Our Volunteers in Action!
Some of our wonderful volunteers have been kind enough
​to share their stories of volunteering through Ignatians West.
​
​We hope you might find at least one that speaks to you.
Nancy Cooper
"Four years ago, when I began volunteering at Sacred Heart High School for Catholic girls in Lincoln Heights, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew I had the gift of work experience and a love of teenage girls. I wanted to share those, along with my spirituality, with them. I hoped to guide them in building their confidence and reaching their goals during their high school years.
"This past week, as I sat at their graduation award ceremony at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, I witnessed many achievements of the seniors, two of whom I had become very close to over the last two years of mentoring...
Ariel & Rowena Dee-Lopez and Jim Rutkowski
Ariel and Rowena Dee-Lopez and Jim Rutkowski are Ignatians West Volunteers at St. Elisabeth of Hungary Church in Van Nuys. They serve at the parish Service Center, a nonprofit Catholic organization offering “charitable services to needy members of the community without discrimination as to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, or sex of any person.”
The Service Center is operated entirely by volunteers like Ariel, Rowena and Jim. Their tireless efforts provide assistance and loving care to individuals and families needing food, clothing, and other necessities...
Mary Ann Bognar, George Brueggeman, Terry O'Donnell, Gary Pontrelli, and Betsy Potts
Gary Pontrelli, MaryAnn Bognar and Terry O'Donnell are Ignatians West Volunteers in the Spiritual Care Department at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard.
They offer patients a spiritual and friendly encounter that conveys that patients are not alone in their health struggles. Gary lauds the excellent medical care patients receive in the hospital from doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, as well as the care that recognizes a patient’s emotional well-being and need for spiritual support. He says their work is to bring comfort and hope to Catholic patients...
Christine Corrigan & Laurie Sayeg
Ignatians West Volunteers Christine Corrigan and Laurie Sayeg helped prepare the convent at Holy Redeemer parish for the young women of the St. Joseph the Worker program. Sr. Julie Fertsch CSJ, is the program's current director.
The young women of the St Joseph the Worker program are passionate about both social change and personal transformation. They give a year of service, living in community and working in various non-profit agencies.
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The connection between these young women and the Ignatian volunteers is...
Donna Lee
Donna is one of our volunteers who is not retired. She is employed as a nurse at the Pregnancy Help Center in Torrance and serves as an Ignatians West Volunteer at House of Yahweh.
House of Yahweh was established in 1982 to assist families in need and people who are homeless in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. The agency provides food, clothing, other supportive services( personal care products, health services, housewares, furniture) and counseling to those in need as well as offering services to direct and guide a path to independence...
Heather Preimesberger
Heather has been an active volunteer with Ignatians West for well more than a decade! With a smile, she says that each passing year brings more fulfillment to her life. She cites this past year of service, working with two priests and a Jesuit brother, as particularly meaningful.
Heather assists at St. Camillus Parish, which serves LAC/USC County General Hospital. She hand-writes donor thank-you notes and over this past year made altar cloths for the remodeled chapel. She also designs and creates quilted wall hangings to accompany art pieces...
