Speaking of Faith

This week the NPR show, Speaking of Faith, featured the L’Arche movement. Founded in 1964 by Jean Vanier, the movement establishes communities for people with mental handicaps. The episode of SOF focused on The Arch home in Clinton, IA. At its heart are the same general principles of the Household Model – respecting each other as human beings, generosity of spirit, the need for individuals both to give and receive care, building relationships, community, home and days filled with the natural rhythm of life as we know it. The movement is so person-centered that those who live in L’Arche homes are called “core members” because as one assistant says in the story, “They are the center of what we live. Our life revolves around them.” I especially like the way, in all aspects of their lives, the focus is on what people living at The Arch can do and are and not what they can’t and are not.

You can listen to the story online as well as read more about the movement.