Fr. Raymond Anthony C. Parcon, SJ, born and raised in the Philippines, met the Jesuits while studying at Ateneo de Davao University for his undergraduate mechanical engineering degree. After college, he served briefly in local politics and then went to the United States to pursue graduate studies in software engineering at National University. After working in a variety of positions in sales engineering for a few years, Raymond went back to school to pursue computer security at Stanford University’s Center for Professional Development and graduate studies in cyber security at National University.

Raymond's academic pursuits have been as diverse as his experiences. He lived in Yu’pik communities in Alaska, spent time at the San Diego – Tijuana border and Dolores Mission in Los Angeles serving migrants and asylum seekers, and worked as a prison chaplain at San Quentin State Prison, serving many immigrants behind the walls. While studying social philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, he volunteered as a hospital chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center. He then earned a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at Regis College at the University of Toronto. During his studies in Canada, he gave retreats and spiritual direction to refugees and migrants at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

His commitment to learning took him to Malta and Romania during his summer breaks, where he worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in accompanying forcibly displaced people from Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine. One of the summer highlights for him was taking a summer class on Forced Migration at Campion Hall at The University of Oxford. As of July 2024, Raymond spent one month working with JRS Europe in Brussels, Belgium, in preparation for joining their team after his studies at Georgetown University.