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This piece, by IVC Spiritual Reflector Fr. William Barry, SJ, is a reflection on the spiritual readings and guide being used by IVC volunteers across the country. In the Introduction of The Joy of the Gospel Pope Francis writes: “I invite all Christians, everywhere,...

Fr. Bill's 30 year mission to end homelessness now consists of two shelters, family and veteran's homes, a Work Express Program with a commitment to sobriety and "on the job training", and a Distribution Center. A portion of my IVC service is spent at this Center. You...

Each Christmas season, my friend Janie and I would drive a couple of hours to visit Norma, a woman with Down Syndrome, who lived in a group home. Janie had met Norma in college, when she managed a group home, and later became Norma’s legal guardian. Janie resembled...

Ignatian Volunteer Louise Wright gave this reflection at IVC Baltimore's Advent Evening of Gratitude December 2014.  She graciously shared it with us for the blog. The reason I joined IVC is best expressed by one word: Gratitude. I have experienced a life filled with...

History Writers Workshop came to Love & Lunch, the women's support group I facilitate through IVC. The workshop facilitator, Sylvia, was bilingual and smoothly switched from English to Spanish and back as she assured that all the participants could understand one...

I hadn’t started Christmas shopping yet when Therese called and asked me to go with her to the Mall of America for Toddler Tuesday and we would share the fun of watching Liam in the stores, hit some rides and have lunch. I was really torn as I love to be with them but...

When we make pleas of any kind, we are usually under duress and often filled with concerns for ourselves arising from our neediness. When we say “please” in making a request, the focus moves beyond us, and takes into account our relationship with the persons we are...

I have been a coordinator of volunteers since the age of eighteen; that’s 43 years! I have seen how vital volunteers are to the functioning of churches, agencies, hospitals, even government.  The safety net provided by volunteers strengthens our society and not only...

The distraught woman could hardly sit still at our Love & Lunch meeting. She kept looking around and talking about how her head was spinning. Then she said, “I lost someone dear to me. “ The other women offered their sympathy. I listened to my 6th sense. This was...