Without any fanfare or accolades, over fifty-five volunteers ages 50+ are engaging in weekly service across the greater L.A. area. Spread out across thirty different partner agencies, these women and men for others are part of Ignatians West, a service organization born out of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps that works to build community through service and reflection. Anne Hansen, Executive Director of Ignatians West, facilitates monthly community gatherings where the volunteers come together to share fellowship, experiences, and prayer as they reflect together on the service they engage in throughout the month. 

“It’s not rocket science,” Anne joked about the mission of Ignatians West. “It’s very simple. It’s bringing together mature adults (we don’t use the word retire anymore, we use the word mature!) who have life experience they’re willing to share, invite them to share those experiences with others who are in need, and then encourage them to honestly examine their faith.” 

As humbly as Anne may speak of the work of Ignatians West, this community has had a huge impact on the organizations with which they serve. And their generosity does not begin and end at their service placement sites, either. Just this past year, in support of a downtown L.A. parish, Ignatians West filled an entire U-Haul truck with donations for the holidays. “The level of generosity brings tears to my eyes,” shared Anne. “You know, for me, [being part of Ignatians West] has been a blessing because the idea of going out of the church steps into the world and getting involved in some action to help others is what Jesus taught. Don’t sit there and twiddle your thumbs and pray all day. It’s fine if you do, but then at the end of the day go out there and care for each other.” And this is exactly what the volunteers of Ignatians West do. In fact, says Anne, even though each volunteer makes a commitment for one year, “most volunteers never leave.”

And it’s not just the nonprofits that benefit from this exchange. The partnerships with the nonprofits also offer the volunteers meaningful and important engagement in the community. The service and the reflection is life-giving to those who participate. Anne reflects, “I don’t know where I would be without Ignatians West today. Because what I learned about Ignatian spirituality is now how I try to live my life.” This is why, in addition to service, community and reflection are the pillars of the Ignatians West community. Once a month, the volunteers of Ignatians West gather for a day of fellowship. During the gathering, the final part of their time together is reserved for reflection. And according to Anne, “it has grown into a very prayerful, sacred exchange. When people speak, it’s really from the heart.” It’s a time for sharing in which the volunteers can reflect on where they saw God in their volunteering that month. And this rootedness in Ignatian spirituality is a key part of the volunteers’ experience. “Sometimes,” shared Anne,  “I feel like Ignatius and his ragtag group. Because we’re just people who get together who believe in God. We don’t know who God is all the time, we don’t know where God is all the time, but we believe in the divine spirit of God and believe in the gospel that says we are here to love one another. It’s really that simple.” 

Are you a mature adult in the greater L.A. area who feels called to engage in Ignatian service? Do you know of a non-profit who could use an Ignatian volunteer? Learn more about Ignatians West at ignatianswest.org.

Do you know of or belong to a community that you would like to see highlighted? Reach out to Martha at martha@futurechurch.org.