1928Canadian, born in Geneva; son of the late Governor General of Canada George Vanier and Pauline
Vanier. After George Vanier's death in 1967, Madame Vanier moved to the original L'Arche community in Trosly France where she lived until her death in 1991 at 93.
1941Entered Dartmouth Naval College in England at age 13.
1945Entered Royal Navy England. Transferred to Royal Canadian Navy in 1948 and appointed to the carrier
"Magnificent"
1950Felt called to leave the Navy and became a student of philosophy and theology in Paris, earning a Doctor
of Philosophy degree at the Institut Catholique. His thesis was on Aristotle.
1963Taught philosophy at University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto
1964Founded L'Arche with Fr. Thomas Phillipe in Trosly, France. He rented a small home and welcomed
Raphael Simi and Phillip Seux, two men with a developmental disability who had been living in an institution to live with him. Today there are over 135 L'Arche communities in 30 countries, including 27 in Canada. Father Thomas died in 1993.
1968Gave the first "Faith and Sharing" retreat at Marylake in King, Ontario, bringing together lay people,
religious and people with a disability. Since then there have been hundreds of Faith and Sharing retreats
given in across North America by various people.
1971Founded, with Marie Helene Mathieu, Faith and Light: an organization which brings together on a
monthly basis people with a developmental disability, their family and friends. Today there are 1800 Faith and Light groups in 80 countries.
1971Organized and led the first Faith and Light Pilgrimage to Lourdes for 12,000 people, including 4,000
people with a disability. Every ten years since then there has been a major pilgrimage to Lourdes or Rome.
1970'sBegan traveling extensively throughout the world to give talks, lectures, retreats, and to establish and
support L'Arche and Faith and Light communities. This continues to this day, with a special interest in speaking with young people.
1981Stepped down from the day to day responsibility for the original L'Arche Community in Trosly, France
and for the International Federation of L'Arche, allowing others to take over.
1983Delivered the major address to the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Vancouver
1987At the invitation of the Pope, participated in the Synod of the Laity in Rome
1998 Addressed the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in Geneva
1998Invited by the Archbishop of Canterbury to address the all the Bishops of the Anglican Communion at the Lambeth Conference
1998Delivered the Massey Lecture in Convocation Hall in Toronto. The complete Massey Lectures were
subsequently broadcast across Canada on CBC radio. The lecture series entitled "Becoming Human" was also published and was a national best seller for many weeks.
2004Jean still makes his home in one of the homes in Trosly but is called to travel a great deal to visit
communities of L'Arche and Faith & Light, to encourage new projects and to give talks, lectures and retreats. Jean speaks to thousands of people each year.
L'Arche
