Ignatian Volunteer Corps
Encyclopedia
The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) exists to address the greatest social needs of U.S. cities with the experience and skills of mature adults. Ignatian Volunteers, men and women age 50 and older, donate 600 hours of service a year and are supported and sustained by IVC’s unique spiritual reflection program.
In 2002, Jim Conroy stepped down from the Executive director position in order to continue his Jesuit mission of service elsewhere. He still maintains contact with IVC and serves on the Board of Directors.
On October 29, 2004, Charlie Costello died from ill health.
“We had the experience but missed the meaning.” This quote by T.S. Eliot from “The Four Quartets” is frequently referenced within IVC literature. It refers to IVC’s focus on reflection as one is engaged in service. In order to encourage Ignatian Volunteers not to “miss the meaning” of their service, IVC offers a strong program of reflection based in the Ignatian tradition. The program includes journaling, one-on-one spiritual conversations, group reflection and sharing, and retreats.
, founder of the Society of Jesus
. While members of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, are members of a religious order
, IVC is one way among many for lay people to experience Ignatian spirituality. Ignatian spirituality is the practice of taking time to reflect and pray, to imitate Jesus and to discern God’s calling. IVC borrows much from St. Ignatius of Loyola - his compassion; his commitment to people who are poor, marginalized, and abandoned; his desire to serve and bring about reconciliation in the world through love. IVC encourages its Volunteers to proceed in such a way of pilgrimage and labor in Christ.
The concepts of mission and reflection surface frequently in the Spiritual Reflection component of IVC. To a follower of Ignatian spirituality, service and reflection reinforce each other and seek to unite the volunteer with a very real notion of charity and, therefore, mission to live as “men and women for others”. Ignatius writes in The Spiritual Exercises
, "Consider the address which Christ our Lord makes to all his servants and friends whom He sends on this enterprise, recommending to them to seek to help all, first by attracting them to the highest spiritual poverty, and should it please the Divine Majesty, and should he deign to choose them for it, even to actual poverty." IVC promotes in mature adults the expression of divine love through service of and in the world.
in order to better understand the effect of IVC on its former and current Ignatian Volunteers, spouses and spiritual reflectors. The resulting national survey of volunteers found that over 93% felt that their service in IVC had helped them feel that they were spending their retirement in a fulfilling way. 91% of volunteers felt that the spiritual reflection component of IVC had somewhat or very much helped them to see God in the people they served. One volunteer said, “The most satisfying [experience] was the looks on the faces of nearly a dozen cook-trainees when I responded to an inquiry by one of them as to why I did this individual resource for them. I answered: “Because I love you.” The silence was absolute for maybe a minute and then they all stood as one and applauded; at least four of us were crying.”
History
In response to both the growing retired and semi-retired community in the U.S. and the desire of mature adults to express their faith in the light of Vatican II, Jim Conroy S.J. and Charlie Costello S.J. launched Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC). IVC began in September 1995 with eleven Ignatian Volunteers in three cities (Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C.). Ignatian Volunteers began by serving children and adults in need and reflecting together on their service experiences. Today, IVC has almost 300 volunteers working in 15 regions across the country. The organization relies on a network of Regional Directors and Regional Councils, led by an Executive Director and a national Board of Directors. The IVC national office is located in Baltimore, Maryland.In 2002, Jim Conroy stepped down from the Executive director position in order to continue his Jesuit mission of service elsewhere. He still maintains contact with IVC and serves on the Board of Directors.
On October 29, 2004, Charlie Costello died from ill health.
The Program
Ignatian Volunteers commit to 600 hours of service (roughly two days a week) in a year. IVC works with partner community organizations addressing a myriad of social ills and working to create a more just world. After being accepted into IVC, an Ignatian Volunteer visits one or more service sites from among those suggested by the Regional Director and discerns the best fit. Ignatian Volunteers receive no material compensation for their work, remain in their own homes and continue to be involved in their family, parish and community activities.“We had the experience but missed the meaning.” This quote by T.S. Eliot from “The Four Quartets” is frequently referenced within IVC literature. It refers to IVC’s focus on reflection as one is engaged in service. In order to encourage Ignatian Volunteers not to “miss the meaning” of their service, IVC offers a strong program of reflection based in the Ignatian tradition. The program includes journaling, one-on-one spiritual conversations, group reflection and sharing, and retreats.
IVC's Roots
IVC accepts and encourages Ignatian volunteers of all Christian faiths. The program itself is rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius of LoyolaIgnatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
, founder of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. While members of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, are members of a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
, IVC is one way among many for lay people to experience Ignatian spirituality. Ignatian spirituality is the practice of taking time to reflect and pray, to imitate Jesus and to discern God’s calling. IVC borrows much from St. Ignatius of Loyola - his compassion; his commitment to people who are poor, marginalized, and abandoned; his desire to serve and bring about reconciliation in the world through love. IVC encourages its Volunteers to proceed in such a way of pilgrimage and labor in Christ.
The concepts of mission and reflection surface frequently in the Spiritual Reflection component of IVC. To a follower of Ignatian spirituality, service and reflection reinforce each other and seek to unite the volunteer with a very real notion of charity and, therefore, mission to live as “men and women for others”. Ignatius writes in The Spiritual Exercises
Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, are a set of Christian meditations, prayers and mental exercises, divided into four thematic 'weeks' of variable length, designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days...
, "Consider the address which Christ our Lord makes to all his servants and friends whom He sends on this enterprise, recommending to them to seek to help all, first by attracting them to the highest spiritual poverty, and should it please the Divine Majesty, and should he deign to choose them for it, even to actual poverty." IVC promotes in mature adults the expression of divine love through service of and in the world.
2007 CARA Study
In January 2007, IVC turned to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in order to better understand the effect of IVC on its former and current Ignatian Volunteers, spouses and spiritual reflectors. The resulting national survey of volunteers found that over 93% felt that their service in IVC had helped them feel that they were spending their retirement in a fulfilling way. 91% of volunteers felt that the spiritual reflection component of IVC had somewhat or very much helped them to see God in the people they served. One volunteer said, “The most satisfying [experience] was the looks on the faces of nearly a dozen cook-trainees when I responded to an inquiry by one of them as to why I did this individual resource for them. I answered: “Because I love you.” The silence was absolute for maybe a minute and then they all stood as one and applauded; at least four of us were crying.”
External links
- Ignatian Volunteer Corps
- Society of Jesus in the U.S.A.
- Catholic Network of Volunteer Services
- The Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus
- The Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus
- The Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus
- The California Province of the Society of Jesus
- The New York Province of the Society of Jesus
- The New England Province of the Society of Jesus
- The Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus
- The Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus
- The Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus
- The New Orleans Province of the Society of Jesus