What’s New

Greetings to our IVC Community, We express our deepest gratitude to you for the many ways you support IVC.  Thank you for sharing your time, talent and treasure with us! We celebrate our national community with a spirit of abundant gratitude.  We will pray for you...

In his “Letter to a Non-Believer” Pope Francis writes that he is entering on this dialogue with Dr. Scalfari from his personal experience of faith lived in the Church. That experience-based faith allows him to “listen to your questions and, with you, to seek the paths...

We didn’t really plan it that way, but our trip to the West Coast in September beginning in Northwestern Washington and ending in San Diego, California, became a pilgrimage for my wife and me.  It started in the heart of the Olympic Mountains with a memorial service...

If we try to adopt a historical perspective on our development as Christians from the time of Jesus until today, we can note a few challenging factors. First, most of us grew up knowing more about church and church teaching than we ever did about Jesus Christ. Second,...

I don’t like to say goodbye but when a child turns three years of age, they are no longer eligible for services through early intervention.  Early intervention provides services to children who are at risk or who have been identified as having special needs.  During...

Preparing dinner, enjoying a long, hot shower or a good night's rest often bring thoughts of Fr. Bill's & Mainspring. This non-profit shelter in Brockton, MA is part of a network established 30 years ago by Fr. Bill McCarthy. It now includes two shelters (housing...

Many people use small digital cameras to take pictures of themselves or also with other people, or with backgrounds, so that they can readily share their recent experiences with friends, family members and colleagues. Selfies are candid, informal photographs, not...

Overlooking Jerusalem there’s a church I love, where “Jesus wept”.  Instead of the dark stained glass and thick gold overlays it has a clear window that frames the temple mound and gives a beautiful view of the city. In front of the altar is a mosaic of a mother hen...

Recently in a session of spiritual direction I said “Do you think the kingdom of God took a big step forward when Constantine decreed that Christianity would be the religion of the Roman Empire? Or when a king in Germany or France converted to Catholicism and ordered...