The Brothers

Abyong Calo

Abyong is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila. He serves as the house Steward of Ipil St, Project 3 household. He also works as the Regional Administrator of the brotherhood and the Sector Administrator of Christ's Youth in Action, a Christian youth outreach in the Philippines. Currently, Abyong is taking up his masters degree in Theology.

Dale Arconado

Dale is a fully committed brother living in Manila. Dale enjoys a good game of basketball and chess. To remind himself to be zealous in his present service, his favorite rhetorical quote is "Am I my brother's bookkeeper?"

Francis Iturralde

Francis is an Associate to the Brotherhood who lives in Manila. He works as the Director for Public Relations at San Juan de Dios College and will be turning 60 this year.

Jake Yap

Jake is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila. He is thankful for his education in Jesuit institutions: first at Xavier School, then at the Ateneo de Manila University. It was at university that he shifted his primary interest from “making money” to “sharing Christ with others.” For 17 years, he worked as a lay missionary reaching out to Filipino university-age youth. In 2000, he began formal studies at the University of Oxford where he earned a D.Phil. in Theology in 2003. His (unpublished) doctoral thesis is entitled “‘Word’ and ‘Wisdom’ in the Ecclesiology of Louis Bouyer.” Since 2004, he has been teaching at Loyola School of Theology in Manila. He continues to give talks, retreats and conferences to various groups of lay people. Besides being a member of The Servants of the Word, he is involved with a Manila-based lay, charismatic, covenant community called “Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon” (The Joy of the Lord).

Joseph Piquero

Joseph is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila.

Jerome Orbe

Jim is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila. He is currently serving in our youth ministry for college students, Christ's Youth in Action. He was born in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Jim is featured in the article, “Mr Ako” from December, 2009.

John Keating

John has recently completed two terms as the presiding elder of The Servants of the Word, and has just taken up his residence in Manila. While exercising a leadership role in the brotherhood in Asia, he also continues to serve as the Vice-President of the Sword of the Spirit, the international community of covenant communities to which The Servants of the Word belongs.

Jojo Baquiano

Jojo is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila. He serves as a Pastoral Leader in the singles district of Ang Ligaya Ng Panginoon community. He also works as a full time programmer at CD Technologies Asia, Inc. He joined the brotherhood in 2000.

Jutes Judit

Jutes is an Affiliate to the Brotherhood since 2009. He came to know the Brotherhood when he was invited and able to finish Tobias Training Household back in 2006. It was lead by Jim Orbe. He became one of the leaders in Christ's Youth in Action and was generously helped by Peter Legaspi moving high impact activities in the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. He is in formation now under Jim.

Peter Jess Legaspi

Peter is a lifelong committed brother who works full time in Christ's Youth in Action (a University outreach of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon) in Manila as one of the senior staff. He lives in the local formation house of The Servants of the Word in Quezon City and is currently serving as the House Steward. Personal Website: http://www.facebook.com/legaspipj

Mark Dino

Mark is an affiliate in training who lives in Manila. He works for IBM as a Business Controls Analyst. Mark got to know the brotherhood through Christ's Youth in Action. He is currently serving in Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon (outreach for single young professionals) and in the University District of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon.

Raoul Roncal

Raoul is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Manila. He made his lifelong commitment on August 20, 1994. Raoul is featured in the article, Master Storyteller and Evangelist from March, 2008.

Mon Samson

Mon Samson is a brother living in the Philippines. He is currently responsible for the outreach to the single professionals as well as a coordinator for the singles of the local community.

Amin Kurani

Amin is an Affiliate in training from Lebanon living in the London house.

Andy Pettman

Andy is a lifelong committed brother who lives in London. Currently his work includes leading the Antioch Community as senior coordinator, supervising UCO London (Koinonia), leading the SW Household in London, and developing some of our Protestant connections.

Don Schwager

Don has been a lifelong member of the Servants of the Word since its beginning in 1971. He is the author of DailyScripture.net, a daily Scripture meditation website, and editor for Living Bulwark, an online monthly magazine for the Sword of the Spirit (http://www.livingbulwark.net). He currently lives in London, UK. He went to St. Paul Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan for six years (high school and two years of college) and completed his undergraduate degree in English and Fine Arts at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1970. He also studied at George Washington University and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. for a couple of summers. Personal Website: http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings/

Dave Quintana

Dave is a lifelong committed brother who lives in London. He is currently serving as the Regional Elder for SW--EME (Europe and the Middle East) and also works extensively in The Sword of the Spirit communities in that part of the world. He also does a lot of work helping young men consider SW life, and enjoys working with young people in Kairos throughout the world. And when he's bored he runs or hikes or ...

Joe Fahd

Joe is a brother in his Full-Commitment stage who lives in London. He made his first full commitment in September 2011 and then moved to our London household where he will be serving as a temporary house steward and doing some work with the gap program there. Joe grew up in the People of God community in Lebanon and officially became affiliated with the Servants of the Word in May of 2005.

Jamie Treadwell

Jamie is a lifelong committed brother who lives in our household in London. He works professionally as a corporate/executive coach and as a Fine Artist. He also continues extensive ministry with young people, serving in the Sword of the Spirit communities and outreaches as well as with local and national projects in the United Kingdom. Jamie joined the Servants of the Word while studying at the University of Michigan. Personal Website: http://www.jamietreadwell.com

Martin Steinbereithner

Martin is Austrian, but has been living in the UK since 1994. He has a PhD in organizational behaviour and nonprofit management. He currently works for the Sword of the Spirit as Director for Mission Development in Europe and the Middle East. He also works as a consultant in the nonprofit sector. Martin made his lifelong commitment in 1984. Martin is featured in the article, Missionary and Visionary from December, 2008.

Paul Michael Graham

PM is an Affiliate from Scotland living in the London house. He's the one on the left in the picture... Personal Website: http://pmasinpaulmichael.wordpress.com

Philip Morrison

Phil is an Affiliate from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland who lives in the London house.

Richard Perry

Richard is our brother from Wales: a lifelong committed brother since 1992, he lives in London. He works half-time for the brotherhood as the Regional Steward for the Europe and Middle East region, and half-time for the Sword of the Spirit as International Executive Secretary. That means a lot of time in an office, shuffling paper and counting pennies. As if that wasn’t enough fun, he also serves on a number of non-profit boards and diocesan finance committees. He studied accounting and finance at the London School of Economics, but now wishes he had studied history – how different life might have been...

Angel Santiago

Angel is from Baja California, Mexico and is currently trainning with SW in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Anthony Eid

After a year in warm and sunny Belfast followed by a year of beer tasting (among other things) in 9 European cities, Anthony currently dwells in Ann Arbor, adding a Lebanese flavor to the International Formation Household.

Rodrigo Sett

Rodrigo is an Affiliate in training who lives in Ann Arbor. Born in Guatemala City, he has been member of the community since he was a child. During local training at Monterrey he has worked in the university outreach chapter (MCU Misión Católica Universitaria) especially with Tecnologico de Monterrey students. From September 2011 he will be trained at the International Formation Household (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Personal Website: http://facebook.com/rodrigo.sett

Joseph Mathias

Joseph is an Affiliate in training who lives in Ann Arbor, where he was also born and raised. He currently serves in UCO's Asian Outreach mission zone, and enjoys songwriting and reading.

John Yocum

John is from Jackson, Michigan. He serves as the elder for the international formation household in Ann Arbor, as a coordinator in The Word of Life and on the international teaching team for the Sword of The Spirit. He teaches theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

Tadhg Lynch

Tadhg is originally from Dublin. His main responsibilities in the Servants of the Word entail reading and doing what he is told to do. He also helps out occasionally at whichever UCO happens to be closest to his geographic location. For the foreseeable future, that role falls to the town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Malaquias Garcia

Malaquias is an Affiliate in training who lives in the Formation house in Ann Arbor.

Miguel Vargas

Miguel is an affiliate in training from Costa Rica living in the International Formation House in Ann Arbor. He has been a member of the community since he was born, and has worked for some years with the community kids in youth programs both in Costa Rica and Mexico. He also serves as a translator for the Ibero-American Region. He enjoys reading, writing, watching soccer and goalkeeping.

Nico Angleys

Nico grew up in France, just outside Geneva, in the Alps. He made his lifelong commitment in 2003, whilst living in London. He is currently a non-practicing rocket scientist who does University Outreach work: Nico is the UCO Director in North America. He recently moved back to Ann Arbor to help with the Formation Program. He is also a part-time student working on a Masters in Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary. He is known to travel whenever he can and to take a picture or 400 every now and then... Nico is featured in the article, Responding to God’s Call from September, 2007. Personal Website: http://www.nicoangleys.com

Ted Kennedy

Ted is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Ann Arbor. He is the household steward for the training house, and is also a vice president at Service Brands International (a franchising company headquartered in Ann Arbor). He loves working with the new brothers and especially teaching them how to manage their brotherhood finances (which is more fun than someone should be allowed to have). Ted is featured in the article, Master of Intelligent Living from May, 2011.

Noel Armando Delgadillo

Noel was born and raised in Miami, Florida. In 2006 he graduated with his bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Florida International University located in Miami. He then went on to do a year of voluntary service, known as 'GAP year', in Belfast, N. Ireland. During his time there he became affiliated to the Servants of the Word Brotherhood. He served the local UCO in Belfast known as 'Together Encounter Christ' for 3 years, before moving to Ann Arbor in the Fall of 2009 to further purse his life with the Servants of the Word and work with UCO Ann Arbor. Noel made his Full Commitment to the the Servants of the Word on September 1, 2011. He currently lives in SE Grand Rapids where he is a Mission Director in Training and is the Chapter Leader of the UCO at Grand Valley State University.

Brian Laba

Brian made his lifelong commitment in 2009. He is currently living in Grand Rapids where he is the local Mission Director for the two University Christian Outreach Chapters at Grand Valley State University and Calvin College. He is also involved with trying to build ecumenical covenant community in Grand Rapids. He was born and raised in Rochester Michigan, has three lovely sisters, and attended U of M where he mainly studied trees and recycling.

Mike Kramer

Mike is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Grand Rapids. He is the director of the Kairos mission trips in North America. He is originally from Alliance, Nebraska.

Stan Mathay

Stan Mathay is currently serving as the leader of our Servants of the Word household in Grand Rapids, MI. He teaches Mathematics part-time at the Grand Rapids Community College and directs the Sword of the Spirit's regional youth program for early adolescents called "Kairos Fellowship."

Bruce Franson

In the Servants of the Word, Bruce serves as Senior Steward, responsible for the overall administration of the life of the brotherhood. Living at the brotherhood center in Chelsea, Michigan, he works at Servant Systems (a 'tentmaking' business whose profits help support the Servants of the Word). Bruce is Lutheran and serves as an elder in his local congregation. He hails from Midland, Michigan originally. Personal Website: http://www.facebook.com/bruce.franson

Don DeSmith

Don is a lifelong brother who lives in Chelsea. He grew up in Dundee, Michigan. Don works full time at Servant Systems, a software development company specializing in software for franchise systems. His hobbies include culture (specifically the effect of technology on culture), economics, politics, social justice issues, buying cars, exercising and water skiing. His favorite authors are Jacques Ellul, Jacques Maritain, Christopher Dawson, Richard Stivers, and Friedrich von Hayek. His favorite groups are First Things magazine, Touchstone magazine, the Acton Institute (Grand Rapids, Michigan), the Ethics and Public Policy Center (D.C.), the Wall Street Journal (editorial page), the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture (University of Virginia) and the American Enterprise Institute. In his spare time, Don likes to pull weeds and browse books on Amazon. Don is featured in the article, Brother of Many Talents from December, 2007 Personal Website: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/don-desmith/0/2a4/51b

Dick LaCroix

Dick is one of the earliest brothers who made his lifelong commitment 35 years ago this year. Dick now serves full time for the brotherhood as Property Manager for the 200 acres of our Brotherhood Center. He is currently working to establish a private cemetery for the brothers, hopefully not to be needed for a good number of years yet! Dick grew up in Midland, Michigan, and enjoys running to keep in shape.

Gary Sacharski

Gary is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Chelsea. He is one of the 'working brothers', currently working as a contract civil engineer.

Ken Noecker

Ken is a lifelong committed brother, currently serving as our presiding elder. He spent 25 years (1986 to 2011) as a member of the Asian Region of the Servants of the Word based in Manila, Philippines. Ken was born and raised in Nebraska. He completed his university studies in Minnesota and his graduate studies in the Philippines. In addition to his role in the Servants of the Word Ken is also involved extensively in community building efforts in Asia as a missionary coordinator of The Sword of the Spirit.

Larry Hunt

Larry is a lifelong brother who lives in Chelsea. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Larry works full time at Servant Systems, a software development company specializing in software for franchise systems. His hobbies include birding, stargazing (when it is not too cold), astronomy, and genealogy research.

Stu Ferguson

Stu is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Chelsea and works fulltime for the Servants of the Word. He currently oversees business operations in Michigan and is responsible for our finances, internationally. Stu was born and raised in Minnesota. When not in his office or away on business, he can oftentimes be found outside working, or even doing a bit of hunting.

Steve Clark

Steve is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Chelsea. He is considered the founder of the Servants of the Word. Although retired from being President of the Sword of the Spirit, he is still active as outside coordinator and council member. A CV is on his website. Personal Website: http://web.me.com/stephenbclark

Brian LaLonde

Brian, originally from Essexville, MI and a University of Michigan grad, made his lifelong commitment to the Servants of the Word in September, 2009. He currently serves as Mission Director for University Christian Outreach in Lansing, MI and is Webmaster for a number of websites, including http://servantsoftheword.org. Personal Website: http://heightstodepths.net

Dan Keating

Dan is the regional elder for the Servants of the Word in North America, and he serves on the teaching team for the Sword of the Spirit communities. He is also an associate professor of theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, MI, where he teaches on Scripture, theology, the Church Fathers, and ecumenism. Dan currently lives in Lansing, MI.

Dan Rinke

Dan is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Lansing. He is currently the financial controller for the North American region of the brotherhood.

Greg Codouni

Greg is an affiliate with the Brotherhood who lives in Lansing. He graduated with a Mechanical Engineering bachelor's degree from the American University of Beirut (and a minor in English Language). Greg was born in Washington DC and was raised in New Jersey until he was 13. Personal Website: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gregory-codouni/32/86b/a27

Mike Shaughnessy

Mike is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Lansing. He is the Kairos Director (youth and university work) and head of the Community Building Team for the Sword of the Spirit in North America. He is the editor of the Kairos Youth Culture Newsletter (http://www.kairos-na.org/YouthCulture_News). Mike is one of the elders in the brotherhood. Mike is featured in the article, Faithfully Serving the Word from March, 2009.

Max Haben

Max is an Affiliate to the Brotherhood who lives in Lansing. He graduated in 2010 from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN with a degree in Catholic Studies. He aims to be the first Servant of the Word/hip-hop artist.

Ross Acheson

Ross is an Affiliate to the Brotherhood who lives in Lansing. Ross grew up in Ann Arbor, and attended university in Grand Rapids at Calvin College. He graduated with honors in International Development Studies and with minors in Religion and Greek, and has since been balancing tent-making work and missionary service with University Christian Outreach.

Bruce Yocum

Bruce is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Mexico. Bruce has been a members of the Servants of the Word from the very beginning of the brotherhood, and has served in the Sword of the Spirit for many years.

Alejandro Sauceda

My name is Alejandro a.k.a. "Chikis" Sauceda. I'm an Affiliate to the Brotherhood. I live in Mexicali (a city from the northwest of Mexico). I would be participating in the GAP program for a year, giving my service in Guayaquil, Ecuador. My father is Alejandro, my mother Carolina. I'm the first son of 5. I have already finished my B.S. in Industrial Engineering.

William Contreras

William is an Affiliate in training who lives in Monterrey. Estudió,Análisis de Sistemas en Cuenca Ecuador. Su servicio actual es con jóvenes universitarios en el programa evangelístico MCU.Sirve también con el Ministerio de Música, del sector universitario. El tiempo que ha estado en MTY lo ve como un gran regalo de parte de Dios para responder al llamado de Dios a la Vidad Consagrada! Gloria a Dios!! ¡Amarlo y que sea Amado!

David Mijares

David is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Monterrey. He is responsible for Kairos (our work with young people) and for our new vocations to the SW in Latin America.

Francisco Aguilar

Francisco is a brother in his Full-Commitment stage who lives in Monterrey. He works part time with our University Outreach Chapter (Misión Católica Universitaria). He also helps with the development of Fundraising Events and Projects for our Local and Regional YouthWork in Kairós Latinamerica. Born and raised in "The Baja", Ensenada, Baja California, MEXICO. Personal Website: http://www.siervosdelapalabra.org

Fernando Ayala

David Fallas

David is an Affiliate in training who lives in Monterrey. He studied Computer Science at University of Costa Rica, 2009 generation. Actually, he works with mid high school community kids and with the Summer Youth Program in Mexico. He likes blues, jazz and a some rock music and to play the guitar.

Luis Alejandro Arce

Luis is a brother in his Full-Commitment stage who lives in Monterrey. He is originally from Costa Rica. He works mainly for the Regional Summer Program (VEM) for Mexico and Central America. Starting in Sept 2011 he will be together with LuisMa in the mobile house in Latin America.

Luis Manuel Bravo

Luisma is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Monterrey. In the Servants of the Word he serves as one of the Elders in the Latin American Region. For many years he had been also serving as one of the trainers of new men who are coming into our lives in that region. He also serves as Director of MCU and Misionero de Kairós for other communities. He is now leading the new mobile house in Latino America from Sept 2011- Aug 2012 (Honduras-Costa Rica - Ecuador).

Paulo Machado

Paulo is an Affiliate in training who lives in Monterrey. Graduado em Administração de empresas em São Paulo, Brasil. Trabalha no programa de jóvens em Monterrey (MJ), e atualmente é o administrador da casa de Monterrey. Foi missionário voluntario por um ano em Angola, África. Paulo é um grande cozinheiro de carnes, a sua especialidade é "picanha no espeto". Translation: A graduate in Business Administration in São Paulo, Brazil, Paulo works in the youth program in Monterrey (MJ) and is currently the administrator of the house in Monterrey. He was a volunteer missionary for a year in Angola, Africa. Paulo is a great cook of meats, and his specialty is "steak on a stick."

Pepe Vásquez

Pepe Vásquez: Lifelong since 1981 (though I personally count since 1976 when I became an affiliate - so convinced was I of the divine invitation); last 16 years I have lived in Monterrey, Mexico and am currently serving with young professionals in all the Latin American Region. I just came back in august from Ecuador, where we led a conference for 60 men and women from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. As I was “afraid” would happen, the window of opportunity of service has just blown wide open. Lucky for us all in the SW, we have just added a first affiliate in training (Roberto Montenegro--Mexicali) who will be serving along side with me among this age group in the LAR. Pray for us!

Christopher Diroff

Chris is an Affiliate who lives in the Detroit house and is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He works for YouthWorks-Detroit, where he leads a high school youth group, directs the StreetTeam Leadership Program, and helps teach a course on discipleship at Cornerstone Leadership and Business High School. Personal Website: http://www.youthworks-detroit.org/home.htm

Dave O'Connor

Dave is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Detroit. He helps to lead our community outreach in the city, and as part of this work, collaborates closely with Joshua Rock, the Director of YouthWorks-Detroit. He also has served as a teacher and administrator for Cornerstone Schools for more than fifteen years. He enjoys taking long walks, playing guitar, reading books, doing crossword puzzles and solving math problems!

Ed Conlin

Ed is a lifelong committed brother who works as a chaplain for the Capuchin order in their Franciscan ministry to the poor. He serves the homeless, the mentally ill, and addicted of Detroit. In his spare time, he does freelance counseling for the Sword of the Spirit and loves worship and music.

Mark Whitters

Mark Whitters is one of the original members of the SW household in Detroit, and has lived there for over ten years. He commutes to Ypsilanti for his work in the Department of History and Philosophy at Eastern Michigan University. During the summers, he often volunteers for the Detroit Summer Outreach. His hobbies are jogging and cross-country skiing, languages, and (more) studying and writing.

Tim Schleusener

Tim was born and raised in the Work of Christ Community, a Sword of the Spirit community based in Lansing, Michigan. He currently studies chemical engineering at Wayne State University with the intent of becoming a high school chemistry teacher. He is an affiliate with the Servants of the Word, and is currently serving as a volunteer for the Bezalel Project, an after-school program for youth in Detroit.

Doug Smith

Doug is a lifelong committed brother who lives in Belfast. He is the director of Youth Initiatives, a cross-community youth ministry running 10 outreach youth programmes in Northern Ireland. Doug is also a coordinator in Charis, an ecumenical Christian community in Northern Ireland. Originally from Ohio, Doug is now entering his 20th year serving in Belfast and enjoys running and hiking around Ireland.

Eroni Sotutu

Eroni is an Elder in the EME region of the SW, leading our HH in Belfast and responsible for formation of affiliates in training in Belfast and for our work with SW affiliates in Lebanon. Also involved in SoS community building in Poland and a SW assignment to more meditative/ contemplative/ intercessory prayer. I’m from the Fiji Islands and met the SW studying Economics at the London School of Economics. My original plans to enter a diplomatic career (or related) for the Fiji government transformed into a career in ‘spiritual’ economics and Christian diplomacy in the SW. Eroni is featured in the article, A Man of Grace and Depth from March, 2010.

Jean Pierre Fahed

JP is an Affiliate in training from Lebanon in the Belfast house.

Michi Schöberl

Michi is a brother in his Full-Commitment stage who lives in Belfast. He is originally from Germany (near Munich) and currently works for Youth Initiatives, a local outreach youth organization. He also supports the European brothers as the regional bookkeeper.

Andy Jordan

Andy is an Affiliate in training who lives in Belfast.

Volodimir Bezulowsky

Volodimir is a lifelong committed brother who, after 20 years in London, has been living in Belfast since 2009. He works part-time as regional administrator for the brotherhood, and part-time as a psychiatrist (www.mirabilismentalhealth.me.uk).

Wadih Kaissar

Wadih is an Affiliate in training who lives in Belfast.