L’Arche is an international federation of faith communities where people with and without an intellectual disability share life together. L’Arche, a French word for the Ark, seeks to create communities where people live a simple life of work, care, prayer and celebration.
L’Arche was founded in 1964 in a small French village by Jean Vanier who welcomed two men, Raphael Simi and Phillipe Seux, both of whom had an intellectual disability and were living nearby in a large institution. By living with Raphael and Phillipe, Jean discovered a way of the heart and a new way of living the beatitudes of Jesus.
From these simple beginnings L’Arche has grown into an international federation of 138 communities in over 30 countries.
This organisation is not a service of the Archdiocese of Sydney. Please direct any query to the organisation directly.
Donna Rhall, Community Leader