L'Arche Harbor House..... hope in a divided world 

What is L'Arche? L'Arche is an international network of faith-based communities creating homes and day programs for adults with developmental and physical disabilities. L'Arche was founded in 1964 when Jean Vanier, a French-Canadian philosopher and former Naval officer,  welcomed two men with disabilities into his home in the town of Trosly, France, northeast of Paris.   The name “L’Arche” is French for "The Ark", as in “Noah’s Ark”, the biblical symbol of deliverance, and of God's covenant with humanity. L’Arche is now a world-wide organization welcoming people from many different faith traditions, as well as people who have no formal affiliation with any particular practice. Today, there are 126 L'Arche communities, on six continents, in 30 countries around the world.

Federation of L'Arche International

                                                                Photo from L’Arche Tegucigalapa—Honduras                   Photo of Marie-Christine—France                            Photo from L’Arche Edinburg

        In 1964, Canadian Jean Vanier, with the support of his spiritual director Father Thomas Philippe, invited two men with developmental disabilities, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to live with him in an old house in the French village of Trosly-Breuil.  He named the house L’Arche after Noah’s Ark and gradually welcomed not only more men and women with developmental disabilities but also the assistants who would live and work with them.  Since then, L’Arche has grown into an international federation of 126 communities in 30 countries on 6 continents.  All these communities are part of the International Federation of L’Arche Communities, which has its head office in France.  L’Arche International’s priorities are: enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities; attracting and sustaining assistants; good stewardship; increasing L’Arche’s openness to the wider community; and solidarity amongst L’Arche communities. 

   Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche

• © Canadian, born in 1928, son of the late Governor General of Canada, Georges P. Vanier.

• © Educated in England and Canada; for several years he was with the British Navy, then with the Canadian Royal Navy.

• © In 1950, he resigned from the Navy, went to France and worked on a doctorate in Philosophy which he received from the “Institut Catholique de Paris”, on Aristotle.

• © In 1964, with Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, two men with developmental disabilities, he founded L’Arche, a community with men and women who have developmental disabilities, many coming from psychiatric centers.  From this original community in France, 126 communities have been founded throughout the world, in Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America. 

© In 1968, in Marylake, Ontario, a community called “Faith and Sharing” was founded following a retreat preached by Jean Vanier, a community where people gather once a month for sharing around the Gospel, and where everyone is welcomed.

© In 1971, with Marie Helene Mathieu, he founded “Faith and Light”, communities which meet together regularly: people with developmental disabilities, their parents and friends.

© Until 1981, Jean Vanier carried the responsibility for L’Arche  in Trosly Breuil and for the International Federation of L’Arche.  He stepped down from those two responsibilities, allowing others to take over.  He spends much of his time counseling, encouraging and accompanying assistants in their personal journey in L’Arche.  He still makes his home in one of the homes in Trosly but he is called to travel a great deal, to visit other communities of L’Arche, to encourage projects for new communities, to give lectures and retreats. 

© His books are available through Daybreak Publications.

© His website is www.jean-vanier.org

     L'Arche USA  

A Place to  Be and Become

L’Arche USA in one of eight zones of the world-wide federation of L’Arche International, inspired by the Beatitudes.  At the heart of these communities are people with developmental disabilities and those who share life with them.  L’Arche USA has 14 communities, and three projects. 

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Last modified: 02/11/08