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Out and About: Check out These Things to Do This Month and Next:
A Faith That Does Justice: Immigration Crisis: Lives at Risk at our Southern Border
Every day, we are bombarded with news reports of a new policy or program intended to stop migration across our southern border. These policies are putting lives at risk as God's people seek a new life of peace, hard work, and prosperity in the United States. In Massachusetts, thousands of miles away, we sorrow for them and we empathize with them. But we struggle with how to help them.
Please join us tonight for a conversation with people on the front lines, helping those seeking a better life to safely immigrate to our country.
Wednesday, October 16 from 6:15 - 8:00 pm
Courtyard Boston Downtown
275 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116
Live Stream
Jesuit Friends and Alumni Masses: October 19 - 20
Jesuit Friends and Alumni Sunday is here, an annual opportunity for alumni and friends of Jesuit schools and ministries to gather for Mass, followed by a reception highlighting opportunities for continuing spiritual growth and service to the local and global community. These events will be held at Jesuit parishes in the Maryland and USA Northeast Jesuit Provinces.
In New England, there will be a Mass on Saturday, October 19, 4:30 pm at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, and in Chestnut Hill, on Sunday, October 20, 5:30 pm at St. Ignatius parish. Click here to register or for more information.
The St. Ignatius Mass will be preceded by a meeting of Jesuit Volunteers and Former Volunteers with JVC President Tom Chabolla and staff members at 4:15. Following Mass there will be a presentation, Prophecy, Lamentation, and Hope, by Cathleen Kaveny. The reception will follow.
IVC representatives will be present for all of the activities at St. Ignatius parish.
Living Life on the Margins: Book Signings and Reading: October 20 and 27
IVC friends Suzanne Belote Shanley and Brayton Shanley, co-founders of the Agape Community, a lay Catholic residential community in Ware (MA) announce the release of their new memoir entitled Loving Life on the Margins: The Story of the Agape Community.
For 37 years, Agape has welcomed hundreds for retreats and rural immersions to learn contemplation, nonviolence, and sustainability. The community is involved in interfaith dialogue and practice, including witness and action against war and capital punishment, and has hosted gatherings to listen to those experiencing racial injustices.
Suzanne and Brayton will speak at Sacred Heart Church, 16 Follen Road, in Lexington, MA on Sunday, October 20 from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, and at the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston, MA on Sunday, October 27 at 11:00 am. There will be book signings and reading by the authors. For more information, contact Agape: [email protected] or click here.
Catholic Climate Initiatives in Providence and Boston: October 19 - November 3
The Diocese of Providence, Office of Faith Formation invites all to its Creation Care Series to explore: how Catholics can address the throw-away culture; ethical consumption; and, climate change and the inner city. There are three programs, each requiring separate registration:
1) Addressing the Throw-away Culture
Saturday, October 19
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Providence College - Aquinas Hall
Providence, RI 02908
Enter via Providence College (Huxley Gate)
Free Parking Available at Anderson Stadium Garage
For more information and to register, please go here..
2) Ethical Consumption
Tuesday, October 22
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul - Cathedral Hall
30 Fenner Street, Providence, RI
3) Climate Change and the Inner City
Thursday, October 24
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Community Preparatory School
135 Prairie Avenue, Providence, RI
For more information and to register, please go here.
In Boston, the Boston Catholic Climate Movement invites you to:
Greening Your Parish:
Answering the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor
Sunday, November 3
2:00 - 5:00 pm
St. Julia Parish Hall
374 Boston Post Rd, Weston
,
MA
Keynote by John Anderson, formerly Director of Education at the New England Aquarium:
Words Matter: Communicating about Climate Change to Save Our Common Home: Engagement, information and empowering hope.
Ignatian Spirituality Project and the Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir
The
Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir will perform a benefit concert of uplifting and spiritual music at 7 pm on
Saturday,
November 9 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way.
Proceeds will support the Boston chapter of
The Ignatian Spirituality Project, which annually offer seven free weekend spiritual retreats to change the lives of men and women who are in transition from homelessness and addiction (
http://ignatianspiritualityproject.org).
Parking at Charles River Plaza garage is free with church validation. Questions: call 508-596-2387.
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ISP Team Members
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Volunteer Stories: ISP Boston
Ignatian Volunteer
John Butler is now in his second year as co-coordinator of the
Boston Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) Men's Program. John shares some thoughts from his experience with ISP last year:
"This year has touched me in so many ways, and made me realize how much God loves us all unconditionally, without regard to past, or what we have done.
"From witness training (that touched my heart greatly), to participation in a 'spiritual tune-up' at a correctional facility in Boston, to weekly tune-ups in the Boston area, it all went to show the commonality we all share in looking for that special something that is missing in our lives.
"This program is so different than most of the placements I have heard and read about. We are actually in these men's lives. From attending court sessions, to a man that has been incarcerated, to getting clothes for a witness about to attend a training program in Chicago, it is all part of ISP. You do become invested in these men and you want them to grow and succeed. In this regard we are so lucky.
"It also gives me... a chance to realize how good God has been to me, and how much I owe for his generosity, to me, and my family in so many ways. ISP also called on me to question many of my previous beliefs, on poverty, race, and economic fairness.
"It has made people I have known for a long period of time, question me and just give me a funny look, but that's OK. I can live with that. The program itself keeps God in your life on a daily basis, and I'm thankful for that...
"All in all it has been a good year for what is really important. I owe that to the goodness of our God and the great people I have been lucky enough to be associated with."
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Josh Smith and Kathleen Beltramello could use assistance at My Brother's Keeper in Dartmouth.
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Additional Volunteer Opportunities Still Remain
Direct service openings are still available at My Brother's Keeper (furniture program in Dartmouth), Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School (nursing, substitute teaching, and more) in Lawrence, Saint Francis House (greeter), and ESAC (elderly client services and outreach) in Boston.
Education skills are needed with elementary school students at St. Charles School (Woburn) or Wilson-Kindelan (Milton), or with recent immigrants at A Faith That Does Justice (Boston).
IVC offers organizational, administrative, and outreach challenges at MCAN (community organizing), Project Hope (community outreach) and the Ignatian Spirituality Project (co-coordinator of women's retreat program) in Boston, or with My Brother's Keeper in Dartmouth or Easton (administrative assistants). IT skills are needed at Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration in South Boston and at Father Bill's & MainSpring in Brockton.
For a list of IVC New England openings at this moment, by geographical area, click here. For an ongoing update of opportunities, check out our website. For more information and an application, contact Regional Director Dave Hinchen at [email protected].
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Once Again: Top-Rated Great Nonprofit
To our volunteers, friends, and supporters:
We did it! Thank you for all your efforts in getting reviews of IVC posted online. IVC has been named one of the early winners of the 2019 Great Nonprofits award. You can read the reviews people left by visiting our page with them at
https://greatnonprofits.org/org/ignatian-volunteer-corps
Remember, this page is a great place to get quotes and stories about IVC for flyers, social media posts, or any other promotional items you may want to create.
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