuit” program, tutoring at Washington Jesuit Academy in the nation’s capital. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York. He performed his regency at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose, California where he served as a math teacher. He then studied at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Beirut, Lebanon. Currently, he is studying theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Frederico Gianelli, SJ
Frederico is Brazilian-Uruguayan. Before entering the Society, he worked at Stanford Medical Center in Stanford, California, as a board-certified chaplain specializing in palliative medicine chaplaincy. He earned an equivalent of a Master of Divinity from the Facultad de Teologia-Monseñor Mariano Soler in Montevideo, Uruguay. As a minor seminarian, he was inspired by the Jesuits working in social justice ministries. During regency, he was a campus minister and the director of adult faith formation at Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles. He is currently studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
Shane Liesegang, SJ
Shane earned a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and theater from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia and a master’s degree in entertainment technology from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the ten years prior to entering the novitiate, he was a video game and theme park developer in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. He was excited to discover the spirituality and work of the Jesuits, as he looked for ways to combine his faith and his daily work. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York. Shane completed his Regency working for Jesuit Refugee Service in Beirut, Lebanon. Currently he is studying theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Dennis Marzan, SJ
Dennis was born in the Philippines but moved to Southern California with his family during his childhood. While at the University of San Francisco (USF) he studied history and earned a master’s degree in political sociology from the London School of Economics. Prior to entering the Society, he worked in non-profit organizations including Mission Hiring Hall, an organization helping people find jobs in the San Francisco area. An Eastern Orthodox Catholic, Dennis first encountered the Jesuits growing up in the Philippines and discovered Ignatian spirituality at USF. He completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York and completed his Regency working at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, California. He is now studying theology at Jesuit School of theology of Santa Clara in Berkeley, California.
Raymond Parcon, SJ
Raymond earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City, Philippines, a master’s degree in software engineering from National University in Costa Mesa, California, and an advanced computer security certificate from Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development. Prior to entering the Society, he taught catechism classes to eighth grade students and fed the homeless at Christ Cathedral in Orange, California. Raymond completed his first studies at Loyola University Chicago and was a chaplain at San Quentin Prison in California during regency. He is currently studying theology at Regis University in Toronto, Canada.
Fernando Saldivar, SJ
Fernando earned a BA in Latin American History with a minor in Economics at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He went on to receive his JD from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles and has been a member of the State Bar of California ever since. Fernando spent the decade prior to entering the Society practicing law in Southern California as a civil litigator with emphasis in commercial, real estate and construction law. He credits his Georgetown experience for firing the Jesuit spark within him and inspiring him to ultimately join the Society. He completed his First Studies at Loyola University Chicago. He performed his Regency working at the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar in the Office of Justice and Ecology located in Nairobi, Kenya. He is now studying theology at Centre Sèvre in Paris, France.
Michael Tedone, SJ
Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in Catholic theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a master’s degree in religious education from Boston College. Prior to entering the Society, he served with Jesuit Volunteers International working at Xavier High School in Chuuk, Micronesia. He completed his First Studies at Loyola University Chicago. He spent two years of his regency working at Sacred Heart Nativity School in San Jose, California, and then spent a year working with SEEL and serving in pastoral ministry at St. Aloysius Parish in Spokane, Washington. He is currently studying theology at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
Dzao Vu, SJ
Dzao received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. As a registered pharmacist, Dzao worked as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist with the U.S. Air Force and Veterans Affairs in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. He was active in youth ministry at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Vang in Las Vegas. He completed his first studies at Loyola University Chicago and during regency was a teacher at the School of Pharmacy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He is currently studying theology at Regis University in Toronto, Canada.
Simon Zachary, SJ
Simon graduated from Brophy College Preparatory School in Phoenix and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Prior to entering the Society, he worked for Microsoft’s advertising division in operations and account management and he taught citizenship/ESL classes to East African refugees for 5-years. Simon completed his First Studies at Fordham University in New York. He performed his Regency as a social studies teacher at Brophy College Preparatory School. He is currently completing his theology studies at Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara in Berkeley, California.
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James Antonio, 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)
James Antonio, 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)