L'Arche

L' Arche (French for " The Ark " ) is an association of believers in 1964 by the Canadian Jean Vanier and the Frenchman Philippe Seux and Raphaël Simi, two men with an intellectual disability, in Trosly - Breuil, a village 80 km north was founded in Paris. Was accompanied these first community of the Ark by the Dominican Father Thomas Philippe. There are now 137 Arche communities in 36 countries on all five continents.

In the communities of the Ark people live together with and without intellectual disabilities. The Ark has its origins in the Catholic tradition. Today, however, many communities home or see themselves as ecumenical in other Christian churches. For many years, including the inter-religious communities in India for the Federation.

" L' Arche" is not the same as, or related to, which was founded in southern France Lanza del Vasto same community of L'Arche ( Community ).

The Ark in Germany

In Germany there are still three communities: The Ark Tecklenburg between Münster and Osnabrück, the ark Ravensburg near Lake Constance and the Ark Landsberg between Munich and Augsburg. Another community in Trier is planned.

The Ark in Austria

In Austria there are two ark houses: The house in Gries am Brenner and St. Jodok. Both are located in Tyrol and belong to the Arche Tirol.

Structure

With the growth of communities across regional and eventually international structures made ​​out. The International Federation of Communities of the Ark is a union of all communities and is managed by two international coordinators and the International sponsoring organization (International Board). It is divided into nine zones worldwide. Each community is and but wirtschaftet own.

The Charter

The basic ideas of the ark were held in a Charter. It arose from the need to give communities a cohesion and identity. First, it was written in a purely tailored to the Christian faith shape, then after also first communities in India were created, brought into the present form. The spirituality in it continues to play an important role, but was now open to other religions out. This Charter was finally adopted by the General Assembly of the Federation in May 1993 in Cap Rouge (Quebec, Canada).