Make a Difference: Vote Your Values

Election 2024 brings United States citizens our opportunity to make a difference in the direction of our country for the next several years, perhaps longer, and in our local communities, too. As Catholics, Christians, women and men of faith seeking justice, caretakers of a fragile planet, neighbors locally and globally of people suffering, our vote is our chance to express what we most deeply believe.

Let's vote out of hope, not fear, out of love and not hatred, out of a deep desire for peace in our world and in our hearts. Please vote.

Make a Difference: Help the Helpers

As the holidays approach, IVC New England wishes to call attention to the 33 nonprofit agencies with whom we partner. Their impact for good in the communities in which they serve is impressive.

Consider a gift to one or more of these agencies this holiday season. Or help all of them by giving to IVC New England! Click on each agency below to learn more about it.

In alphabetical order:

Bread for the World (Worcester County)

Casserly House (Roslindale)

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigrant Services (Boston)

Catholic Charities Workforce Development (Boston)

Catholic Charities Worcester County

Catholic Social Services of Rhode Island (Providence)

Community Prep School (Providence)

Cotting School (Lexington)

Cristo Rey Boston High School (Dorchester)

Father Bill's & MainSpring (Brockton and Quincy)

Friends of Rafael Hernandez School (Roxbury)

Genesis Center (Providence)

Haley House (Boston)

HIghlander Charter School (Providence)

Ignatian Spirituality Project (Boston and Providence)

Ignatian Volunteer Corps New England

International Institute of New England (Lowell))

Irish Pastoral Centre (Boston)

Julie's Family Learning Program (South Boston)

Mathewson Street Church (Providence)

McAuley Ministries (Providence)

My Brother's Keeper (Easton and Dartmouth)

Nativity Prep School of Boston

Nativity School, Worcester

Nurtury Early Education Program (Jamaica Plain)

Project Hope (Roxbury)

ReFocus, Inc. (Providence)

Rian Immigrant Center (Boston)

Saint John's Parish (Worcester)

Saint Patrick's Academy (Providence)

Sister Mary Hart Children's Program (Roxbury)

Springwell (Greater Boston)

Words as Worlds (Dorchester)

For a list with short descriptions of each of these agencies and the names of IVC New England Service Corps members assigned to them, click here.

Make a Difference: Become an Ignatian Volunteer

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services

Irish Pastoral Centre

Friends of Rafael Hernandez School

Though the volunteer year has begun in New England, there are still positions to be filled and needs to be met in both the Boston and Worcester areas. Please spread the word to women and men, 50 years of age or better, interested in a year of service and spirituality. Tell them to contact us at newengland@ivcusa.org for more information or an application. Click here for our current listing of volunteer opportunities.

The challenges of meeting basic needs have escalated as housing and food costs have accelerated in recent years. IVC partner agencies are trying to address some of those concerns and are asking our help. Haley House (Boston) requests a volunteer with marketing and communications skills. Pernet Family Health (Worcester) has administrative, program and outreach opportunities. My Brother's Keeper (Dartmouth or Easton) could use someone to deliver food and furniture to Southeast MA homes. Springwell needs drivers for food delivery to elders in the Greater Boston area.

Education is a priority with a shortage of teachers and teaching assistants in many schools. IVC is being asked to help fill that gap. Nurtury Early Education (Jamaica Plain, Roxbury) seeks teaching assistants. The Friends of Rafael Hernandez (Roxbury) would welcome adult educators or primary school teaching aides. Nativity School of Worcester seeks reception help in its expanded co-educational program.

For those with an interest in serving immigrants or recent newcomers to the US, there are opportunities. East Boston Social Centers has a need for ESOL teachers. Catholic Charties RIS in Boston could use legal and housing skills. Saint Rock Haiti Foundation in Milton asks for volunteers with healthcare operations background. Catholic Charities of Worcester County has a variety of needs: immigration assistance, IT, adoption history social work.

These are some of our needs. Again, check out our website or contact us directly for an up-to-date listing of openings. It it not too late to help.

News and Events

Maryann Casavant Receives Charitable Irish Silver Key Award

Former IVC New England Service Corps member Maryann Casavant received the Charitable Irish Society's Silver Key award in October for recognition of her exemplary work and support in helping immigrants. Maryann is Immigration Services Coordinator at the Irish Pastoral Centre in Dorchester, where she served as an Ignatian Volunteer for two years before assuming her current position.

Maryann continues to work alongside current Ignatian Volunteer Anne Finn and is part or the team recruiting and supporting IVC presence at the Irish Pastoral Centre. Congratulations, Maryann!

Faith and the Faithful in the 2024 Election:

What Happened, Why, and What Now?

One week after Election Day, the Georgetown University Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life will sponsor a public dialogue to examine what happened in the election and why, and how religious values, voters, and communities shaped the debate and affected the outcome of the presidential election.

This conversation will also look ahead to whether and how the nation can come together after the election, as well as the roles of religious believers and communities in defending human life and dignity, lifting up “the least of these,” protecting our democracy, and pursuing the common good in a bitterly divided nation.

John Carr, founder of the Initiative and former director of justice and peace efforts for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will moderate the conversation. Panelists include Thomas Reese, SJ, former editor of America magazine, and Judy Woodruff, former anchor and managing editor of the PBS News Hour. The event takes place on Tuesday, November 12th from 7pm to 8pm EST.

For more information and to register, click here.