Experience Making a Difference

Experience Making a Difference

Welcome to IVC New England

Thank you for checking out IVC New England’s home page.  Please be sure to click on the Program Details page to learn more about becoming an Ignatian Volunteer and how we’re taking steps to reach out to the poor and marginalized in New England.

 

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) opened its New England Region in January, 2009. The first Ignatian Volunteers were 11 men and women from assorted walks of life and different educational backgrounds, looking to put their life experiences, talents and time at the disposal of the poor in Boston, Worcester, and Providence, and surrounding communities.

In 2022-2023, more than 50 women and men are serving in diverse neighborhoods in Boston, Brockton, Dartmouth, Easton, Lexington, Newton, Waltham, Worcester, and Providence. These volunteers are supported by one another and by “spiritual reflectors” whose task is to help the volunteers look at their service and to reflect upon its deeper meaning for themselves and for those whom they serve.

New England Ignatian volunteers teach, mentor and advise in a variety of educational programs; provide services to potentially homeless elders; co-ordinate volunteers who work in direct service; educate and locate resources for adult students and immigrants; offer administrative, development, strategic planning and HR support to non-profit staff;  and, organize retreats for homeless and formerly homeless women and men..

Want to know more?

We have a regional newsletter: Making A Difference:

IVC New England is in the News: Stories through the years!

Boston College’s Chronicle caught up with IVC New England at its Core Community gathering and shared with the BC community what’s happening in IVC in New England and what an important role BC alums are playing. Check it out.

Check out this great video, produced by the Spanish Class at one of our partner schools – Holy Cross. Visit placements in Boston, Worcester, and Providence where volunteers serve. Listen to volunteers and service site administrators explain the value of IVC. IVC Regional Director Dave Hinchen gives an overview of the New England IVC. Click here to see a shorter, newly edited version of this video.

Who knew so many Holy Cross grads were part of IVC? Numerous alumni speak to their experience with IVC in the Fall, 2021 edition of Holy Cross Magazine in a feature article on pages 46-67: “Living the Mission.” In one recent year, 23 Holy Cross alums and others affiliated with the college served as volunteers, regional council members, staff or spiritual reflectors with IVC New England. There are currently more than 50 volunteers in New England and 20 regions nationally.

Check out this story in the Rhode Island Catholic highlighting the work of IVC New England in Rhode Island during the pandemic year of 2020-2021. IVC New England has grown to more than 50 volunteers surpassing the 45 volunteers that worked in the pandemic year. This article, though, gives a very nice view of our Service Corps Community in a very difficult year.

This article in Jesuit Magazine spotlighted the relationship between volunteers and reflectors working in the northeast region.

Casserly House in Roslindale (MA) highlights the collaboration between the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) and the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) working together to better serve immigrant adults and kids in a Boston neighborhood. Click here to read this story.

If you would like more information on the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, or would like to volunteer or support our volunteer program in New England, please contact regional director Dave Hinchen via email or at 617-571-3838.