Vocations: Meet the 2015 Novices

Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit ~ Pope Francis

It is with great joy that we introduce the 16 men who entered the Chicago-Detroit (CDT) and Wisconsin (WIS) Provinces of the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Novitiate of St. Alberto Hurtado in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday, August 15, 2015.

Thomas Arms (CDT): Thomas, 32, earned a bachelor’s in English from The Ohio State University in 2008. He served for three years as the head swim coach at the YMCA of Central Ohio and taught English for seven years in Seoul, South Korea, where he discovered the Jesuits at the English Mass at Jesuit-founded Sogang University. Thomas enjoys swimming, cooking, reading, all types of music, and making quality coffee.

Ryan Birjoo (CDT): Ryan, 26, received a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and a master’s in engineering management from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he was active in Catholic student chaplaincy. He attended a Hearts on Fire retreat in 2013, which played a key role in his joining the Jesuits. Ryan is interested in the intersection of energy and water issues and Christian stewardship. He also enjoys traveling, cooking, and studying the traditions of Eastern Christianity.

Adam Bohan (WIS): Adam, 21, graduated from Creighton University in Omaha with a bachelor’s in international relations. He spent a semester in Shanghai, has worked in university ministry, and participated in Six Weeks a Jesuit, a program in Toronto. He has also reached the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. In addition to teaching piano lessons, Adam likes running, traveling, reading biographies, and listening to music.

Liam Brown (WIS): Liam, 19, graduated from Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, and is an accomplished musician who plays in three jazz bands. He is an Eagle Scout and has worked at a Boy Scouts camp for three summers. Besides his love for the jazz trombone and piano, he enjoys playing cards, camping, and listening to Chicago Cubs baseball games.

Front row (from left): Arturo Carrillo, Liam Brown, Ryan Birjoo Row 2 (from left): Brennan Hamilton, Adam Bohan, Conan Rainwater, Andrew Cera Row 3 (from left): Mark Mackey, Joshua Fritsch, Erin Kast, Taylor Fulkerson, Thomas Arms, Sean Teets Back row (from left): William Critchley-Menor, Nathan Krawetzke. Not pictured: Timothy Perron

Arturo Carrillo (WIS): Arturo, 27, graduated from Brown College in Mendota Heights, Minn., with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. After graduation, he spent five years working in manufacturing. He has volunteered at domestic violence and homeless shelters, and he spent five months at Holy Rosary Mission on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Arturo loves playing basketball and watching football, basketball, boxing, and movies.

Andrew Cera (WIS): Andrew, 32, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s in history. He received a law degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. For the past five years, Andrew has worked as an attorney near Shreveport, La. He enjoys the outdoors, good literature, and reading about the lives of the saints.

William Critchley-Menor (WIS): Billy, 19, completed his freshman year at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., where he studied theology and peace studies. He has volunteered with the youth office of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota and has worked at a rhubarb festival for five summers. Billy loves to read, play the viola, and listen to music of all genres.

Joshua Fritsch (CDT): Joshua, 19, graduated from Genoa Area High School in Ohio in 2014 and attended Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio. He was a member of Quiz Bowl and has participated in numerous tech activities and played soccer. While still in high school, he met the Jesuits at St. John’s Jesuit High School & Academy in Toledo, Ohio, which had a strong influence on his vocation. He enjoys woodworking and watching movies.

Taylor Fulkerson (CDT): Taylor, 23, received a bachelor’s in philosophy from Xavier University in Cincinnati. While at Xavier, he participated in outreach ministry with Cincinnati’s homeless population, served as a research assistant, and studied abroad in Nicaragua, where he volunteered at a preschool. He is proficient in Spanish and can read French. In his free time, Taylor enjoys reading novels, cooking, and trying to find the nuanced side of current events.

Brennan Hamilton (CDT): Brennan, 25, graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., earning a bachelor’s in Spanish and history. He previously worked as an educator, teaching Spanish and English as a second language. Brennan met the Jesuits through a close friend and former cross country teammate who attended Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. When not running or reading, he enjoys taking spontaneous road trips and trying out new recipes.

Erin Kast (WIS): Erin, 22, received a bachelor’s in biology and religion from Swarthmore College near Philadelphia. While in college, he spent three years working on a research project at a biology lab and a semester studying abroad in Morocco. He has also traveled to the Galápagos Islands. Erin enjoys soccer, biking, hiking, gardening, cooking, and reading, as well as playing the piano and trumpet.

Nathan Krawetzke (CDT): Nathan, 28, graduated from the University of Dayton in Ohio in 2009, with a bachelor’s in history and religious studies. He then joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, working with homeless youth at Covenant House Alaska. He has taught religion classes at his high school, St. Mary Catholic Central in Monroe, Mich., served as a youth minister in Anchorage, Alaska, and worked at Ste. Anne Catholic Church on Mackinac Island, Mich.

Mark Mackey (CDT): Mark, 29, attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He earned bachelor’s degrees in zoology and environmental science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a master’s in ecology from the University of Missouri. After conducting research and teaching in various regions around the United States, Mark returned to Cincinnati, where he was involved in the young adult Catholic group and other activities through Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University.

Timothy Perron (CDT): Timothy, 31, earned a bachelor’s in music education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., a bachelor’s in philosophy from Saint John’s Seminary in Boston, and a master’s in theological studies from Loyola University Chicago. He spent a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Sacramento, working in an inner-city elementary school as a math and reading tutor and music teacher. He enjoys journaling and playing music.

Conan Rainwater (WIS): Conan, 22, graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, with a bachelor’s in theology. He has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus and taught grade school religious education. Conan spent two summers in Peru on a work/study program and enjoys playing the piano, skiing, and golfing. He also likes hunting and spending time outdoors, especially with his family dog.

Sean Teets (CDT): Sean, 37, earned a bachelor’s from Youngstown State University in Ohio, a master’s from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a doctor of arts from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He taught high school and university music in Colorado, Louisiana, and Kansas, conducted choral works with orchestras, and was stage director for various operas and musicals. He is an avid swimmer and skier.

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