Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) New England volunteers, spiritual reflectors and staff members gathered at St. Ignatius Parish in Chestnut Hill (MA) on Friday, September 10th, for our annual Day of Reflection and Orientation. It was the start of our 13th year of service in New England cities and towns, and our first indoor gathering since the start of the pandemic. All present were vaccinated, wore masks, and were able to make use of the ample space of the lower church for our assembly.

The highlight of the morning was thoughtful sharing from IVC Service Corps members of their motivations for joining IVC (new members) or staying in IVC (veterans). After a short presentation by IVC New England Director Dave Hinchen on "Helps for the Journey", St. Ignatius of Loyola (Michael Bellafiore, SJ) appeared and told the story of his own life some 500 years ago with time for questions and interchange from attendees.

IVC spiritual reflector John Predmore, SJ reviewed a reading guide assembled by a national spirituality committee for use throughout the year. Volunteers will be reading the Autobiography of St. Ignatius and Pope Francis' Let Us Dream and discussing them in small groups throughout the year. John also gave tips for journaling in his presentation.

After a short break, all gathered in the upper church of St. Ignatius for Mass and a commissioning ceremony. IVC reflector Jerry Finnegan, SJ presided at Mass. The day concluded with take-out lunch and informal conversation in small groups, inside and outside. It was a great gift to have been able to come together again at St. Ignatius Parish.

community. At the time of writing of this article, 52 Ignatian Volunteers have been placed with 31 partner agencies in nine Massachusetts and Rhode Island cities and towns. And, we are still growing.

A very special thanks to Joe Costantino, SJ, Kathy Maher, and Jamie Huggins for their hospitality at St. Ignatius, and to IVC Corps Community members Ann, Bersani, Bina Hansen, and Louise Cavanaugh Roslansky for their incredible hard work in making the day a success.

IVC New England is excited to report that we will be assisting eight partner agencies in 2021-2022 with whom we were not working during the pandemic of last year. Five of those agencies are new to IVC. Three are old friends renewing our relationship.

In Boston, we'll partner again with Rian Immigrant Center (formerly the Irish International Immigrant Center). Jane Leonard will assist with guest services and event planning, helping Rian with its goal of empowering immigrants, refugees, and international exchange visitors on a path to a better future.

In Quincy, Linda MacKay will work with Heart to Heart, serving people impacted by incarceration, parents and caregivers in need, survivors of trauma, and others seeking to be "agents of peace in their homes, communities, schools, and workplaces."

Also in Boston, we welcome new relationships with Cathedral High School, Nurtury Early Education, and Julie's Family Learning Program. Lucienne Ronco will be engaged in a variety of roles at Cathedral, a Catholic, urban, co-educational school in the South End. Cathi Smith will be a program support assistant at Nurtury, New England's first early education and care agency. Katherine McGrath teaches and tutors basic learning at Julie's, a family support, education and wellness program in South Boston.

Our volunteer presence in Worcester grew significantly this year. Jim Foyle returns in his jack-of-all trades role at Nativity School Worcester, an independent, Jesuit, all-scholarship middle school. Anne Kane assists in the Immigration/Citizenship department of old friend Catholic Charities Worcester County, and, Dave Allain will serve as a liaison between students at Clark University and IVC new partner St. Peter's Catholic Church whose mission statement is "Many people, one family in Christ."

Though a record number of volunteers have joined IVC New England in 2021-2022, we still have openings for some interested applicants. If you are interested in exploring some of these options, please contact us now. Openings include the following:

A Faith That Does Justice (Boston) - an interfaith organization working to put faith into action by showing how societal structures marginalize those in need

Hearth, Inc (Boston) - HR support in its South End office

Julie's Family Learning Program (Boston) - family development support in South Boston

Nurtury Early Education (Boston) - special projects assistants, development and marketing opportunities, onsite work at childcare centers, nursing roles

Springwell (Waltham) - emergency food delivery to homebound seniors

My Brother's Keeper (Dartmouth) - furniture and food delivery and administrative work

For a list of all current openings, click here.