IVC Launches 14th Year of Service to New England
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IVC New England launched its 14th year of service to New England communities with a Day of Reflection at St. Ignatius parish in Chestnut Hill (MA) on September 9th. Forty-six Service Corps members were joined by ten staff, spiritual reflectors, and others in perhaps the best-attended, live, orientation in years.
Fifty-one Ignatian volunteers will be working in Providence, Worcester, Boston, and surrounding communities this year. Partnerships have been formalized with 26 non-profits in more than ten area cities and towns, and those numbers are growing. Opportunities still exist for late applicants. Contact the IVC New England office.
Highlights from this year's Orientation included a prayerful opening reflection guided by Nancy Sheridan, SASV, a role-played spiritual reflection session by volunteer Mary Beth O'Sullivan and reflector, Rev. Patricia Brennan, the creation of a first-ever virtual IVC New England photo directory by staff member, Tanya Rybarczyk, and a stimulating feature presentation on Ignatian Spirituality by Tomeu Eldridge Barcelo, of the Boston College Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
After IVC New England Director Dave Hinchen led attendees through a session on Helps for the Journey, the group reassembled for Mass. Jerry Finnegan, SJ, a member of the IVC New England core community since its inception in 2009, presided at liturgy, and returning volunteers presented new volunteers with Jerusalem Cross pins at the closing commissioning ceremony. The group adjourned for lunch and relaxed conversation.
Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive. IVC thanks the St. Ignatius parish and staff for its hospitality and support, and special thanks go to Ann Bersani for her hard work and creative programing in organizing the day.
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Opportunities Still Remain in IVC New England Communities
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St. John's Food for the Poor Program
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IVC New England continues to welcome volunteer applications for 2022-2023. Our year has begun but many of our IVC partners are still reaching out to us for help.
Please spread the word to women and men, 50 years of age or better, interested in a year of service and spirituality from September to June. Tell them to contact us at newengland@ivcusa.org for more information or an application. Click here for the September listing of volunteer opportunities.
Many opportunities exist in schools. We have a variety of openings in varied locations and settings: Immaculate Conception School in Revere asks for needs English Language Learning instructors. Epiphany School in Dorchester is looking for Early Learning Center volunteers and middle school tutors. In Jamaica Plain, the Raphael Hernandez School needs support and enrichment volunteers. Shrewsbury's Gateways Academy seeks teachers, teacher's aides, and after-school volunteers for its exciting new educational effort.
Education opportunities with adults are available. Casserly House has an opening for adult ESOL and neighborhood outreach in Roslindale. Project Hope, in Roxbury, has reached out to us for an English language assessment volunteer.
Elders are being hit hard by the pandemic and inflation. At Ethos in Jamaica Plain, two positions exist to help senior homeowners stay safe in their homes. Springwell, in Waltham, asks for food delivery drivers. FriendshipWorks (Boston and beyond) has a variety of opportunities.
These are some of our needs. Again, check out our website or contact us directly for an up-to-date listing of openings.
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Follow IVC on the Ignatian Camino
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After a two-year pause, an IVC-sponsored Ignatian Camino pilgrimage will take place in October. IVC pilgrims will be following the steps of St. Ignatius of Loyola from Loyola Castle to Barcelona, Spain. The original idea of the IVC sponsorship of this walk was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in 2020. The COVID pandemic caused the delay.
Quite fittingly, there will be 25 IVC pilgrims. Fifteen are planning to walk the entire 300 mile journey. Ten will join the group at the midway mark. All hope to be present at Monserrat and Manresa toward the end of the pilgrimage.
IVC New England will be there. Karen and Dave Hinchen, Charlie Eisenmann and Betsy Hudson, Beth-Anne Flynn, and Bette Viano will be representing New England. IVC President/CEO Mary McGinnity and husband Peter, former IVC New York Director Liz McMahon, and IVC core community members and friends from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Denver are among others taking part in the walk.
Join us for a Commissioning Service via Zoom on Monday, September 26 at 7 pm. IVC Board member and former IVC New England spiritual reflector Jim Fleming, SJ will be offering a blessing for the group that evening. For more on the pilgrimage, to register for the commissioning ceremony, or for ways to follow and be part of the journey, click here.
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Friendship-On-Tap in Dorchester
IVC New England partner FriendshipWorks is hosting a night of fun, friend-making games, and prizes at the Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Avenue, on Tuesday, October 18 from 6-8 pm.
The event is free with a cash bar. Its purpose is to reduce social isolation, enhance the quality of life, and preserve the dignity of older adults in Boston. For more information or to register, click here. Walk-ins welcome!
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Register Now for the Archdiocese of Boston Social Justice Convocation on Migrants and Refugees
The 14th Annual Archdiocese of Boston Social Justice Convocation takes place virtually on Saturday, October 22 from 10 am to 12:30 pm. This year's topic is Migrants and Refugees: Who are they - Where are they?
Among the the presenters at the convocation are Sean Callahan, President of Catholic Relief Services ("who is displaced and why?), Marjean Perhot, Catholic Charities ("what the Church is doing in Boston") and Cardinal Sean O'Malley ("our own personal call").
For more information and to register for the convocation, click here.
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IVC Presents Anthony Fauci and Christine Grady Arrupe Award for Exemplary Public Service
On September 18th, IVC presented Anthony Fauci, MD and Christine Grady, PhD with its first ever Pedro Arrupe, SJ Award for Exemplary Public Service. The award ceremny took place during the IVC National Capital Area's annual Evening of Gratitude, held at the Georgetown Preparatory School in Washington, DC.
IVC President/CEO Mary McGinnity stated with regard for this choice of inaugural recipients of the Arrupe Award that "there is no one more deserving of the Pedro Arrupe, SJ Award than Dr. Fauci and Dr. Grady. Each of them exemplifies what it is to be a true public servant. Their life's work in healthcare, commitment to the common good, and their dedication to improving the lives of others reflects the values of IVC. We are proud to honor these remarkable individuals andare grateful to them for their service."
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IVC New England's Impact Acknowledged by Encore Network Champion Awards
For more than a decade, Encore Network has been advocating for and building partnerships among organizations and individuals who champion the civic, social, and economic contributions of older adults. IVC New England Director, Dave Hinchen, has been named to the 2022 Encore Network Champions, a list of 35 people reflecting those values.
Dave's award reflects, to a great extent, the work of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in New England. The press release describes the IVC as a volunteer program for older adults that combines a year of service with spiritual reflection, matching the skills of volunteers with the needs of nonprofits in education, social services, immigration, and other sectors.
All of the nominees share one thing: a commitment to ensuring that older adults are fully engaged and appreciated in all aspects of our society, including work, leadership, and community. Brief profiles of each member of the 2021 and 2022 Encore Network Champion classes may be found here .
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31 Fairview Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
617-571-3838
newengland@ivcusa.org
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