Jean Vanier
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Jean Vanier, CC, GOQ, Ph.D. (born September 10, 1928) is the founder of L'Arche, an international organization that creates communities where people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them share life together.
[edit] Early years
Vanier was born in Geneva, where his father was serving as a Canadian diplomat. He is the son of a great soldier, diplomat and later Governor General Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline Archer. Jean Vanier served in both the (British) Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy, and in 1950 resigned his commission to pursue studies in France where he received a Doctorate in Philosophy from "L'Institut Catholique de Paris" for his thesis on Aristotle.
[edit] L'Arche
In 1964, through his friendship with a Dominican order priest, Father Thomas Philippe, he became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Jean Vanier felt led by God to invite two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and share their lives with him in a real home in Trosly-Breuil, France. He named their home L'Arche, meaning "the arch", (referring to Noah's ark). From this original community in France, 130 other communities have been founded throughout the world in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America.
Although L'Arche communities are found in many different cultures and reflect the ethnic and religious composition of the locales in which they exist, they share a common philosophy and approach. The goal of L'Arche is to bring together people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them to live and work to create homes, recognizing one another’s unique value and gifts.
In 1968, inspired by his belief that community can change the world, Jean Vanier founded Faith and Sharing, a worldwide movement of annual retreats where people from all walks of life are welcome. In 1971, he co-founded Faith and Light with Marie Hélène Mathieu. Faith and Light groups, composed of people with developmental disabilities, their family and friends, meet regularly to discuss hopes and difficulties and to pray together. Vanier points out that when confronted with human brokenness and weakness, people often find a God whose love is without limitation. Today there are over 1400 Faith and Light communities around the world.
Until the late 1970's, Jean Vanier carried the responsibility for L'Arche in Trosly-Breuil in France and for the International Federation of L'Arche. He stepped down from these responsibilities, to spend more time today counseling, encouraging and accompanying people who come to live in L'Arche as assistants to those with disabilities. Vanier still makes his home in the original community of Trosly-Breuil, France. He also travels widely, visiting other L'Arche communities, encouraging projects for new communities, and giving lectures and retreats. In the view of many of those who know him, Jean Vanier has demonstrated a lifetime of commitment to those who have been marginalized in our world, the lonely and the dispossessed.
[edit] Awards and honours
In recognition of his humanitarian contributions and dedication to the marginalized, Jean Vanier has received numerous honours and awards including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Legion of Honour (France) and many awards from faith groups, among them the Paul VI International Prize, the Community of Christ International Peace Award, the Rabbi Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award and the Gaudium et Spes Award. Referring to Jean’s work in creating L'Arche, Pope John Paul II stated, "Over the past 30 years L'Arche has grown to become a dynamic and providential sign of the civilization of love." There are High Schools named after him in Moose Jaw, Whitehorse, Yukon, Scarborough, Ontario and Welland, Ontario.
