IVC New England Core Community Celebrates 14 Years of Service and Honors Veteran Members
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Approximately fifty IVC New England "Core Community" members and spouses/partners gathered at the Saint Peter Faber Jesuit Community in Brighton on Sunday, December 4, to celebrate Advent and the community of IVC. "Core Community" has come to refer to the volunteers, spiritual reflectors, and regional council members who make up the IVC community.
We began the afternoon with Mass celebrated by Bart Geger, SJ, assistant professor at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and member of the Saint Peter Faber Jesuit Community. His homily was memorable.
When Bart was a child, his father had to work away from home for several months. When he left home, and in letters each week, he reminded his children that he was doing this work for them, for the whole family. He asked them to remember that he loved them, that they should listen to their mother, be good to one another, do their chores and homework, and that he would return. Bart later reflected that this is what our God says to us: I love you. Be kind to one another. I will return.
After the presentation of awards in the chapel, all joyfully adjourned for refreshments, camaraderie, and conversation. Dave Hinchen presented a slide show of the recent IVC-sponsored Ignatian Camino pilgrimage in which he and his wife, Karen, took part (see next article), and Jesuit Volunteer Catherine Beavis spoke about her work with Home Base in Charlestown. IVC and JVC hope to find ways to support each other in Boston in the months ahead.
IVC is grateful to Michael Boughton, SJ, Bart Geger, SJ, Darren Mayer, SJ, especially, and to the entire Peter Faber Jesuit community, for their hospitality and help in welcoming us as we come together to celebrate our shared mission and community each Advent season.
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Following the Footsteps of Saint Ignatius on a 300 Mile Pilgrimage
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Twenty-five members and friends of the IVC community joined Catalan Jesuit Josep Iriberri on the Camino Ignaciano in October. The Camino Ignaciano follows the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola from his home in northern Spain to Monserrat and Manresa where his spiritual growth matured.
Ignatius was wounded in battle in Pamplona in the year 1522. While recovering from his wounds at home, he made the decision to leave the madness of war behind and instead try to become a follower of Jesus. He walked more than 400 miles to Monserrat where he left his sword at the shrine of Mary. At nearby Manresa he slowly began to compose his Spiritual Exercises, now used by retreatants around the world.
Shortly before the 500th anniversary of this "Cannonball Moment" of St. Ignatius at Pamplona, IVC President/CEO Mary McGinnity met Iriberri who had organized and implemented the Ignatian Camino. To celebrate 25 years of IVC and 500 years of Ignatius, plans were conceived to assemble an IVC cohort to walk the Camino. COVID delayed the start until October, 2022.
Fifteen members of the IVC cohort joined Iriberri at Loyola and walked more than 300 miles of the journey. Ten more pilgrims joined the original group midway through the month. Among those walking were IVC volunteers, former volunteers, and friends from Boston, Baltimore, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Washington state, the District of Columbia, and Australia. New England pilgrims were Karen and Dave Hinchen, BethAnne Flynn, Charlie Eisenmann, Betsy Hudson, and Bette Viano. Mary McGinnity and husband Peter were among those joining the group in Lleda.
The pilgrimage extended from the Basque country of Ignatius' birth, through the vineyards of La Rioja, the fruit farms and desert of Aragon, to the community of Catalunya. Each day began with reflections from the Spiritual Exercises and two hours of silent prayer on the road. A normal day would include coffee around noon, camaraderie on the trail, a break for lunch, and visits to churches, city halls, and key points of interest from Ignatius' journey.
Evenings might include Mass or group sharing, beers in the plaza, visits with local communities engaged in hospitality, and dinner (too) late at night. Lodging varied among two-star hotels, retreat houses, pilgrim shelters, and hostels.
It was a challenging but extremely worth-while adventure. Those who participated felt that they had grown spiritually in ways unforeseen, nurtured old friendships and made lasting new ones, and experienced a journey that would impact them for life. As organizer/walker Christine Eberle expressed it: "We returned from the Camino with blisters that will fade, friendships that will not, and an understanding of how to orient our hearts for this pilgrimage we call life."
For more on the Ignatian Camino, check out Christine Eberle's reflections on the IVC website here, or go directly to the Ignatian Camino website.You can also follow one pilgrim's journal of the walk, Louise Chadez' blog on this link.
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Eric Clayton to Share Ignatian Spiritual Tools with IVC New England and St. Ignatius Parish
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Eric Clayton, deputy director of communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, will lead IVC New England in its January 6th Day of Reflection at St. Ignatius parish in Chestnut Hill (MA). IVC volunteers will listen and reflect on Ignatian spiritual tools and apply them to their own lives and service experiences.
On the previous evening (Thursday, January 5), Eric will offer a presentation, Ignatian Spiritual Tools for Sharing our Stories, to the general public. This program is open to all as a live presentation with the option of joining by Zoom. It is sponsored by St. Ignatius parish where it will take place at 7 pm. All are welcome.
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Education, Immigration, Homelessness: the Work Continues
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IVC New England service corps members assist 30 nonprofit agencies based in nine Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Each of these schools, churches, and community agencies offers a spark of light in the darkness to those in need, and hope in the days leading up to Christmas.
IVC New England volunteers are engaged in confronting needs in education, immigration, homelessness, food scarcity, and much more. Consider joining us in our work in whatever way you can.
For a list of all IVC New England Volunteers and Placements click here. For a list of current openings with IVC, click here. For a listing of current openings in IVC New England, click here.
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From all of us at IVC, best wishes for a joyful Advent, a blessed Christmas, and a New Year filled with opportunity and hope!
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31 Fairview Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
617-571-3838
newengland@ivcusa.org
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