L'Arche Community

Various groups at St. Patricks provide life and enrichment to the larger community. The L'Arche group is an international organization which provides family-like homes and care for developmentally delayed adults.

The community was started in France in 1964 by Jean Vanier who had originally been an officer in the Royal Navy. In a small French village, with help from friends in the church and state, one house turned into several and a community called L'Arche (French for The Ark) was born and many more founding stories began.

Seattle's L'Arche houses have become an integral part of St. Patricks. The "core" members and assistants participate in Sunday liturgies, talent shows and dances. At Sunday Mass many members of the congregation "sign" certain parts of the liturgy along with the developmentally disabled folks. Our community life takes on a wider meaning of diversity as we are blessed by the people of L'Arche.