Le Moyne College has announced a formal partnership with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) that will serve to strengthen the mission of both organizations. Among the many expected benefits of the partnership will be an enhanced ability to serve people in need through the addition of the number of IVC volunteers.
“This partnership will better foster our Jesuit mission of being people for others,” said David McCallum, S.J., Le Moyne’s vice president for mission integration and development. “It will offer Jesuit college alumni, faculty, and staff the opportunity to deepen their spirituality while serving those in need through a structured and rich program based on Ignatian spirituality.”
“We are excited about the wealth of new possibilities this partnership will bring to our organization and to the many individuals we serve,” said IVC Syracuse Regional Director Linda Zimmerman. “We are grateful to partner with Le Moyne and what it will do to enhance our overall mission.”
IVC was founded in 1995 by two Jesuit priests who desired to match the life expertise and spiritual commitment of men and women (most age 50 plus) with community organizations that serve individuals and families struggling with poverty. IVC volunteers come from diverse backgrounds that include education, health care, law, insurance, social work, business, support services and homemaking. Volunteers serve as tutors, mentors, financial and legal advisors, community and education outreach, among other invaluable roles.
At the heart of an IVC volunteer experience is a reflection component familiar to those educated in Jesuit tradition. IVC volunteers receive individual guided spiritual direction, participate in monthly volunteer group reflection meetings, and attend retreats during the IVC service year (one or two days a week for 10 months). This unique program component prepares volunteers for serving in challenged communities and deepens their spiritual journey.
The IVC Syracuse program was started in 2009 by Tom Coman ‘55, in partnership with the Jesuits at Le Moyne. Currently, over 30 percent of the Syracuse volunteers graduated from Le Moyne College and several more previously worked at Le Moyne. If interested in learning more about the almost 20 IVC regional programs (Albany's goal is to start-up in Fall 2019), visit the
IVC website or the
Syracuse IVC website.
For questions or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Linda Zimmerman at 315-480-4229 or
[email protected].