It is winter. It is cold. Storms are hitting and missing New England. The omicron virus has been keeping us sheltered and as safe as we can be. But, the days are getting longer, the virus shows signs of ebbing in our area, and, though spring is a few months away, we can dare to dream of better days ahead.

One such day is the day that IVC New England celebrates the lives of some of the outstanding members in our community. It is the day of our (mostly) annual Madonna Della Strada ceremony. Named after the first church that Ignatius of Loyola and his companions obtained to serve the poor in urban Rome, the award that we present at this gathering honors women and men who have lived lives of extraordinary service.

This year we lift up the lives of Beth and Meyer Chambers of Boston, Frank Kartheiser of Worcester, and Eileen Hayes of Providence. We plan to gather at Boston College High School. Stay tuned for more detail in the months ahead, but save the date to celebrate - Sunday, April 24.

Betty Anne spoke about the impact of graced encounters in her own life - her experience with Maryknoll as a lay missioner in Peru, her involvement with a number of outstanding organizations working to alleviate injustices and poverty in our world - Future Church, Bread for the World, the Ignatian Solidarity Network among others, and her work as founder of Catholic Women Preach. For an annotated list of these and other resources from Betty Anne, click here.

Participant feedback for the day was overwhelmingly positive. Thank you, Betty Anne and Jim, for sharing your stories and your insights with our community.

Though programming at the Campion Renewal Center has been forced on line for the time being by the onslaught of the omicron virus, several guided days of prayer and reflection, led by IVC New England spiritual reflectors, may be worth checking out.

John Predmore, SJ will facilitate a two-day (January 22, 25) poetry/prayer experience entitled "Poetry in the Depth of Winter" and a prayer/art gathering, "Letting Yourself Go through Prayerful Art," January 29 and February 1.

Nancy Sheridan, SASV, and Bill Clark, SJ, will lead a discernment workshop on Saturday, March 5: "The Roads Traveled and Less Traveled." They will explore the gift of discernment in the life of St. Ignatius and in our own lives.

For more information on these and other offerings projected to be on site, but, offered at half price, should the virus move them on line, click here. IVC New England has partnered with the Campion Renewal Center since our earliest days for retreats and days of reflection.

January marks the start of our search for new nonprofit partners for the 2022-2023 year. IVC New England wants to work with agencies whose mission is to help those most in need in the Boston/Worcester/Providence area.

Ignatian Volunteers are women and men, 50 years of age or better, with lifetimes of experience. Among our current service corps members are educators, health care professionals, retired administrators, social workers, musicians, lawyers, pastoral care workers, and others with a wide variety of skills.

IVC New England volunteers commit to ten months of service, working on the average of one or two full days per week from September through June. Nonprofit partners commit to a modest partnership fee, an engaging job description, and a healthy, respectful welcome of our volunteers as members of your team.

For a flyer that more fully explains how an Ignatian Volunteer can expand and deepen your mission, click here. For a listing of current volunteers and their assignments (we currently partner with 30 nonprofits), click here. Contact, IVC New England Director Dave Hinchen for more information. Check out our website to learn more about us.