Core Community Members from IVC New England and IVC Portland (ME) came together for a New England IVC Virtual Day of Reflection shortly after the Feast of the Epiphany - on January 8, 2021. This was the first joint gathering of the two IVC regions with hope that there will be more in the future.

Led by Jim Fleming, SJ, Executive Director of the Campion Renewal Center in Weston (MA) and inspired by a video from Joan Chittister, OSB, author of The Time is Now, the 45 participants reflected and shared thoughts and feelings on the retreat's call toward two graces: an open and compassionate heart, and a bold willingness to respond.

Many present were moved by the story of the Epiphany - by the star, the stable, the journey of the Magi, the image of God becoming human in the darkness of a manger. Humility, joy, and gratitude were graces emerging from the morning reflection:

With an open and compassionate heart, how do we respond to the injustices in our world, our country, our church? How are we called to participate in healing our world? Where have there been prophets in our lives this year? In the second segment of the retreat, participants were asked to reflect on these questions.

Prophets named were wide-ranging - some local, many known by all - people able to "speak the truth to power": Doctor Anthony Fauci, Pope Francis, Greta Thunberg, Senators Ben Sasse and Mitt Romney, Representatives Nancy Pelosi and John Lewis, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, community organizer Henry Shelton and activist Sister Mary Reilly, SM (both IVC New England Della Strada awardees).

Several women spoke about the frustration of being women in the institutional Catholic Church today and the sometimes condescending attitude they have experienced from some church authorities and priests. Others reflected upon how their parishes' very existence had been threatened by institutional bureaucracy. Others focused on the broader world and its injustices and what they might do.

One volunteer may have best summed up the challenge of the day, referring to John Shedd's quote in TheTime is Now: "A ship in the harbor is safe but that's not what ships are built for" - "I like that quote. We need to reach out of ourselves to do a little bit more. How do we get out of our comfort zone?"

More than 200 people have already signed up to join Ignatian Volunteer Corps community members for an Inauguration Day Prayer Service. This will take place at 11 am, just prior to the Inauguration of the new president and vice-president. All are welcome.

The intent of this IVC gathering is to give those interested a few moments of quiet contemplation prior to this significant change in our country's leadership. Retreat leaders are Kathleen Curtin and Gasper Lobiondo, SJ, IVC Spiritual Reflectors, Mary McGinnity, IVC President/CEO, and Mike Mothes, IVC Northern Virginia Director. To register for the service, click here.

Though only midway through the 2020-2021 volunteer year, IVC New England is beginning the remote planning for 2021-2022. It is not too early for nonprofit agencies, in search of the skills and experience that our Service Corps members provide, to reach out to our office to begin a conversation about partnerships for the coming year.

This year's Service Corps members have worked on site, virtually, and in a hybrid manner. Our hope is that in the fall, with a vaccine widely distributed, old and new partners will be able to open up their schools, offices, and programs to more on site involvement. Either way, IVC volunteers are able to serve and make an impact in an agency's mission.

Incoming Service Corps members begin submitting applications in April for fall placement. Nonprofits interested in potentially contracting with IVC can contact us directly at newengland@ivcusa.org. This year we currently have 43 volunteers working with 27 nonprofit partners in Boston, Worcester, Providence and neighboring cities and towns.

Each year, in April, IVC New England celebrates the lives of very special New Englanders at our annual Madonna Della Strada celebration. We were all set to do that a year ago when the COVID pandemic began. We were forced to postpone.

This year, planning has been under way for several months to regroup and celebrate with you, our friends and supporters. We'll not be able, however, to do this live. So, we are slowly and carefully learning how to do a virtual celebration.

We have our honorees, a keynote speaker, a date and a time (April 11 @ 4pm). Save that date and stay tuned in the coming weeks for an announcement of this year's event.