Seeming intended as his father for a military career, at
thirteen years of age, during the second world war, Jean Vanier enters the Royal Naval College of
Dartmouth. He becomes a naval officer on the English battleship Vanguard, then a few
years later transfers to the single Canadian aircraft carrier, the Magnificent. He is then
twenty years old and he has already lived in several countries, of which France and England.
In 1950, he resigns from the Royal Canadian Navy. During the next six years, he
will be a member, then director of a laic community close to Paris L'eau vive. He then spent
one year at La trappe Bellefontaine, one year on a farm and two years in Fatima. In 1962, he
becomes doctor of philosophy, then teaches a short time in Toronto.
In 1964, the father Thomas Philippe, a Dominican, incites Jean to come to settle in Trosly,
close to Paris, where he is a chaplain of a center for handicapped people. Since he left
the navy, Jean has much reflected and travelled. He acquired the certainty of having to create a
laic community and this, with and for the poor and rejected people of society. He thus buys an
old dilapidated house, which was baptized The Arch and inaugurated on August 5, 1964. Starting
from this first community, others were born in Australia, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada,
Côte d'ivoire, Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland,
Italy, United Kingdom and Switzerland. Today there are 103 communities in the world.
In 1968, following a retreat which he preached in Merylake, in Ontario, was born "Foi et Partage"
(Faith and Sharing), a community where one meets for one day of prayer once a month, and where
everyone is welcomed. In 1971, with Marie Helène Matthieu, he founds "Foi et Lumiere" (Faith and
Light), a movement which gathers people with a handicap, their parents and friends for times of
sharing, of celebration and prayer. These communities meet one or twice a month. There is
currently more than thousand communities in the world.
Until 1981, Jean Vanier was responsibile for the Arch in Trosly-Breuil. In 1981, he took
one year sabbatical and left this responsibility. He continues to make his "home" in
Trosly-Breuil, living and sharing his life with others in one of the homes. He continues to
visit the communities throughout the world and also gives conferences.
Other Links of interest
L'Arche Canada
History & Genealogie of the Vanier Family
