Spirituality and Community

Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps was founded in the tradition and spirit of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). As founders and supporters of JVC Northwest, the Jesuits offer insight and guidance for many JV EnCorps activities. The founder of the Jesuits is St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose spirituality - or way of living out his faith in God - invites us to become more deeply aware of our experiences in everyday life, discovering the Divine in all things. As we do this, we become more conscious of God's presence with us and more aware of how we might act in a God-centered way, especially in service to others. We are encouraged through Ignatian Spirituality to be "contemplatives in action."

While JV EnCorps is grounded in the Catholic Ignatian tradition, we value and welcome those whose spiritual journeys are influenced by other traditions and practices. In fact, we believe community is enriched by diverse approaches to spirituality. At the same time, all JV EnCorps members are invited to reflect on the meaning and purpose of their lives through our core values of community, simple living, social and environmental justice, and spirituality.

The primary ways by which JV EnCorps members deepen and develop their Ignatian approach to life include:

Monthly meetings with fellow JVE's for discussion, mutual support and spiritual growth. JVEs remain in their own living situation during their term of service. JVE community is built not through shared housing, but through a mutual investment in one another's growth and success and a shared commitment to the transformative power of service grounded in faith.
A personal commitment to daily prayer, reflection and journaling
Spiritual readings (some selected by the JV EnCorps coordinator and other advisors, as well as texts chosen by the individual JVE)
Regular one-to-one meetings with a spiritual director (recommended).
Three retreats per year as a JVE community.

Some resources to learn more about Ignatian Spirituality include: