Lay Ecclesial Movements and New Communities                PART 4 in series

Ignatian Volunteers

Find Most Important Work May Begin After Retirement

Retirement has been romanticized as the time for carefree leisure and freedom. There can be a dark side, however—too much television, boredom, long uneventful days, and an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle. Not so for the 31 members of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps currently serving the poor and disenfranchised in the New York metropolitan area.

These volunteers, whose ages range from the 50s though their 80s, are "retired" in the technical sense, but on two days a week they are actively engaged in a diverse array of Church ministries in schools, social service agencies, immigration centers, health care facilities and other organizations that directly serve the needs of the poor or address societal structures that affect their lives.

While some Ignatian Volunteers contribute their professional expertise as teachers, nurses, lawyers, social workers, counselors, computer experts and business leaders, others venture into new fields, discovering new ways of contributing their talents teaching English as a second language or as children's tutors, mentors, social work assistants and job coaches. In the archdiocese, they serve in Manhattan and the Bronx at St. Aloysius, St. Augustine's and Notre Dame schools, Mercy Center, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, Cabrini Mission Center, Catholic Charities' Immigration and Information Services, New York Foundling, and the Interfaith Assembly on Hunger and Homelessness. IVC New York is always cultivating new agency partnerships interested in having an Ignatian Volunteer serve at their site.

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps, a national organization of lay volunteers established in 1995, is more than simply a volunteer placement agency. The cornerstone principle of seeing God in all things first espoused by St. Ignatius Loyola when he founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) more than 450 years ago guides today's Ignatian Volunteers. Through a series of retreats, monthly gatherings and one—on—one mentoring from a spiritual adviser, the Volunteers share their stories and reflect on the integration of their service of charity and social justice with Jesus' Great Commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Suzanne Geaney, national executive director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, attributes the program's popularity to its distinguishing spiritual aspect. "IVC's strong spiritual program supports volunteers in dealing with the effects of the poverty they encounter," she said. "It helps transform their activities from service into mission, so they can see more clearly where God is acting in their lives and in the lives of those they serve."

Typical is the story of Bill Buckley. When he retired from a high—powered Wall Street job, he enjoyed the extra time for traveling, reading and playing golf, but missed the sense of accomplishment his work had provided. Now in his seventh year as an Ignatian Volunteer, Bill tutors students at St. Aloysius School in Harlem. "Seeing the moment the math light bulb goes on with the kids is enormously rewarding," he said. "Additionally, my Jesuit spiritual director has illuminated my prayer life."

Natalie Blaney, a retired attorney in her fourth year as a volunteer at the Catholic Charities Immigration Office, said, "Volunteer work with the IVC is like babysitting for your grandchildren: You will never have a more important part—time job. And one of the greatest benefits of the program is the tremendous outpouring of support from other volunteers, group leaders, and the spiritual advisers as we attempt to improve our service of feeding, healing, instructing, comforting and aiding God's people in need."

Elizabeth McMahon, New York/New Jersey/Long Island Regional Director for IVC, said the faith—sharing aspect attracts Ignatian Volunteers. "They want to see the connection between their faith journeys and living their lives on a day—to—day basis," she said.

Or, as volunteer Nancy Walsh, put it, the IVC experience "is more than I ever hoped it would be. It's a group of people working hard to put the Gospel into practice."

For more information, contact Regional Director Elizabeth McMahon at emcmahon@ivcusa.org or call her at (201) 618—6924.

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