NARRAGANSETT — The Order of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) are known for the practice of Ignatian spirituality, in which God is found through service to others and the world at large. The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) gives men and women aged 50 years and above the opportunity to put this into practice in the local community.
The IVC New England chapter, comprising the Boston, Worcester and Providence areas, hosts their annual Madonna Della Strada fundraiser each April, where a member from each of the three areas receives recognition for their service to others. “Della Strada,” translated from Italian, means “of the streets,” indicative of the Ignatian ideal of taking God to the people in greatest need. This year, the Providence awardee is Kevin Ryan, retired dentist and parishioner at St. Thomas More Parish in Narragansett. He has been involved with the IVC for 12 years.
“The joke of the thing is, when you’re interviewed to join is … what is your Jesuit connection?” he said of his introduction to the IVC.
His connection to the Jesuit order came through his formative years as a student at Jesuit-run Boston College High School and College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. He even considered becoming a Jesuit himself during that time. What motivated him to join the IVC, however, was watching two of his children join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, one serving in Alaska, the other in Alabama. He professed himself amazed at the dedication of young people who gave up worldly advancements to live communally and serve others.
Since retiring, he worked in two different capacities for the IVC and has been a member of the IVC New England Advisory Council for almost the entire duration of his time there. He began his volunteer work at the George Wiley Center in Pawtucket and now serves with the Ignatian Spirituality Project, an interfaith addiction recovery ministry.
Some of the people he assists are homeless, others are not. Regardless of their housing situation, they all struggle with overcoming their addictions.
“We meet with them … for an hour a week,” he explained. “Usually there’s a biblical reading and there’s a secular reading. A lot of them are from Christian writers and so forth.” The Ignatian Spirituality Project also hosts separate overnight retreats for men and women.
Bill Waters, the volunteer coordinator for the men’s Ignatian Spirituality retreats – whom Ryan calls his “boss” – recommended him for the award. Ryan professed that he is “not in the slightest worthy” of receiving recognition, and that through his award, the IVC is honoring all the unsung heroes involved in the organization. With a chuckle, he remarked, “I still haven’t forgiven Bill for mentioning my name.”
Waters told Rhode Island Catholic that he nominated Ryan for the IVC 2025 Madonna Della Strada Award because of his long, 12-year service with IVC and the positions he has held within the organization.
“Kevin has a high level of commitment to IVC activities (we can always count on him to do his part) and … has a strong spiritual life,” Waters commented via email.
In his prepared introduction for the event, Waters calls Ryan “the epitome of an Ignatian Volunteer,” and notes that he “is quick to volunteer” when needed. In addition to his work with the homeless and those in need of financial assistance, Ryan helped lead a prayer vigil for world peace at St. Patrick Parish in Providence.
“I very much enjoyed volunteering with Kevin for the Ignatian Spirituality Project where Kevin continues to volunteer to this day. Again, Kevin is the epitome of an Ignatian Volunteer, and most deserving of the Madonna Della Strada Award,” Waters continued.
“In short, Kevin exemplifies Ignatian spirituality: ‘Contemplation in action.’”
The regional director of the New England IVC, Dave Hinchen, also praised Ryan’s longtime commitment to serving others in the Ignatian tradition. “His longevity, his generosity of heart, his humility, his passion for people experiencing homelessness are among the many reasons why Kevin was chosen for this award.”
Originally from Dorchester, Massachusetts, Ryan practiced dentistry in Hanover for years and taught at Tufts Dental School in Boston for a time. He spoke about the diversity of students he taught — some from other countries and many others from varied backgrounds. Between that and working with clients in low-income situations helped prepare him for the work God called him to later in life.
“I think it really opened my eyes to a lot of things,” he said.
He and his wife Carol settled in Narragansett after retirement, and the couple became involved in their parish of St. Thomas More. Ryan had always figured on doing something for God when he retired and believes that he learned about the Ignatian Volunteers from the Rhode Island Catholic. His three children and five grandchildren will make a boisterous and joy-filled show at the Madonna Della Strada banquet.
“I have made a lot of friends through this group through the years and it is a nice thing, we get together outside of our regular meetings,” he said. He described his fellow volunteers as “nice people” who work hard serving the Lord and those around them.
Volunteerism with the IVC is open to men and women over the age of 50 and the organization is actively recruiting new members. Anyone interested in cultivating their faith life through works of service can visit the website www.ivcusa.org.newengland or email newengland@ivcusa.org. Registration for the banquet can be found the same way.
