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Flag at Half Mast
Published on May 7, 2019 13:25
Jean Vanier (1928-2019)
Jean Vanier, who died on May 7 at the age of 90, was a Canadian-born Catholic thinker and leader who was known all over the world for devoting much of his life to promoting compassion, welcome, inclusion and the dignity of every person. He was the founder in 1964 of the L’Arche movement [French for “The Ark”], an international network of homes where people with, and without, intellectual disabilities live together in a mutually supportive family-style environment. Canada’s first L’Arche home, “Daybreak,” is located in Richmond Hill, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Our Catholic high school in Collingwood is named for Vanier and tries to model the values he preached and lived.
Our flag at St. James will be flown at half mast until Friday, as we pay tribute to the tremendous gifts of Jean Vanier to humanity. Please pray for the many people around the world who are mourning Jean's death, and may he continue to inspire us.
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