Upper Midwest Jesuits | Chicago-Detroit Province

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps National office welcomes Christine Curran as the new Director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps in Chicago (IVC). Christine Curran succeeds George Sullivan, Regional Director for Chicago IVC since its inception in 2001.

Christine comes to IVC with a professional background in volunteer coordination and social service administration, most recently serving as Director of Mission and Community Relations at Franciscan Outreach Association, a homeless services organization in Chicago. Christine is intimately familiar with the experience of volunteering, having served in settings across the country from shelters and transitional housing programs to refugee and elderly supportive services. In 2004, she transitioned from a career in political journalism to become a full-time volunteer with Covenant House in Atlantic City, NJ where she served as a youth counselor for homeless and at-risk youth. Christine also has ministry experience working with foster care youth in residential care, and has taught English overseas in grammar and high schools in Poland and Taiwan. Christine earned a B.A. in Philosophy and History of Mathematics from St. John’s College, MD and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Yale Divinity School in addition to further graduate studies at Catholic Theological Union.

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps in Chicago has maintained solid membership over the last several years with 40 men and women serving the poor through 31 partner agencies across the Chicagoland area. IVC offers a substantive and sustainable way for retired men and women to integrate service and Ignatian spirituality. Ignatian Volunteers serve materially poor and marginalized communities two days per week (September through June) in a range of settings, including schools, social service agencies, hospitals, and immigration centers.

Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds—law, medicine, parenting, military, business, education and more—but they share a common desire to meet Christ in service to the poor. The impact Ignatian Volunteers have in the lives of the marginalized is immeasurable.

For more information on how to become involved in IVC Chicago as a member or IVC partner agency please contact Christine Curran at 773-975-6871 or ccurran@ivcusa.org. Additional information can also be found at www.ivcusa.org.