Ideas

Jean Vanier: How To Do Ordinary Things, Part 2

"Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness." In 1964, Jean Vanier bought a little house in northern France and invited two mentally disabled men to come and live with him. It was a radical approach to thinking about people on the fringe of society -- to live with...
Jean Vanier. Photograph courtesy of L'Arche Canada.

"Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness." In 1964, Jean Vanier bought a little house in northern France and invited two mentally disabled men to come and live with him. It was a radical approach to thinking about people on the fringe of society -- to live with them, and most importantly, learn from them, to look for their gifts. On the 50th anniversary of L'Arche, the now-international organization Jean Vanier started, a celebration of a Canadian humanitarian and visionary.

Participants in the program:

  • Jean Vanier - founder of L'Arche in 1964
  • Jerome Gallois - supervisor of the workshops in L'Arche, Trosly
  • George Durner - now retired, was a regional coordinator for L'Arche in France
  • Gary Webb - workshop supervisor in L'Arche, Trosly
  • Caroisa Kilcommons - Community Leader of L'Arche Chambèry in Savoie, France

Related books & websites:

  • Signs of the Times: Seven Paths of Hope for a Troubled World by Jean Vanier, published by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 2013.
  • Becoming Human by Jean Vanier (The 1998 CBC Massey Lectures) published by House of Anansi Press, 10th anniversary edition, 2009.
  • Finding Peace by Jean Vanier, published by House of Anansi Press, 2003.
  • Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness (25th Anniversary Edition) by Robert K. Greenleaf, published by Paulist Press, 2013. 

Photographs of Jean Vanier & L'Arche Images courtesy of L'Arche Canada. To view more images of Jean Vanier & L'Arche visit the Jean Vanier website.

The first L'Arche building in Trosly-Breuil, 1964.
Jean Vanier with the first group to live at L'Arche in Trosly-Breuil.
Jean Vanier with Raphael Simi and Philippe Sieux, the original founders of L'Arche ( L'Arche Canada)
Jean Vanier with Mother Teresa, 1974 ( L'Arche Canada)