In the words of Dorothy Day, “What we would like to do is change the world—make it a little simpler for people to
feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended them to do.” Her vision resonates deeply with the mission of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) in Milwaukee, where compassion meets action and service creates ripples of change.
In September, we bid farewell to IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey’s Director, John Green, who served the region ably throughout his five-year tenure. A social worker by training, John had come to us with decades of experience on the front lines, in both non-profit and counseling settings. Those skills were in demand in IVC, as he established relationships with new community partners and helped potential volunteers discern good placements.
Bridging Communities Inside and Out, a tagline found on the webpage for RISE Reentry Program explains in a phrase the short version of what they do. The long version of the mission is complex, yet simple–to break the cycle of incarceration and provide reentry support to help people build a new life after experiencing a prison sentence for people across the state of Nebraska. A recent visit to sit in and observe a single session of the Leadership Academy demonstrates the passion of the Executive Director, Jeremy Bouman for serving this population of individuals and is just one example of support in the process of building a new life after being system-impacted.
Across cities, small towns, and neighborhoods, networks of compassionate, creative, and entrepreneurial individuals have built social service nonprofits to support their neighbors seeking to overcome poverty, addiction, homelessness, illiteracy, marginalization, and more—bringing renewal, empowerment,
and hope to their communities.
Advent begins Sunday, December 1. It is the time of waiting in hope for our Incarnate God. The following are some ways to seek holiness in the often-busy days before Christmas.
