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 Homepage | The person | The family | The friends | Sitemap | Search | Contact  Partners Français | English | Español |  PrintArche - communities L'Arche was born in 1964 when Jean Vanier and Father Thomas Philippe, in response to God’s calling, made a proposal to Raphaël Simi and Philippe Seux, two men with intellectual disabilities, to come and share their lives in the spirit of the Gospel and the Beatitudes announced by Jesus. From this first community, born in France and following Catholic traditions, many other communities were created in diverse religious and cultural contexts.  The aim of l’Arche is to bring an answer to the distress of those who are often rejected and give them back their rightful place in society, by creating these communities.Communities are composed of a home where people with intellectual disabilities live in small family-sized houses with other people who have come to live with them for a either a limited amount of time, or for life. Living together in the home is at the heart of l’Arche communities. Communities also include workshops, occupational workshops and production facilities. Each community is a community of faith. Deeply rooted in prayer and trust in God, the community wishes to be guided by Him and through the weaker ones who reveal His presence. Such communities are not a solution but a sign that a true humane society has to be founded on the welcoming of and the respect for those who are smaller and weaker. Today l’Arche has 120 communities distributed throughout 30 countries on 5 continents, which welcome almost 3000 people with intellectual disabilities. Every year l’Arche welcomes many young people from across the world who come to live for a few months or more within its communities, do not hesitate to come and try !  L’Arche Internationale 10, rue Fenoux 75015 Paris, France e-mail : international@larche.org Internet site : site L'Arche Internationale   To visit l’Arche’s websites across the world To order l’Arche’s publications FAITH AND LIGHT AND l’ARCHE  Faith and Light contains a treasure : the revelation that persons with intellectual disabilities are important for God, for the Church, and for our societies. The revelations that the weakest people can open our hearts and lead us to what is essential – love. In l’Arche as in Faith and Light this treasure is entrusted to us. Let us be united with l’Arche in a more conscious manner, let us cultivate our desire to learn from each other and support each other in order to grow together in greater love still. So many men and women in the world are unaware of this treasure. Often they despise weaker human beings or take pity on them. How can we share this treasure, firstly with other parents who may feel isolated? How can we share with other people in our neighbourhood? |
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