Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

About the 2022 Midwest Jesuit Ordinands

Aaron A. Bohr, SJ, completed three years of theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, before his ordination. Prior to becoming a Jesuit, he taught Chinese and world history at his high school alma mater, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, in St. Paul, Minnesota. In his free time, Bohr enjoys reading, writing, playing the piano, and walking in the Berkeley Hills in California. Aaron comes from a multicultural family. His mother is ethnically Chinese from Jamaica, West Indies, and his father is of British and German descent. Because of his multicultural upbringing, he has been drawn to learn about other religions and cultures. He sees his ministry as a way of building bridges between different communities and traditions. Bohr’s motto as a Jesuit is: “Put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4). He sees his Jesuit vocation as deepening his baptismal call of discipleship and having a contemplative stance toward life to put out into the deep. Throughout his Jesuit formation, Bohr has been involved in school ministry. He taught and worked with the corporate work study program at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Twin Cities, where he was also involved in campus ministry. Bohr sees his calling and ministry as a Jesuit as deepening his teaching vocation.

Matthew E. Donovan, SJ, was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He met the Jesuits at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (class of 2001), where he first encountered the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He went to Loyola University Chicago where he majored in history and was active in campus ministry and other Christian organizations, residence life, and Greek life as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Donovan entered the Society of Jesus in 2011. He completed his first two years of Jesuit formation at the novitiate in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he worked at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Twin Cities, served as a chaplain at the Ramsey County Jail, and assisted at a local parish. After taking first vows in 2013, Donovan continued his Jesuit formation at Saint Louis University, where he studied philosophy. In St. Louis, he assisted with ministry to the homebound at a local Jesuit parish, volunteered with Labre Homeless Ministries, and facilitated a Christian Life Community faith group. Donovan then completed his regency at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he taught in the history department for three years. While there, he served as a chaplain to the Father’s Club, led student retreats, assisted with Taizé prayer services, accompanied a service trip to Louisville, Kentucky, and served as faculty advisor for the Senior Senate. In 2019, Donovan moved on to Boston College, where he completed his theological studies in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. Most recently, he has been serving as a deacon and teaching RCIA at Saint Columbkille Catholic Parish in Brighton, Massachusetts, and working in Kairos retreat ministry at Boston College.

Eric T. Immel, SJ, is a native Wisconsinite, born in Madison and raised in Green Bay. After meeting the Jesuits during his undergraduate studies at Saint Louis University, he continued working in the world of the Society of Jesus at Creighton University before entering the novitiate in 2011. Currently studying at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and Xavier University of Louisiana, he was ordained a deacon in September of 2021 and looks forward to his priestly ordination this year. His Jesuit life has included ministry on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota and at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago. Additionally, he has been a regular contributor to The Jesuit Post (2013–present), worked as a spiritual director, sung with a number of choirs during formation, and engaged in special studies with the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana. He currently serves as a deacon at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, a Black Catholic community, and St. Ignatius Chestnut Hill, Boston’s Jesuit parish, and he accompanies students through Boston College’s Kairos retreat program. He enjoys music (playing and listening), and reading and writing, and he appreciates a good workout.
Joseph M. Kraemer, SJ, was born and raised in Richmond, Indiana, by his parents, Mike and Melanie Kraemer, and he has two brothers, Mitch and Matthew. After Kraemer expressed curiosity about the priesthood when he was 13, his father drove him to Xavier University to meet his first Jesuit vocation director. Kraemer attended Hillsdale College in Michigan and majored in English with an emphasis in Shakespeare. After graduation, he worked at the Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger in Washington, D.C. When his manager became director of the drama division at the Juilliard School, Kraemer was hired to help create and run the Playwrights Program there.While in New York, Kraemer also taught at Barnard College and sold a television show with his writing partner to Warner Bros. Television, where he later worked for the actors Martin and Charlie Sheen at their production company. Thirty years after meeting the Jesuits in Cincinnati, Joe joined the Society in Los Angeles. As a novice, Joe loved his apostolic work in prison ministry with Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative and living in a L’Arche intentional community in Seattle with people who have intellectual disabilities. He received his master’s degree in philosophy from the University of London and enjoyed his regency assignment fundraising with the Jesuits West advancement office. Most recently, Kraemer earned his master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California, and served as a deacon at Corpus Christi parish in Piedmont, California. His first Mass will be at his home parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. After ordination, Kraemer is eager to return to active prison ministry, and his first assignment will be with Jesuit Restorative Justice Initiative NW, based in Seattle.
Stephen J. Molvarec, SJ, was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, by his parents and grandparents with his brother and sister and numerous cousins. He first met the Jesuits at Canisius College, where he majored in history, philosophy and honors and minored in classical languages. He was involved in campus ministry, community service, and the Knights of Columbus as well as Alpha Sigma Nu and the Digamma Society. After graduating in 2002, he pursued a master’s and doctorate in medieval history at University of Notre Dame and wrote a dissertation on the Carthusians under the supervision of John Van Engen. While there, he was an assistant rector for a residence hall, which allowed him to pursue opportunities for exercising pastoral care and organizing community service events. From 2008–2010, he lived in France for research, funded by the Medieval Academy’s Birgit Baldwin Fellowship. He taught at Indiana University South Bend and Notre Dame from 2011–2012 before entering the novitiate. As a novice, Molvarec did apostolic work in St. Paul, Toronto, Detroit, and Lima, Peru. He then studied philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. While at Loyola, he was the chaplain for men’s rugby and boxing and worked with homeless people in Chicago. He then taught at Marquette University for regency, while also working with Marquette’s retreat program and providing spiritual direction. He was then sent to the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where he earned a master of divinity degree and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology focusing on systematics and sacraments. He also served as a deacon at Boston University’s Catholic Chaplaincy. His first Mass will be at the Chapel of St. Joseph at the convent of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee. He will spend his first summer as a priest at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee.