Fr. George Witt, SJ, director of novices for Jesuits USA East, has announced that five novices completed first probation on September 1, 2024, and formally entered the novitiate at St. Andrew Hall in Syracuse, NY.
Pictured above are Joaquin Pannunzio, Kevin Rolle, Daniel Czajak, Andrew Lukas, and Michael McPherson. Gratitude to God for these men responding to the call of the Holy Spirit. Please keep them in your prayers.
Daniel Czajak
Syracuse, New York
Dan earned a bachelor’s in history and psychology from Syracuse University, a master’s in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University, and a Master of Theological Studies from Loyola University Maryland. He worked as an Army and Air Force officer, a government management analyst for the Department of Defense, and assistant director of admissions at The Catholic University of America and Syracuse University. Dan also served as a youth minister, sacristan and lector. He enjoys distance running and classic fiction and film.
Andrew Lukas
Annapolis, Maryland
Andrew has a bachelor’s in theology from The Catholic University of America and a Master of Theological Studies from the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. Getting to know the Jesuits at Boston College and discovering Ignatian spirituality influenced his vocation. He worked as an evangelization intern at the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, a receptionist at the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., and a theology teacher at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland. Andrew likes playing trivia, hiking and camping.
Michael McPherson
Clarksburg, Maryland
Michael received a bachelor’s in philosophy from The Catholic University of America and then spent three years working with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) at Stony Brook University in New York and in Denver. During his time with FOCUS, he participated in two five-day Ignatian retreats that set him on the path to the Jesuits. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing the guitar, singing and playing basketball; he loves the Boston Red Sox and enjoys musicals.
JoaquÃn Pannunzio
Buenos Aires, Argentina
JoaquÃn has an associate degree in business administration from Miami Dade College and a bachelor’s in finance and international business from Georgetown University. He was an intern at Google and worked at Citi in Latin America government affairs and at the New Zealand Consulate in New York City in the exports promotion office. He was a Princeton in Africa Fellow in Sierra Leone and has volunteered for the Kino Border Initiative. Joaquin’s hobbies include rugby, beach volleyball, Portuguese and improv.
Kevin Rolle
Nassau, Bahamas
Kevin received a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He worked at Amazon Data Centers as an engineering technician testing and replacing UPS battery systems and as an academic tutor. Seeing the selflessness of the Jesuits and their commitment to serving the church and the world helped him decide to join the Society of Jesus. In his free time, Kevin enjoys reading, traveling and listening to music.
