- St. Mary's Parish
Mons' Musings Vol. 2: Jean Vanier
By Mons. Peter Jeffrey:
Friends,
I want to tell you about a man who has been a great inspiration to me. His name is Jean Vanier. Nearly sixty years ago he founded a new kind of Christian community. It welcomes people with severe intellectual difficulties in a shared life of freedom and mutual respect. Soon after he began this special work, the Second Vatican Council released its vision of a Church which would put society’s weakest and most marginalised members at its heart.
Since then Vanier’s “L’Arche” communities have become a world-renowned symbol of compassion and HOPE. The members of each small community are drawn from different faiths and/or none. They are often multi- racial. When you think about it, these little communities are so counter-cultural in a world that continues to value success (especially financial) and power often sadly at the expense of the poor and powerless.
As a philosopher and as a deeply committed disciple of Jesus, Vanier is a prolific writer. In my brief reflections for our ‘blog’ I will be inspired by what this amazing man says about the “Signs of the Times”. He has his finger on the pulse! I hope he will whet your appetite for more of his gems!
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