Ignatian Lay Volunteers

The Ignatian Lay Volunteer program provides an opportunity for men and women — who have completed Annotation 19 of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius — to serve some of Winnipeg’s most impoverished and marginalized citizens by volunteering in hands-on, street-level ministries. Rooted in gospel values, volunteers work toward social change through justice, help create a more fair-minded society and are a voice for the voiceless.

We invite alumini of Annotation 19 to our  "Come and See" ZOOM event, Wednesday October 16, 2024, from 6:30 to 7:30 to observe our process and content.

Once those interested have discerned that this is a helpful extension of Ignatian spirituality, several of us will co- facilitate the group until it gets its wings. As in small group work, there is anoptimal size so that all can be heard and feel heard.

Please Contact Elizabeth Polokoff to register. A zoom link will be sent to you the day before the event. elizabethpolakoff1@gmail.com 

 

Read below for the history and  general information about ILV:

After completing Annotation 19, a number of individuals expressed an interest in something more going forward. The ILV group that exists in the parish has been meeting monthly for at least 12 years, focusing the spiritual conversation related to experiences in the community that were entered into with the intention of being the hands and feet of Christ. This work then was the focus of seeing God in all things.

Somewhere a long the way, we added reading a selected book and offering insights and questions as part of the process.

COVID took away the in-person element of these gatherings and ZOOM gave us a way tocontinue…we use ZOOM now primarily as travel has become an issue for some of us and weather has sometimes interfered with our ability to get together.

Ignatian Lay Volunteers (ILVs) are supported in their experience and encouraged to grow deeper in Christian faith through: prayer, community service experience, reflection, evaluation and the spiritual dynamics of Ignatian spirituality.

To those in need, ILVs bring their abundance of experience and talent, as well as the teachings received through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Preserving the dignity of all individuals — regardless of race, colour, creed or social standing — is central to the mission of ILVs, as is the search for the presence of God to be found in all things.

The ILV program helps provide a community of individuals who openly share their values and deepest desires. All volunteers must complete the Annotation 19 of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius prior to participating in the Ignatian Lay Volunteer program. This is completed at the St. Ignatius Adult Education Centre over the course of 30 weeks. The knowledge and education obtained from these exercises helps volunteers to respond with generosity to St. Ignatius' words in the Contemplation to Gain Love: that "love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words" (#230) and "hear the call to respond to the need to build up... the community of love that offers life to all".

Past volunteer placements include:

• House of Hesed — a home for people living with AIDS
• Immaculate Conception Soup Kitchen — a kitchen which provides approximately 350 hot lunches each Sunday in one of our most impoverished neighbourhoods
• Alpha House — a safe house for abused women and children
• Artbeat Studio — a place that provides consumers of mental health services the opportunity to engage in creative expression for the purpose of promoting recovery and empowerment
• Working with refugees and within a couple of nursing homes
• Parish Ministries

Commitment
Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of two hours per week in a hands-on, street-level ministry in the City of Winnipeg. Volunteers are required to attend three retreat days during the year and a monthly group meeting to share how you found God in your experience. Various books on Ignatian spirituality will be required reading and discussed at the meetings.

For more information, contact Carmela.