Meet the New Novices
In August 2025, nine men entered the Society of Jesus at the novitiate in St. Paul, Minn. Seven entered the Midwest Province (UMI), and two entered the Canada Province (CAN). Above (from left): Jacob Sereno (UMI), Jack Legge (CAN), Matthew Lemar (UMI), Grant Gottschalk (UMI), Felipe Gutiérrez (UMI), James Lovell (UMI), Mark Jeffrey “MJ” Santa Ana (CAN), Brett Fox (UMI) and James Allbright (UMI).
James Allbright
Brookfield, Wisconsin
James first met the Jesuits at Marquette University High School where he especially loved attending and leading various retreats. Afterward, he earned a bachelor’s in mathematical statistics from the University of Iowa. He became deeply involved at Iowa’s Newman Catholic Student Center, where he coordinated retreats and discernment activities. His time there sparked a desire to discern religious life as he reconnected with the Jesuits. James loves reading books about various saints, driving on road trips, and watching baseball and soccer.
Brett Fox
Lisle, Illinois
Brett earned a degree in accounting and finance from Illinois State University and later worked in accounting and software engineering. He received the call to religious life while attending Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Miami. He spent the past year as a donné—one who lives and works with Jesuits to get a sense of Jesuit life—at the Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland. Brett learned of the Jesuits when his identical twin brother Scott joined in 2021.
Grant Gottschalk
Strongsville, Ohio
Grant received his bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University (SLU), where he studied theology, philosophy and Catholic studies. He completed a master’s in education at the University of Notre Dame while teaching theology and social studies in Louisville, Kentucky. The seeds of his vocation were sown in his time as a student at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland and continued to develop through the ministry and friendship of the Jesuits at SLU. Grant enjoys reading, being with family and friends, and making music.
Felipe Gutiérrez
Manizales, Colombia
Felipe holds a bachelor’s degree in literary studies from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, where he first considered a religious vocation inspired by his Jesuit professors. He taught high school literature and completed a master’s in Hispanic literature and culture at the Instituto Caro y Cuervo. He moved to Chicago for doctoral studies, earning a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese from Northwestern University. After several years of discernment, Felipe deepened his call to join the Society, moved by his devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Matthew Lemar
Omaha, Nebraska
Matt received a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Columbia University. After graduating, he spent a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, working at Cristo Rey Boston High School. Matt was inspired by the many Jesuits and lay mentors he knew growing up in Omaha, at both St. John’s Parish and Creighton Preparatory School. In his free time, he loves exploring new cities, hiking and passionately supporting Creighton basketball.
James Lovell
Highland Park, Illinois
James grew up in six different states and is most recently a native of Highland Park, Ill. He earned a bachelor’s degree in econometrics and political science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was active in the Newman Center community. From an early age, he was attracted to the life and mission of St. Ignatius, but he encountered the Jesuits themselves for the first time during a pilgrimage to Rome. He enjoys catching up with friends, reading and the music of Van Morrison
Jacob Sereno
Port Washington, Wisconsin
Jacob graduated from Marquette University High School (MUHS), where he was actively involved in campus ministry and retreats. He also participated in rugby and wrestling. He was introduced to the Jesuits during his time at MUHS and began discerning a vocation after his junior year Kairos retreat. Following graduation, he spent a year as a missionary in Cuba, Costa Rica and Africa as part of his discernment journey. In his free time, Jacob enjoys playing and watching sports, cooking and spending time in nature.
NOVITIATE:
A man enters the Society of Jesus as a novice. Novices spend two years living in community while taking classes, making the 30-day retreat of the Spiritual Exercises and engaging in a variety of ministries. At the end of that time, he pronounces perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, as either a brother or a scholastic, with the primary difference being that scholastics intend to be ordained to the priesthood while brothers do not.
IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
Saint Ignatius College Prep senior Courtney Beatty (’26) at The Narrows in Zion National Park as part of the Chicago high school’s On Holy Ground summer course.
Photo: Fernando Fonseca