The following are brief thumbnail sketches of those who have decided to become Jesuits this year in the United States. We hope you will find the men and their backgrounds interesting. A map of the Jesuit Provinces in the United States is also available.

Charles Bashara

Pittsfield, Mass.

Charles, 36, has all but completed a PhD in European history at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He taught history at Shepherd College in West Virginia and taught at the Nativity Mission School in New York as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. (Oregon Province)

Jerry Belski

Claremont, N.H.

Jerry, 51, with a BA in English from Lyndon College in Vermont, did graduate work in English at the University of Illinois and at Indiana University. Former marketing manager for Gillette and vice president for Revlon, he has also volunteered at an AIDS hospice and was a Benedictine monk novice. (New Orleans Province)

John Bentz

Boise, Id.

John, 32, with BAs in English and theater from Gonzaga University in Spokane, studied acting at the University of London and Circle in the Square in New York, and acted on stage and TV (he appeared as an extra on Northern Exposure). He owned and operated a garden design business. (Oregon Province)

Scott Binet

St. Paul, Minn.

Scott, 32, with a degree in medicine from the University of Arkansas, worked and taught as a family physician at an indigent- care clinic in Yonkers, New York, for four years. He also studied acting in New York and enjoys running, reading, computers, and learning languages. (New Orleans Province)

Robert Bufton

Wauwatosa, Wis.

Rob, 29, earned a BA in English from the University of Minnesota and taught religion at Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, S.Dak., and English as a Second Language at St. Stephen Parish in Minneapolis. His interests range from U.S.ÐJapanese trade relations to grizzly bears. (Wisconsin Province)

Christopher Collins

Phoenix, Ariz.

Chris, 24, holds a BA in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, where he was active in campus ministry. He taught in Jamaica and dug drainage ditches in Guatemala on campus ministryÐsponsored volunteer trips. He also taught religion at Cotter High in Winona, Minn. (Wisconsin Province)

John Cunningham

Indiana, Pa.

John, 34, with a PhD in physics from Notre Dame, taught the subject at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and conducted research at Fermilab in Batavia, Ill., where he helped discover the "top" quark. He is a die-hard Notre Dame football fan and a railroad buff. (New Orleans Province)

Justin Daffron

Dallas, Tex.

Justin, 22, has a BA in science in business from Centenary College in Shreveport, where he also worked as a dorm resident assistant. He worked in Los Angeles as an admissions recruiter for Centenary and has volunteered as a hospital chaplain. His hobbies include running, cooking, and snow skiing. (New Orleans Province)

Minh Dang

Can Tho, Vietnam

Minh, 26, with a BA in broadcasting from Arizona State in Tempe, worked as a reporter and news anchor for ABC and CBS affiliates in Phoenix. He was active in a Vietnamese Christian Life Community for nine years, and he enjoys music, camping, and weightlifting. (California Province)

David De Marco

Youngstown, Ohio

David, 39, with a MD from Northwestern Ohio University College of Medicine, was professor of medicine there and at Wright State University School of Medicine after a residency in internal medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He enjoys traveling, canoeing, tennis, and classical music. (Chicago Province)

Raymond Donaldson

Washington, D.C.

Ray, 35, with a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, worked in telecommunications for over eleven years. He has also tutored emotionally disturbed children, counseled at a suicide prevention center, and helped prepare adults to take the GED exam. (Maryland Province)

Andrew Downing

Durban, Natal, South Africa

Andy, 21, has a BA in religious studies from Yale. He did volunteer work at a rehab center and served as lector at his home parish. He took part in a "Six Weeks A Jesuit" program in New York during the summer of '94. His interests range from ancient history and science fiction to home brewing. (New England Province)

Robert Duncan

Long Branch, N.J.

Robert, 29, has bachelor's degrees in Latin and history from St. Peter's College in New Jersey and a master's degree in special education from Jersey City State College. He has taught handicapped children, served as youth minister in his parish, and backpacked in Europe and the States. (New York Province)

Zachary Dziedzic

Aurora, Colo.

Zachary, 23, holds BAs in theology and government from Georgetown University. He worked as a prefect at Georgetown Prep and administrative assistant at Georgetown's Woodstock Theological Center. An air force brat, he has lived in Central America, Europe, and the Far East. (Maryland Province)

Charles Eddy

Columbus, Ohio

Charlie, 49, has an MS in criminal justice from Xavier University in Cincinnati. For 23 years he worked in the administration of a number of family and youth social-service programs in California.His interests include social-justice advocacy and grass-roots political action. (California Province)

José Fetzer

Lima, Peru

José, 35, studied business administration at Georgia State University. He worked for Ritz Carlton hotels for ten years and was active in his parish, providing communion to the elderly, teaching catechism, and serving as a Eucharistic minister. He holds a black belt in Karate. (New Orleans Province)

Charles Frederico

Drexel Hill, Pa.

Chuck, 33, has a BS in food marketing from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. He has worked as a sous-chef at City Tavern in Philadelphia, studied Italian in Naples, taught CCD, and worked with Habitat for Humanity in Appalachia. His hobbies include music and travel. (Maryland Province)

Thomas Frink

East Derby, N.H.

Tom, 43, has a BS in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytech in Massachusetts and an MA in philosophy from Boston College. He has worked as an electrical engineer and consultant for a paper cup company and has been involved in youth ministry and charismatic prayer groups. (New England Province)

Edward Gallagher

Philadelphia, Pa.

Ed, 22, with a BA in philosophy from Fordham University, was leader of a volunteer group in Appalachia, fundraiser for a residence for battered women and their children, and Emmaus retreat team leader at Fordham, where he was also a member of Pax Christi. (New York Province)

Ian Gibbons

St. Louis, Mo.

Ian, 26, with a BA in business and an MBA in accounting from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, has worked as sales manager for Pace Setter Inc. His other academic interests include nineteenth-century history and literature. He enjoys contemporary music and touring the United States. (Missouri Province)

Leo Kelly

Greensboro, N.C.

Trey, 23, has a BA in business from Campbell University in North Carolina. He was a music teacher and child-care worker while in school and has been involved with Life-Teen, Boys Scouts, and Teens Encounter Christ in Raleigh and Tampa. He enjoys singing, sailing, and climbing. (New Orleans Province)

Joseph Koshay

Mountain View, Calif.

Joe, 29, has bachelor's degrees in sociology and religious studies from John Carroll University in Cleveland. He has worked with developmentally disabled children in residences in Chicago and Cleveland. He likes rollerblading, windsurfing, and water skiing. (Chicago Province)

Timothy Kusner

Toledo, Ohio

Tim, 38, has a BA in religious studies from Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio, and an MA in theology from the University of Dayton. He taught religion at Lourdes College and set up a food distribution center as part of his parish ministry work in Toledo. He drove a city bus in Toledo for eight years. (Detroit Province)

Thomas Lankenau

Denver, Colo.

Tom, 37, with a BS in wildlife biology from Colorado State, has worked as the executive director of New Mexico Wildlife Federation. He was active in his parish as lector, eucharistic minister, parish council president, and youth leader. Travel is his hobby; Steinbeck is his author. (Oregon Province)

Deron Lawrence

Eugene, Oreg.

Deron, 29, with an MA in ecology from Idaho State, worked as an analyst for an environmental engineering firm and as a scientist at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. An avid outdoorsman, he would like to establish "Wilderness Ignatian Spiritual Exercises" for youth. (Wisconsin Province)

James Loopeker

El Monte, Calif.

Jim, 32, with a BA in finance from the University of Arizona, traveled extensively as an auditor for the Audit Bureau of Circulation. He spent five years in the air force as a Polish language linguist, two of those years at Hahn AFB in Germany. He enjoys biking and swimming. (California Province)

Angelo Lozada

Mayaguez, P.R.

Angelo, 27, with an MS in information systems from Johns Hopkins University, did computer programming for Cincinnati Bell and the U.S. Navy and taught CCD classes and volunteered with the Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Washington, D.C. He enjoys learning Portuguese, weightlifting, and dancing. (Maryland Province)

Edgar Lozano

Tampico, Mexico

Eddy, 21, attended James Monroe High School in North Hills, Calif., where he was president of the Hispanic Society. He was director of liturgy at his parish. He enjoys reading and writing stories, practicing guitar, and playing soccer and basketball. (California Province)

Brendan MacDonnell

Springfield, Mass.

Brendan, 30, with an MA in math from Hunter College in New York, managed a car rental agency, was a sales rep for a printing firm, and was vice president of a paging service. He also taught catechism and coordinated a food pantry. He enjoys sports, music, guitar, and chess. Three of his uncles are Jesuits. (New England Province)

James Melendez

Washington, D.C.

Jim, 31, has a bachelor's degree in math from Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and a master's in engineering from George Washington University. He was in the navy for eight years and also worked as a civilian with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He likes movies, golf, and biking. (Maryland Province)

Scott Myslinski

Mesa, Ariz.

Scott, 25, has BAs in history and Spanish from Arizona State in Tempe. A five-year volunteer with the Life-Teen Program, he has also taught confirmation classes and traveled in Mexico. Ethnology is his other academic interest, while camping, fishing, and hiking are his recreations. (California Province)

David Nantais

Detroit, Mich.

David, 24, has a BS in biochemistry from the University of Detroit Mercy and an MA in the field from Iowa State in Ames. He has worked as a lab technician for Ford Motor Company and played drums in a rock band. He enjoys basketball, golf, running, and attending rock concerts. (Detroit Province)

Huy Nguyen

Bien Hoa, Vietnam

Huy, 27, worked in his family's flour business in Vietnam before they immigrated to Tennessee in 1990. He worked as a cashier while studying sociology at Nashville Tech. He played organ in his church in Vietnam for seven years and continued playing for St. Patrick Church in Nashville. (Oregon Province)

Michael O'Grady

Chicago, Ill.

Mike, 32, earned a BA in business from Loyola University Chicago. He worked as a community organizer for Citizens for Community Improvement and was a trader at Chicago's Board of Trade, buying and selling everything from soybeans to T-Bills. He enjoys reading, gardening, and working out. (Chicago Province)

Scott Opperman

Monroe, Mich.

Scott, 21, with a BA in philosophy from John Carroll University, served the Hispanic community in Detroit's southwest side, teaching CCD classes and doing parish evangelization work. He is active in Pax Christi movement and Call to Action. He enjoys movies, Italian food, and his friends. (Detroit Province)

Michael Quieto

Santa Clara, Calif.

Michael, 18, graduated from Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose. He worked as the secretary for his parish and did volunteer work with the Trinita Family Life Program and at a camp for families in need in Connecticut. He enjoys Shakespeare, American history, and keeping abreast of current events. (California Province)

Sean Raftis

Spokane, Wash.

Sean, 30, with an MA in communications from Washington State University, worked as a circulation coordinator for a publishing company and taught speech communication classes at his alma mater. His other interests include music, philosophy, playing drums, and golf. (Oregon Province)

Anthony Rauschuber

Wichita Falls, Tex.

Tony, 37, has a BS in electrical engineering and an MBA in finance from Texas A&M. He worked for Hewlett-Packard as sales rep and cofounded and was vp of operations for Fibertron, a fiber optics company. He taught CCD classes for six years and likes hiking, cycling, and dancing. (New Orleans Province)

Michael Romero

Hammond, La.

Ross, 27, with a BA in philosophy from Loyola University of New Orleans, has done graduate work in the field at Louisiana State in Baton Rouge, where he was also active in campus ministry. He worked for a historical society in New Orleans and served with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. (New Orleans Province)

Robert Schlichtig

Danbury, Conn.

Robert, 24, has a BS in criminal justice from the University of Scranton. He has worked as a house parent at a Boys Hope home in St. Louis, on staff at a home for delinquent and abused youth in Mexico City, and as a counselor at a home for emotionally disturbed teens in Connecticut. Rugby is his game. (Maryland Province)

Anh Tran

Saigon, Vietnam

Anh, 31, has an MS in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University and an MS in Chinese medicine from the Academy of Chinese Health Sciences in Oakland. He worked in the semiconductor industry, served as minister for Vietnamese youth, and is a licensed acupuncturist. (California Province)

Bret Weller

Denver, Colo.

Bret, 24, has a BA in English and a BS in economics from Regis University in Denver and has worked toward an MA in economics at the Colorado School of Mines. He volunteered as chairman of the Mt. St. Vincent Home for Children in Denver. His interests range from weightlifting to Latin. (Missouri Province)