The call of L’Arche John Duggan BACK in the year 1964, a French/Canadian named Jean Vanier visited a priest friend of his in the village of Trosly-Breuil, which is just north of Paris. Educated in England and Canada, Vanier had served as a naval officer for some years and subsequently obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy.
The priest, Father Thomas Phillipe, was chaplain to a local mental asylum, and he expressed to Jean Vanier that he was most unhappy with the fact that there were people in the asylum who should not be there. They were not dangerous insane crazy people but people who, because of an intellectual disability, had been classed as broken, rejected people and had been put away in an institution.
The result of that conversation was that Jean bought a smallish stone house in the village and invited three of those broken, rejected people to leave the institution, where they had been living ‘in disgrace’, and make their home with him.
He later recalled that it was his intention at that time to ‘be good’ and to ‘do some good’ for those people with intellectual disabilities. He had no idea at the time that those people would ‘do good’ to him and to countless volunteers who have formed communities of L’Arche worldwide since that time. Indeed, back in 2002, when this writer became interested in L’Arche, I had the real desire to ‘do good’ and to ‘give something back’ for what I had received in life.
In preparation for what I was about to do, I went to a Faith and Light retreat in the Redemptorist Monastery in Esker, Athenry. I remember when leaving the monastery I sat in the car and reflected on what I had received from the intellectually disabled during that week. I decided that while I didn’t know how much L’Arche would need me, I was certain that I needed L’Arche.
Jean Vanier set out to perform an act of compassion towards the suffering people that had moved him to act and this led to the very clear discovery of the riches of the biblically poor.
The desire to live together with intellectually disabled and those without intellectual disabilities in family situations, not as ‘carers’ or ‘minders’, but as equal brothers and sisters, sharing life with mutual respect, highlighted the great gulf in today’s world between the strong and the weak, the powerful and the vulnerable, between those who have a voice in the world and those who have not.
From the very humble beginnings of L’Arche, there are now more than 125 L’Arche communities spread across five continents. The L’Arche “family” usually consists of approximately eight people living in a house. This maintains a family atmosphere, which is the wish of Jean Vanier. Most communities have several houses. In Ireland, there have communities in Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin and Belfast and by the grace of God there will be one in the west of Ireland very soon.
The identity statement of L’Arche reads as follows: “We are people with and without learning disabilities, sharing life in communities of faith. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our life together. We seek to build a world that seeks to recognise the unique value of each person and our need for one another.”
Assistants come to communities in Ireland from all over Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. They volunteer to do Gods work in communities, mostly for one year, but some stay many years.
As the work is voluntary, no salaries are paid but assistants get generous pocket money and live in comfortable homes where their needs are taken care of. They are facilitated with reasonable time off so that they can have time for shopping, entertainment, exercise and so on.
People who come to L’Arche for any period carry with them lasting memories of their time in community – memories of joy and sadness – but most of all they carry a feeling of satisfaction for having responded to God’s call to ‘Spend one hour with me’.
The number of volunteers from the west of Ireland is rather small at the moment, and I do not believe that this is because our people are any less caring that those from mainland Europe.
Some young people volunteer to work in countries like France, Italy or Germany for a year, and it has the added advantage that they can perfect their knowledge of the language and the same applies to young Europeans who come here.
A few years ago, I heard Jean Vanier comment that L’Arche keeps growing because Christ is at the very centre. I have no doubt about the truth of his answer.
If you would like to more information, get in touch with any of the L’Arche communities or visit www.larche.com.
John Duggan is a presenter with Mid West Radio in Ballyhaunis. A native of Killashee, Co Longford, he served with the Garda Siochana for many years. He has also written several songs which have been recorded by such well-known singers as Foster and Allen and Brendan Shine. He has spent quite an amount of time with L’Arche in recent years and is confident that a community will shortly be put in place here in the West of Ireland.
Siamsa Straide a success THE recent Siamsa Straide festival brought large crowds to the town of Swinford. Brid O’Connell and Francis Brennan are the two people who have been especially synonymous with this festival for several years and who put so much effort behind the venture year after year.
The annual Heritage Day has become the centre- piece of the Swinford festival, with the streets of the town crowded for this lovely mix of tradition, crafts, music and dance. The Copper Plate Céilí Band from Omagh provided the music on this occasion, and many dancers availed of the opportunity to step it out in style.
Mick Kelly from Newport was joined by some of the regular céilí dancers, and it was lovely to meet Mick Lavelle who was over from Westport. Another great trooper, Paddy Joe Tighe, journeyed from Ballyhaunis, while Des Boyle was over from Foxford. During our visit, we met numerous people from various parts of Mayo, as well as some from Sligo, Roscommon and Galway, all enjoying the easy atmosphere that was so evident on the streets of Swinford.
A number of the top country bands entertained the late-night patrons at the open-air dances throughout the duration of the festival.
Events like these don’t happen without a lot of hard work. Well done to Brid and Francis and their team for once again ensuring the Swinford is up there with the best of them when it comes to hosting their annual Siamsa.
Mayo Writers’ Block ‘STANDING in the Gap’, an anthology by the Mayo Writers’ Block, was launched in Claremorris earlier this year by Michael D Higgins TD. The anthology contains short stories, poetry and some reflections from Mayo-based writers, many of whom are having their work in print for the very first time.
‘The Block’ was formed in 2004 and has currently has a membership of around 20. The members meet twice a month in Claremorris. More information can be had by visiting www.mayowriters.org
In a foreword to the book, Terry McDonagh, who hails from Killedan, Kiltimagh, and who has lived in Germany for several years, described the publication as a powerful anthology of stories, poetry and film scripts.
“The written word allows us a glimpse into the minds and hearts of people in a society at a particular point in history. It is a kind of barometer measuring climate of opinion,” says Terry.
The contributors to the anthology are Celia Anderson, Monica Browne, Eileen Byrne, Teresa Coleman, John Corless, Aine Egan, Paula Gilbert, Chloe Hughes, Lucie Kavanagh, Joyce Kirrane, Jimmy Lardner, Margaret Leahy, Sinead McGhee, Nuala Melia, E.M. Reapy, Geraldine Toughey and Jessica Warrington.
The following is a short reflection from Monica Browne, Claremorris:
Welcome
It’s the smell of scented clover Or a sweet naked apple-pie, It’s a cooling breeze in summer
When the temperatures are a bit too high.
It’s seeing familiar places
A handshake and a smile,
It’s hearing your favourite music play
When you think you’ve lost your way.
It’s the colour of a burning sunset,
Where rests your weary soul,
It’s a loving hug of comfort
When you find you’re safely home.
