SOLIDARITY

NEWSLETTER

L’ARCHE CANADA | FEBRUARY 2015

Hearth by Dore Ann Bartram and Cheryl Zinyk of L’Arche Toronto

CONTENTS
Twinning, Serving, Sharing page 2 Serving: Report from Jean-Christophe Pascal page 3

Serving: Interview with Jeannette Fraser page 4 Serving: Interview with Jacques Lang page 5

Serving: My Life in Brazil page 6 Sharing: Contributions 2014 from L’Arche in Canada page 7
T WINNING
Twinning is a privileged, enduring
relationship deliberately chosen between
two communities from different cultures.
Through twinning, communities offer each
other mutual support and deeper
understanding of how to live out their
mission.

SHARING
Communities and countries help each other
so that they can live their mission fully. To
insure equality and fairness, the process–
which includes identification of needs,
prioritization and distribution of funds–
is centralized.

SERVING

At the request of communities, experienced

assistants are sent on specific mid and long-
term missions, to provide a formative
presence.
 SERVING
Report from Jean-Christophe Pascal
International Solidarity Coordinator
Rarely a week goes by that I don’t hear a community
leader or an International representative expressing
gratitude for all the life that circulates between
communities. The credit is certainly not mine; rather
it’s to you in our communities that I pass on this
appreciation for all the concrete acts done each day –
everywhere. The word “solidarity” is not an illusion; it
expresses what is experienced in a very tangible way.
Therefore, while giving thanks, I wish first of all to ad-
dress you, the Canadian communities. In all ways –
financial help, sending of assistants, the twinning
program – the year 2014 has been rich, a sign of
solidarity’s vitality and of the links that unite us.
Eight assistants are preparing to go -- or are just
about to leave -- for missions in five countries. Among
them are: Hélène Anctil who is today in Brazil; Éric
and Anne Marie Chartier who will go to Mexico; and
Jacques Lang who will leave shortly for the
Philippines. As well, discernments are underway for
India. The sending of assistants for specific missions
developed by the welcoming communities and
involving significant lengths of time (two or three
years) is indeed a concrete sign of mutual
commitment. I am convinced the sending of these
assistants will be extremely fruitful for the welcoming
communities, for the sending communities and, I
hope, for the individuals and families concerned.
In the spring of 2014, communities were invited to en-
ter into a special connection of friendship with another
community in a more intentional way. Many Canadian
communities responded (Arnprior, Beloeil, Calgary
and Sudbury) and joined with a first group of nearly
forty communities across the Federation that have
shown their interest.
In the next months, my work will entail matching
communities, clarifying expectations and confirming
desired twinning relationships. This conversation is
important because many communities are in demand
(more than one community wants to be twinned with
them ) – without knowing it, while others have
expressed a wish (to be twinned with one community
in particular) without knowing that many others share
the same desire. Therefore I have to develop my
“matchmaker” instincts, hoping to encourage fruitful
and lasting relationships. As well, we need to take
into account many criteria regarding balance and
fairness. I trust that in the next six months the
program will be launched and much life will flow from
it.
Finally, concerning financial aid given to communities
or certain countries, the overall objective of $1.5
million CAD for the whole Federation has been
reached for 2014. Canada made a commitment of
$135,000. This amount has already been allocated to
projects that often extend beyond the framework of
the calendar or fiscal year.
I quote Boucar Diouf, whom you can see in a short
video clip on the theme of sharing: “If you are
concerned about what you’ll eat tomorrow, it’s
because today you’ve eaten your fill. If you are
concerned about what your neighbour will eat, it’s
because you are like the sun which has never stopped
shining over a village even though it is small.”
Thank you,
Jean-Christophe Pascal
The new mini Solidarity site is online at
www.inter.larche.org
Watch Boucar Diouf, Quebec storyteller,
on solidarity:
http://youtu.be/1BN0XROC8T4
 T WINNING
Interview with JEANNETTE FRASER
By Gabrielle Beaulieu, January 2015

Jeanette has been the community leader of L’Arche Arnprior

for two years. She has been part of the community in various
roles for 15 years and has a passion for building solidarity in
the Federation.

What was your reaction to the letter from Jean-Christophe

inviting communities to reflect on twinning?

He spoke very eloquently at the Community Leaders meeting

in May. When I came back to my community, I shared about it
with the community council, the board and the assistants. The
community had always had a respect for Solidarity and been
part of it, but there wasn’t a direct connection with Honduras.
Some seeds were planted at that point. Our community is
stable; so it could offer a good foundation for something new.
The ground was fertile. We were ready to hear Jean-
Christophe`s message. I give God thanks for that.

How was the process about twinning in your community?

We used the discussion sheets that were provided-- first, with the assistants, and they brought the discussion to
core members, either individually or in small groups. They used the same questions. One of the impact, though it
wasn’t one we expected and was not part of the reflection on twinning, was that it inspired people to give some
money. Some core members did this for the first time.

What was the spirit of the discussion?

I was very inspired by Jean-Christophe`s talking about the relationship aspect. People here were surprised to
hear that communities in the South are living very different realities. For some people, it was a shift to under-
stand that giving money is different than entering into relationship. I talked a lot about partnership.

How were the core members involved?

They were driving the process by expressing their desire to get to know more people. They were excited by the
opportunity to go somewhere different. Two members of our community went to a retreat in Santo Domingo.
After that trip, the core member who went talked about wanting to know more people from other communities. As
a community, we brought back what we experienced in Atlanta and in Vancouver. We were intentional about
making sure people shared about their experience so that the whole community could feel part of it.

What’s interesting for me is to see that we are not necessarily connecting often with communities that are close
to us. Taking the time to make that connection is difficult.

What are the fruits of this process?

We do want to be twinned. If we are not chosen for the pilot-project, we still want to be more engaged in building
the Federation. The process also helped the community realize the importance of core members in keeping the
spirit of solidarity alive. Their role is critical for the sustainability of our commitment.

Anything else?

The fact that there is lot of information and content on the International Meeting Ground makes a difference too.
There is such richness! We often speak about it. During the Jubilee year there was so much, so much was
happening. We are using videos and news from there during our community events. We are supporting our core
members to have access to this site and to see the videos that are available.

PAGE 4 |
 T WINNING
Interview with JACQUES LANG
By Gabrielle Beaulieu, January 2015

Jacques Lang has been a member of L’Arche Montréal for 16 years and responsible of the L’Alizée workshop for almost 8
years. Gabrielle Beaulieu met with him just before his departure, as part of the International Solidarity program, for L’Arche
Punla, in the Philippines.

How did the adventure begin?

Last February Zoël said to me “Jacques, I’ve been thinking about you lately.
There is a beautiful community in the Philippines and I think you would be a
good fit with them” This immediately resonated with me. The fact that it
implied a three-year commitment didn’t scare me at all. I became really
interested and so then met Jean-Christophe to know more.

I should mention that when Zoël began his role with International, I asked
him to keep me in mind as he travelled around.
Jacques and the community of L’Arche Montreal

How did you make your decision? Did you take a time for discernment?

I was aware of the urgency of the need there but I felt that I needed to take time to make the decision. So I took the time to
discern through a retreat in Guelph. But then I realized that I had actually already decided. Sometimes the big decisions are
made quickly; it is more all the little things that tend to get in the way and distract. The retreat confirmed that I was ready to
leave, but only in the beginning of 2015.

How did you prepare?

There are all the usual logistical things to do that aren’t necessarily the most fun: my apartment, insurance, telephone, etc. I
am learning to accept my style of organization.

The most important thing for me is to spend as much time as possible with the people I love; my nieces and nephews for
example. Watching them grow up will be different from this perspective. I realize just how many people I love in my life so I’m
not sad.

How did people react to the announcement of your departure?

When I told my family everyone said « Wow! ». When they realized that it was for 3 years they said « Oooh! ». Some people
talk about a strong sense of commitment but in fact I am lucky. It isn’t so much courage as a privilege to be able to go.

Once over there how will you stay connected?

Luckily I have already been to India so I have lived the experience before. I know that receiving an e-mail with anecdotes and
news of all kinds can keep me going for weeks. When someone asked what they could do for me I told them to pray for me
and to write. My resolution this year is to answer. I leave February 11 th and I realize that I will miss my gang at the workshop.
We will have a Skype call once a month. It touches me to know that even when I am far away they are there to support me.

What would you say to someone who is wondering if this kind of project is for them?

If someone is asking themselves the question it’s because there is already an interest, a seed that has been planted. In my
case, I put my trust in the call and what has been put in place to support the project. I am very much supported by my
community and it is really moving to be sent by them. One of the core members said “We are lending Jacques to you”. The
community of L'Arche Montreal is lending me to the community of Punla. Maybe it’s because I am leaving but I have never
felt a stronger connection with my community than I do right now. It is not perfect but it is where I have put down my roots.

The last word?

When I left for India a missionary sister said to me « Jacques I have some advice for you. Walk with your head down » I’m
not sure I understand; but it did help in India and Bangladesh. There is a beauty and pride in the people. When I spoke to
Letlet, the community leader of L’Arche Punla, I was aware of the enormous difference between our two realities. We have
so many things here. Over there I will touch into another kind of creativity.

PAGE 5 |
 T WINNING
My Life in L’Arche Brazil
By Hélène Anctil, January 2015
I accepted Jean-Christophe Pascal’s request from
the International Solidarity program to come back to
Brazil to help the community that was going through
a very difficult time. I say “come back to” because I
did live in the community in 1992-93 at a time when
they were in need of assistants.
I arrived here October 26th, after a 6 month wait for
my visa. Four people from L'Arche welcomed me at
the airport carrying a big poster made by the work-
shop and sporting the L’Arche logo and the name
Helena written in big letters. At home, Bem, Vinda,
Helena and Isabelle, the Head of House were
waiting. So I was expected and welcomed! This is
how I began living as a house assistant; helping
with each person’s daily routine, cleaning and
housekeeping, meals, prayer before supper and
getting ready for bed: the simple daily life of
L'Arche, which for some people can seem to be so
ordinary, but is yet so rich. After being there for a
while I spoke with Jean-Christophe by Skype and
told him how happy I was to come back to this daily
life in the home that had always been life-giving,
and that I felt rejuvenated because in my communi-
ty in Quebec I lived separately, in an apartment,
and was in charge of training and formation. I really
loved that, but I also missed daily life in the home
with core members.
As the days pass I have come to know the nine
core members and those who arrive morning, after-
noon and evening to be with them. I was the only
assistant sleeping in the home for the first while.
PAGE 6 |
Then Nathalie arrived from France, Magali from
Brazil and Rivenzio from the state of Bahia. My
mission here had been determined before my
arrival. I was to be an assistant and a formative
presence, a support to the Head of House and a
help in training others. Then we had a visit from
Maria Elvira, the International delegate for Latin
America. Her presence here was very enriching, as
she met and listened to people. She then asked me
to assume the role of Community Leader for a
period of six months. I accepted because I saw it as
the best way for me to help the community today.
We have two priorities:
 to find Brazilian assistants open to making a
commitment for a couple of years and
 to choose a Director and provide this person
with the training necessary to truly live the mission
and identity of L’Arche.
There is a lot of life in the community and the core
members are well. Over the holidays we attended
religious celebrations in the different Christian
communities that we belong to. There is always a
warm welcome. January 9-18th, we enjoyed holidays
at the beach in a house that Valdir borrowed for us
from a friend. It was an important time together and
wonderful to see the core members jump into the
waves and dance for joy. The sea also brings with it
peace and calm. Our relationships were strength-
ened and we came home closer than ever to each
other.
This gives you a glimpse of my life in L'Arche Brazil
and the situation of our community. I praise God for
this new call in my life that brings me such joy and
satisfaction. I ask for the grace to remain faithful to
being guided in prayer by His spirit to best serve the
community in Brazil.
Keep us in your prayers and friendship.
Thank you.
 SHARING
Contribution 2014 from L’Arche in Canada
By Jean-Christophe Pascal

Santo Domingo has no shortage of projects: reorganization of the day program and
renovation of older buildings for the day program activities. The objective for 2014, however,
was to update their compensation policy in order to offer assistants decent working conditions.
To realize the long-desired changes, $24,738 was needed, of which $7,000 was sent by Canada.

Five years has gone by since the earthquake, and the community of Port-au-Prince is very
much enjoying its new facilities. Life is back to normal, but it cannot be forgotten that, since
Carrefour is located on a fault line, relocation will be unavoidable; this is now the subject of a
community process and a special accompaniment. Most of the help given has consisted of
direct aid to daily operations: $128,630, of which $52,000 came from Canada. This also
includes assistance given to the community of Chantal.

The community of Brazil is coming out of an extremely precarious situation, marked by

numerous departures and a long period without a community leader. Life could continue
thanks to the sending of a certain number of foreign assistants – one of these being Hélène
Anctil from the Quebec City community, with a mandate for two years. The community is
involved in a re-founding process which should conclude with a new vision during 2015. Most
of our efforts have therefore gone to sending Hélène to Brazil and to purchasing a car, as well
as contributing to current operating expenses. The financial aid objective for 2015 will have
the same goal. Canada has contributed to these efforts to the amount of $10,000.

The reconstruction of the Casa Isabel home in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is nearly finished and the
people should be moving in soon. The total budget for the project was $145,500 –of which
$117,000 came from International aid, with Canada contributing $10,000. The relocation of the
home closer to Casa Nazareth, and into a better neighborhood, means a considerable improvement
in the quality of life for everyone in this home.

A special aspect of the community of Lviv, Ukraine, is that it

is situated in five locations, each in a workshop well rooted
in its neighborhood. In 2014, the amount of $68,000 in aid
(for a total budget of $98,000) was directly allocated to the
operation of these workshops and to a place of respite for
families. Canada contributed about $10,000. In 2015, the
community plans to acquire a building for one of the work-
shops that will include, as well as office space, a more
central meeting place for the community.
 How does Financial Solidarity Work?
Solidarity in L’Arche has two aspects—social and financial. Besides the nurturing of friendships with
communities in the South, there is the collecting and sending of financial assistance. L’Arche
communities across Canada hold fundraising events for Solidarity and, in addition, individuals may
give regularly through their communities. Contributions clearly designated for Solidarity can also be
made through the L’Arche Canada Foundation. L’Arche International will send an annual report
describing the ways in which donations were used.

In countries where governments are unable to provide financial support for those with special
needs, your gift can make a significant difference in the life of a person with an intellectual disability.

Join us as together we form an international family through solidarity and mutual friendship!

Each region in Canada is twinned with a country or a community in Latin America or the Caribbean.

Atlantic Region Dominican Republic

Quebec Haiti

Ontario Honduras

Western Canada Brazil

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