IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey

05/07/2026

Join us at the Gesu School on Friday, June 5th, for this inspiring event featuring the Honorable Bob Casey, Jr. and Fr. James Martin, SJ. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

04/30/2026

Have you heard about this upcoming event hosted by our friends at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in May? This timely conversation with Jan Richardson is not to be missed. Click on the link for more information.

I am so looking forward to this online event offered by Cranaleith Spiritual Center (via Zoom) on May 16! As fractures in our society continue to widen, how do we tend what is broken without losing heart? This conversation will explore how we might become bearers of healing light in a broken world, trusting that even in places of deep rupture, light is already at work, not erasing the scars, but shining through them. We would love for you to join us from wherever you are!

Info & registration: https://cranaleith.secure.retreat.guru/program/bearing-the-light-in-unbearable-times-a-conversation-with-jan-richardson/. If you have any questions, please contact Cranaleith Spiritual Center directly, and they will be glad to help. So many blessings to you!

04/24/2026

We are so excited to announce our new partnership with the Philly Goat Project, which “provides education, therapy, job training, wellness, and community engagement activities in partnership with the dynamic and delightful capacity of goats.” Located in Awbury Arboretum, in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia, this is going to be a fun and exciting place for one (or maybe even two!) IVC corps members to serve!

04/22/2026

A year ago today, we were blessed to gather to pray and mourn together after the death of Pope Francis. We shared stories much like this beautiful reflection of the ways we had been inspired by Francis’ humble leadership.

We look forward to hearing more stories from Fr. James Martin when he visits our community for an event in June.

04/19/2026

We’ll miss Service Corps Member Claudia at monthly meeting tomorrow but will be cheering her on from here in Philadelphia! Good luck, Claudia, in tomorrow’s Boston Marathon!

JOIN US cheering on our IVC volunteer Claudia as she prepares to run in tomorrow’s Boston Marathon! You go, girl! Here’s to a great run.💚🏃🏻‍♀️🏅

04/04/2026

Today, members of our IVC Philadelphia community— along with our partners through the Faithful Philly coalition—walked the Stations of the Cross in prayerful witness from the Philadelphia ICE Field Office to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

With each step, we held in prayer all who carry heavy crosses today. May this journey deepen our compassion and strengthen our commitment to justice and hope this Good Friday.

04/03/2026

If you are unable to join in person today, this event will be live streamed at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1624971518540731.

A reminder that all are welcome to join the Walking Stations of the Cross today, Good Friday, starting at 5PM outside the Philadelphia ICE Field Office. This prayer connects Christ's Passion to those suffering in our world today. If you are not able to join in person, there will be a livestream at this link - https://www.facebook.com/events/1624971518540731

04/02/2026

Join members of IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey and our partners from organizations across the greater Philadelphia area as we prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross together on Good Friday.

RSVPs welcome but not required:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZFEy8F7Bm5Kxu8KVg2G9uyGxRM8QIIyHiyc5yER90Pb4UQA/viewform

03/31/2026

Meet Porter, an IVC Service Corps member serving at Sanctuary Farm Philadelphia 🌱

“Since I was a child, I’ve wanted to work on a farm, and I am finally living out my dream after working all my life in restaurants and food service.”

It’s never too late to grow into something new. What if retirement was just the beginning?

Consider doing retirement differently with IVC!

SANCTUARY FARM PHILA (SFP) is a thriving place, thanks in large part to devoted staff and volunteers. Almost 30 folks on our team deliver on our mission and serve our North Philadelphia neighbors each and every day.

Starting today, we’re beginning a series to recognize these amazing folks.

Meet Porter Bush, who has served SFP (at least) two days a week under the auspices of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) for 8 of our 9 years.

Q: What inspired you to work at SFP?

Porter: My brother-in-law worked for IVC, and I learned that they had this really cool position open up here in Sharswood. Since I was a child, I’ve wanted to work on a farm, and I am finally living out my dream after working all my life in restaurants and food service.

Q: What’s your role?

Porter: I am Master of Nothing, building and repairing almost everything on the farm’s 5 sites (+our HQ).

Q: What’s been your standout experience?

Porter: Looking back to the farm’s beginnings to today, I’m proud of how we have scaled up our ability to offer a wider variety of fruits and vegetables and to deepen our neighbors’ knowledge of nutritious foods and how to prepare them. I appreciate how hard it is to find healthy foods in this corner of North Philly. I feel blessed to be able to do what I can do to help in any way.

Q: What’s one thing you would want our followers to know about us?

Porter: Sanctuary Farm is an oasis where magic happens. You’ll find lots of love, respect and no judgment here!

So what does Andrea have to say about Porter?

“I can honestly say I’d be lost without Porter. He volunteers without any fanfare and quietly goes about fixing, building, and repairing things around the farm, picking up trash, and organizing our sheds. No matter what I ask, his answer is always the same: ‘Sure—that’s no problem.’ If something falls outside his expertise, he taps into his wide network of friends and always finds someone who can help get it done. He cares deeply about the farm and our mission, and is constantly looking for ways to contribute. I’m incredibly grateful for the gift he has been to us.“

IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey

03/29/2026

IVC is so much bigger than just our Philadelphia/South Jersey community. Regional Council Member Christine Eberle tapped in to our larger IVC community recently to help out some Saint Joseph's University students in a jam.

Saint Joseph’s University Students Find Overnight Lodging
Thanks to IVC-NCA!
by Christine Eberle

Do you know anyone in Northern Virginia?!? The frantic text came from my friend Tricia Riordan, a campus minister at Saint Joseph’s University here in Philadelphia. Tricia runs SJU’s Appalachian Experience (APEX) spring break service program. In 22 days, she was sending 135 students to nine service sites in five states. Those with the longest drives were supposed to leave after Friday classes and stop just past DC to grab a few hours’ sleep before getting back on the road. Now, housing had fallen through for 75 students! Tricia had been working every network she could think of, to no avail. But there’s nothing quite like the IVC network!
I wrote to Mike Goggin, Regional Director of IVC’s National Capital Area. My email was titled, “A Friend in a Jam.” His response was brief: “Pursuing a couple leads for you on this.” Less than 48 hours later, I received this message from Tricia: “I got housing for everyone! Mike Goggin is the best. Everyone keeps mentioning him.”
Here’s what happened. Mike reached out to Fr. Bill Quigley, CICM, one of IVC’s spiritual reflectors. Fr. Bill is part of Missionhurst’s Mount Tabor community, whose retreat house in Vienna hosts one of IVC’s monthly meetings. There, he had space for the 31 students with the longest drive. Mike also reached out to Jo-Ann Duggan, pastoral associate at St. John Neumann Parish in Reston and regional council member for IVC-NCA. Through Jo-Ann, St. John Neumann was able to provide gym floor space for the remaining 44 students to sleep on air mattresses. It should come as no surprise that both sites went above and beyond, warmly welcoming the students, making them breakfast at the crack of dawn, and sending them off with snacks.
To me, this whole story reflects IVC’s core value of Collaboration and Partnership: “working together with laity, clergy, and people of goodwill, supporting their gifts and ministries.” The web of connection between and within regions is a marvel to behold, as is the generosity of God’s people. I am grateful to be a small part of such a great cloud of witnesses!

- Christine Eberle is a member of the regional advisory council of IVC Philadelphia/South Jersey and the animator of IVC’s Virtual Community.

This group of St. Joseph's University students is especially grateful for the overnight lodging found with the help of IVC- NCA!