Jean Vanier

JEAN VANIER Jean Vanier was born in 1928 in Quebec, Canada. He was the son of the Governal General, Georges Vanier. Jean was educated in England, and was a part of the British Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. He resigned from the nay in 1950 and went to France to work on a doctorate in philosophy. In 1964, Jean Vanier along with two other men Founded L'Arche, a community with men and woman who have development disabilities. …

…and Be Not Afraid. In 1971, with Marie Hélène Mathieu, he founded "Faith and Light", communities which meet together regularly, people with developmental disabilities and their parents and friends. Until 1981, Jean Vanier carried the responsibility for L' Arche and for the International Federation of L'Arche. He stepped down from those two responsibilities, allowing others to take over. He spends much of his time counseling, encouraging and accompanying assistants in their personal journey in L'Arche.