Our Founder – Jean Vanier

Born in Switzerland the son of a Canadian diplomat, Vanier served in the British and Canadian Royal Navies as a young man. In 1950, after leaving the armed services, Vanier returned to his studies, eventually receiving a Doctorate in Philosophy for his thesis on Aristotle. The focus of the research was on happiness, which Jean defined then and now, "loving and being loved." Vanier went on to teach philosophy at the University of Toronto.

The beginnings of L'Arche (French for "the Ark") stirred in 1964, when Jean Vanier became aware of the struggle of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities who were institutionalized in France. Through his friendship with a Catholic priest, Father Thomas Philippe, he felt moved 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.

There, in that small home in Trosly-Breuil, Vanier's initial urge to "do something for" Raphael and Philippe grew to become a commitment to "being with" and "friend to" these two men. With that shift in heart and consciousness, a core belief of L'Arche emerged: that strength is revealed through weakness and human vulnerability, which given room to grow in trust, creates community. And, Vanier understood, the desire to love and to be loved is something every person longs to experience.

Having begun with that first home in Trosly-Breuil, France, and through the support of many, L'Arche grew around the world.

Since that time, L'Arche has grown exponentially…and is still growing! Throughout nine zones (comprised of 40 countries), each of the 137 L'Arche communities calls together persons with and without disabilities to share their lives together in mutually transforming and spiritually profound ways.

Considered a man of deep compassion and a humble prophet in the struggle to "become more fully human," Jean Vanier is the founder of L'Arche.

For 40 years, Vanier's vision of L'Arche has grown around the world.

Vanier has received numerous awards, including the French Legion of Honor, Companion of the Order of Canada, Rabbi Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award, and the Blessed are the Peacemakers Award from the Chicago Catholic Theological Union.

Vanier still makes his home in the original community of L'Arche in Trosly-Breuil, and travels often giving lectures and retreats.

For more information on the life, work, and spirituality of Jean Vanier, please visit the Jean Vanier website, developed by L'Arche International. There you will also discover a full listing of Vanier's writings, which include Our Life Together: A Memoir in Letters, Becoming Human, Seeing Beyond Depression, From Brokenness to Community, and Community and Growth.