IVC Stories
Meet IVC Milwaukee Service Corps Member Melita Biese
About a year ago, Melita Biese embarked on an IVC service journey with the Thrive for Life Prison Project (TFL).
This organization is dedicated to offering spiritual development and educational resources to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Operating across New York State and New Jersey, the nonprofit serves a pivotal role in supporting incarcerated persons held in correctional facilities across these communities.
Meet Joe Lorenzo – IVC New Orleans Service Corps Member
The blueprint for a potential Service Corps member to join the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) usually starts
with a source of information that peeks the candidate’s interest, who then makes a phone call or website inquiry about the program, followed by a period of discernment before the potential member joins and commits to an assignment through IVC. During that discernment period, great effort goes into finding the appropriate assignment where the talents and skills of the candidate can be put to best use. Such was the case with Joe Lorenzo, a new Service Corps member who just finished his first year assignment with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul New Orleans.
Ignatian Volunteer Vince Aquino is on a mission to serve men and women experiencing homelessness in Boston
Vince Aquino supports the Capuchin Mobile Ministries (CMM) in providing essential services to the unhoused population in Greater Boston. His involvement includes volunteer coordination, food preparation, and driving the modified van that delivers meals and snacks to 10 service locations. CMM, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, goes beyond providing food by offering a caring presence and human connection to those in need.
IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey Member Profiles: Mary Noel Hall & Bob Fogarty, Divine Providence Village’s Day Program
Growing up in Bala Cynwyd, Mary Noel Hall and Bob Fogarty didn’t know one another. They were six years apart in age—a lifetime to a child. However,
last fall they each joined IVC and now serve together at Divine Providence Village’s Day Program. Located in the former school of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Secane, PA, the Day Program’s mission is to provide a safe, caring environment that allows individuals with intellectual disabilities to create meaningful and independent lives.
Meet IVC Albany member Judi England
Judi England lives in Albany and has been serving as an Ignatian Volunteer Corps member at Unity House in Troy since IVC Albany’s inception in 2019. Judi offers her reflection about her service with IVC.
Meet IVC Albany member Paula Hamilton
Paula Hamilton is an Ignatian Volunteer Corps member serving at the Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Paula and her husband David live in Delmar. Paula offers her reflection about her service for Ronald McDonald House at Albany Medical Center.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam . . . arising from a couch?!
Frank McDonnell, the very first IVC NEPA service corps member, firmly grasps the Ignatian philosophy of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam: For the Greater Glory of God. “Mickey’s” life-long desire to serve arises from an appreciation of how fortunate he has been in his own life, manifesting in acts of quiet kindness and moments of joy-filled smiles.
IVC NCA Member Profile: Ann Johnson
IVC Service Corps Member Ann Johnson brings not only a lifetime’s worth of skills to her administrative position with partner agency Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington Migration & Refugee Services (MRS), but a personal touch as well! An IVC volunteer since 2006, Ann began her service with MRS in 2009 and over the years has assisted clients in such ways as driving them to appointments, delivering supplies, and completing forms for services. And all while focusing on managing paperwork for a busy social services agency.
Omaha IVC “tips their hat” to Fr. Kevin Schneider, SJ
Priests in general, but especially Jesuits wear many hats. They are called to serve in many roles: public speaker, spiritual leader or director, leadership
developer, community outreach person, ministry coordinator, and of course perhaps the greatest of these, teacher. Fr. Kevin Schneider, SJ has worn all of these hats and more during his time in Omaha.