Bob came to IVC following a long career as a Ph.D chemist in the federal sector, primarily in a leadership position with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Following retirement, he obtained a master’s degree in spirituality and pastoral care. At his parish, St. Rose of Lima in Gaithersburg, Md., Bob served as a pastoral associate and continues to serve in many volunteer ministries.

Have you ever wanted to share your IVC experience with friends but have trouble capturing all the comes with being an IVC member?

IVC’s Joe Ludovici likes to describe his role in Workforce Development at IVC partner agency DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) as helping those who need it most – students enrolled in DCCK’s Culinary Job Training program. “They find compassion and love here, and that we care about their journey to career stability,” he says. “They are doing the work, and we coach them on skills to be successful.”

My rewarding Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) journey supporting Catholic Charities Wyoming (CCWyo) began with a piece of paper from that file. Many of us have that file, tentatively called retirement ideas. These ideas come from years of collecting newspaper articles, church bulletins, LinkedIn ideas, emails, and friend’s notes about what to do in retirement with our free time. I never expected to use that file. Ultimately, health challenges curtailed my executive career leading me back to that file.

Recently, four new IVC Members (Anne Egan, Maria Krick, Veronica O’Neill, and Teresa Bautista, pictured with Principal Gina Olsen) attended an orientation and training at St. Rita’s School. For over 73 years, the school has provided a nurturing environment for the children of the Southeast San Diego neighborhood.