Robert Pecoraro
Staten Island, NY
Bob, 33, who has a bachelor's in food systems management from SUNY in Buffalo, worked as a chef at Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Staten Island for two years. He directed stress-reduction and meditation programs for people with HIV/ AIDS at a day center. His hobbies include martial arts, playing guitar, and writing poetry. (New York Province)
Aaron Pidel
Rochester, NY
Aaron, 22, received a BA in humanities and Catholic culture from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. He has worked as a soccer referee, a dorm RA, and an assistant warehouse manager for a food bank. For two summers he worked with the Missionaries of Charity in Appalachia and the South Bronx, and he studied in Austria for a semester. (New Orleans Province)
Douglas Pierce
Elizabethtown, PA
Doug, 28, earned a BA in creative writing from Purdue University. He was considering careers in environmental engineering or international peace activism. He has done electrical construction and worked to support peace efforts between Serbians and Kosovars. He likes racquetball and reading poetry, fiction, and philosophy. (Oregon Province)
Ned Presnall
Sacramento, CA
Ned, 24, graduated from Jesuit High School in Sacramento and has bachelor's degrees in classics and religious studies from Brown University. He has worked as a student activities director at Community Prep in Providence, RI. In his free time he likes to play basketball, run, and read. (California Province)
Paul Rourke
St. Louis, MO
Paul, 28, has a BA in history from Georgetown University and a law degree from Washington University. He enjoys writing, water sports, and traveling; recently he made a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Rome. An RCIA member, he also founded a group for young professional Catholics in Washington, DC, interested in exploring their faith. (Maryland Province)
John Stys
Detroit, MI
John, 26, has bachelor's degrees in nursing and communication from Fairfield University and a master's in clinical sciences from Dartmouth College. He has worked as a nurse and as a coordinator at a psychiatric research center. In 1997 he spent the summer in Europe making a film for a bank. He has taught cross-country skiing and enjoys sea kayaking. (New England Province)
Johnathan Sweitzer
Spokane, WA
Johnathan, 29, has a BA in psychology from Washington State University and an MA in counseling psychology from Gonzaga University. He has worked as a mental health counselor in a nursing home and in a L'Arche community in Cork, Ireland. He has also been a counselor for children and an actor. Fond of the outdoors, he enjoys hiking, tennis, and swimming; he relaxes by reading. (Oregon Province)
Eric Tamez
Houston, TX
Eric, 34, attended classes at Orange Coast College in California and worked for seven years as a camp counselor for the Texas YMCA. For the last ten years he has worked for the Hyatt Hotel in Houston. He is attracted to ministry to Native Americans and working with homeless persons. He enjoys jogging, yoga, and reading, especially in coffee shops. (Oregon Province)
Daniel Tesvich
New Orleans, LA
Danny, 23, has a BA in philosophy from St. Joseph's Seminary College in Louisiana. He also studied political science at Louisiana State University where he worked as a research assistant. He was vice president of the LSU College Democrats, chief-of-staff for the Young Democrats of Louisiana, and sacristan at the LSU Catholic student center. (New Orleans Province)
Daniel Toomey
Pittsburgh, PA
Daniel, 37, has a BS in geology from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS in environmental monitoring from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An army officer for ten years, he spent time in Germany, which he considers his second home. He has also done mission work in Honduras and Tanzania. He enjoys art, soccer, camping, and scuba diving. (Maryland Province)
Paul Tope
Denver, CO
Paul, 30, received a BA in English from Arizona State University and an MA in teaching English as a second language from the University of San Francisco. In Japan and Korea he taught conversational English; at USF he taught English to Jesuits from abroad. He volunteered at Habitat for Humanity; mountain biking, judo, and guitar are his fun-time activities. (California Province)
Teofilo Ugaban
Dagupan City, Philippines
Teo, 22, was in his fourth year at the University of British Columbia majoring in religious studies and philosophy. He has worked as a tax claim agent and at a duty-free store. He has volunteered as a youth ministry leader and a university recruiter and has taught catechism. His interests range from the culinary arts to basketball. (Upper Canada Province)
Paul Vu
Saigon, Vietnam
Paul, 30, earned a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri. He worked as a coordinator at a stress management clinic at his university and as a GED administrator in various prisons in Missouri. He volunteered at the Dorothy Day Center and the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis. He is a scuba diver, white-water rafter, and cook. (Missouri Province)
Eric Watson
Newport, OR
Eric, 34, earned a BS in chemistry at Oregon State University and a doctorate in organic chemistry at Brown University, where he was an assistant teacher. He worked as an analytical chemist in Sitka, AK. He relaxes by taking walks, reading, or listening to music. He is attracted to Ignatian spiritual ministry, missionary work, and teaching. (Oregon Province)