This year was the biggest in the short history of IVC New England. 55 volunteers donated time and talent to our service partners throughout the course of the year. We served in ten New England cities and towns and helped the work of 30 nonprofit agencies addressing the needs of individuals and families

Now we look forward to the coming year with an increased number of community agencies and schools seeking our assistance, IVC New England continues to reach out to the nonprofit community in Boston, Worcester, Providence, and surrounding communities for opportunities for impactful service. We are adding new programs to our list of opportunities and reuniting with some old partners as well.

We are now welcoming volunteer applications for 2022-2023. We have already begun to interview and place applicants. Please spread the word to women and men, 50 years of age or better, interested in a year of service and spirituality from September to June. Contact us at [email protected] for more information or an application. Click here for today's listing of volunteer opportunities. These are in constant flux and are updated regularly on our website.

After a three year hiatus, IVC New England returned to Boston College High School to celebrate our tenth Madonna Della Strada Awards Ceremony. COVID wiped out our 2020 plans. Last year we celebrated virtually. This year we went live and what a wonderful celebration it was!

Approximately 180 gathered to worship together and to honor the lives of awardees Eileen Hayes, Beth and Meyer Chambers, and Frank Kartheiser. Father Oscar Pratt presided at the liturgy and urged us to look for the body of Christ among the living. The Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir and the Liturgy Arts Group of Boston College combined to lead the congregation in music. Rebecca's Cafe provided food for the reception and dinner following Mass.

Prior to the awards, IVC New England Director Dave Hinchen shared the good news of the growth of the IVC community in New England despite the pandemic and asked members of the community to stand and be recognized for their service. IVC national director Mary McGinnity spoke from the heart of the good and expanding work of IVC in New England and across the county. There are now twenty IVC regions in the US and international virtual opportunities as well.

Colette Cook, Father Oscar Pratt, and Professor David O'Brien introduced the awardees with humor and sincerity. Eileen Hayes has been CEO of Amos House in Providence for twenty years. Meyer and Beth Chambers live lives of service and celebration. Frank Kartheiser's achievements include foundational roles with the Worcester Mustard Seed community and Worcester Interfaith.

Feedback after the event was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Comments included: "beautiful Mass," "liturgy was fantastic," "music was perhaps the best we have ever had," "the choir was exceptional," "great program with lots of high points," "inspiring and motivating stories of the honorees," "getting to be with and talk to other volunteers and their husbands/wives at dinner," "my wife and I enjoyed the entire event," "the whole evening was outstanding."

Plans are already underway for Della Strada 2023. Our tentative date is April 23 at Boston College High School. Mark your calendars now. Much of this year's ceremony was filmed and will be available soon on You Tube.

IVC is actively recruiting for several positions nationally, including a new part-time Program Manager position in New England and a part-time Regional Director position in Portland, Maine.

IVC New England is growing and needs staffing help. The Program Manager position has four major areas of responsibility: recruitment of volunteers and partner agencies; promotion of IVC in the New England region; management of program logistics during the IVC year; and, assisting the IVC Director with program support and development. For a more detailed look at this job description, its responsibilities and qualifications, click here.

Interested applicants should send a letter of application and a resume prior to May 31, 2022 to IVC New England Director Dave Hinchen at [email protected]. Please include names and contact information for two references.

For a look at IVC job openings nationally click here. These positions include the IVC Portland, Maine part-time Director position to develop and manage its regional office. This is an exciting opportunity in a new and growing region. This position is also listed among the job openings in the Diocese of Portland and can be accessed here.

A year of more of volunteer service brings with it expectations - reasonable and fulfilling job descriptions perhaps, behavioral consistency, feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment for jobs well done or good intentions. What happens when things go wrong?

Three Ignatian Volunteers share their stories of some bumps in the road. Somehow they all persevered.

Anne Kane was excited to be working with Catholic Charities Worcester County in their refugee resettlement program. She looked forward to in person contact with people from other countries who were seeking to resettle in the USA. It didn't work out that way.

Anne writes: "At this point in my life, in reflection, I see a number of service experiences in which I hoped to serve directly but ended up doing administration and education. In this IVC year, when my placement turned out to be quite different from the originally planned direct service, I was granted the insight that what I had intended to offer was not needed at the moment, yet I could choose to offer something else that was very much needed.... Ignatius' Suscipe, "Take Lord..." took on new meaning for me, and I felt a peace about how to serve the loving God given my own gifts and the invitations of the Spirit."

Ron Nix is in his fourth year serving as an Ignatian Volunteer at the Cotting School in Lexington. He was happy to return to work with students in off campus worksites this year and wasn't expecting "new revelations" in that work.

In the van ride to the work site, however, one student managed to push too far leading to an uncomfortable escalation of tone on the student's part and a demand from Ron that she be quiet for the rest of the trip. Later they both calmed down, listened to each other and apologized.

Ron's reflection: "I realized that God gives us the means to handle all situations and we sometimes have to let him do the work. I didn't realize that this student realized she had pushed too far because I didn't give her the opportunity. When talking to a staff person about this later that day, she said sometimes we just need to let her say her piece and not acknowledge her, as quite often she is just talking to herself, even though she is doing it in a loud voice. I thanked God that day for showing me that my thoughts are not always the best way to deal with these students and that I should ask him to take over before I get frustrated."

Terry Chaklos is in her second year with IVC and previous placements had presented situations that she felt were unworkable during the COVID virus. She looked forward to her new placement at Cristo Rey Boston (CRB)and a job description that she found to her liking. That job radically changed. Her thoughts:

"I found that my experiences since joining IVC two years ago have forced me to seek God and to seek from God what it is He wants me to do: whether or not to remain with IVC; whether or not to seek a new placement; and, if I remain, what is my main focus. This year I felt compelled to stick with one placement since I had issues last year due to the pandemic and agencies not complying with their own policies. I did not want to become a person who found fault everywhere, so instead I tried to look at the bigger picture and why God kept putting me in this same position of conflict.

"With that I was reminded that I should not let the negativity... discourage me from doing what I could to make a difference to the students at CRB by presenting to them people who looked like them, who came from the same circumstances they find themselves in, and who through strength and courage followed their dreams and hearts to be what they are today and who remain hopeful for what the future will hold."

Thank you, Anne, Ron, and Terry for sharing your stories.