Program Details

New England Ignatian Volunteers are mature men and women seeking to share their time and talents in service to their community, and open to participation in a year-long spiritual development program, including prayer and reflection in the Jesuit tradition.

Ignatian Volunteers generally commit to two days per week of service in a parish, school or non-profit organization working directly with people experiencing poverty or marginalization or in the pursuit of social justice. The service commitment takes place over a ten-month period.

During the period of service, the volunteer engages in spiritual reflection and journaling with the assistance of a “reflector” whom he or she meets monthly. All volunteers take part in two days of reflection, one overnight retreat, and monthly meetings of the entire group of volunteers. Volunteers share their reflection and service experiences in these gatherings and together probe their deeper meaning. During the coronavirus pandemic most meetings are virtual.

Each year the Ignatian Volunteer Corps provides volunteers with a book for monthly reflection and discussion. Themes have alternated among the topics of Ignatian Spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, and Contemporary Theology. This year’s focus is on Ignatian Spirituality. We are using The Time is Now by Joan Chittister, OSB, as our companion selection for reflection.

If you would like more information on the Ignatian Volunteer Corps or would like to pursue membership as a volunteer, please click “email Dave ” in the gold bar area, to the right of the screen, to send New England Regional Director Dave Hinchen a message, or call Dave at (617) 571-3838.

Or Read some Volunteer Stories…

New England Volunteers are doing some amazing things!

• Carol Armstrong has been greatly moved by her six years of service at Father Bill’s & MainSpring in Brockton, and the gift that IVC has been in her life.
• Diana Gaillardetz reflects on her experience serving at St. Mary of the Angels parish in inner city Boston.
• We also asked Jim McCarthy who was an eight year volunteer at Casserly House in Boston to reflect on his experience working with newly-arrived immigrants.