History of L'Arche

The first L’Arche community was founded in 1964 in Trosly-Breuil, a village nearly 60 miles northeast of Paris. Jean Vanier, son of a former Governor General of Canada, was invited to Trosly by a Dominican priest, Father Thomas Philippe. While in Trosly Jean met many people with developmental disabilities who were living in institutions.  He was disturbed by the lives they led and upon Pere Thomas' suggestion, he purchased a small house and welcomed two men with developmental disabilities to live with him.  He named their home "L’Arche", the French word for "the Ark".

                         


Word spread and young people from various parts of the  world came to the community in Trosly to share their life with people with an intellectual disability. Although not anticipated by Jean, some of these people were inspired by the vision of L’Arche and founded a L’Arche community in other towns and countries. By 1975, there were 30 communities in France, Canada, India, Africa and Haiti. From a small house in Trosly, L'Arche has expanded to 135 communities in 36 countries around the world.

Although its roots were in the Roman Catholic tradition, L’Arche has become both ecumenical and inter-faith, united in a shared vision and spirit, realized through mutually transforming relationships.


"There is a lack of synchronicity between our society and people with disabilities. A society that honours only the powerful, the clever, and the winners necessarily belittles the weak. It is as if to say: to be human is to be powerful.”
-- Jean Vanier
    L'Arche Founder