Dear Friends,
Recently, I was reflecting about the fragility of all our lives, especially in the uncertain times we are living in. Our beloved community members continue to get older, and some of them are facing health challenges worse than the day before. Watching people age does make me a bit weepy.
However, every summer we host school groups from all over the country to join us in our Immersion program, essentially giving students and teachers a glimpse into our everyday lives here at L’Arche. As I’ve engaged with each group, I have been honored and impressed by the students’ reflections.
St. Ignatius Immersion Group
For the first two weeks of June, St. Ignatius Preparatory School from San Francisco joined our community in meals, worked on the farm, ate dinner in the homes, participated in community events, and shared our Welcome Center space.
In the last session on mutual relationships one of the teachers asked me why we invite students to join us in community.
This made me pause and reflect before responding, “Honestly, it’s to meet young people like you all. To hear your reflections, to see you engage with core members with vulnerability and tenderness, to watch you open up to community members you’ve never met with genuine curiosity. It’s a joy and to hear you ask good questions of why things are the way they are; that gives me hope for the world. You all are the future and if there are people like you in it, I know we will all be okay.”
It also brings me peace to remember that life is cyclical, and I appreciate all the cycles we live into while in community with one another. I’m also so grateful for the wider circle of our supporters like those of you reading this message now. Knowing you are out there also gives me great hope!
An Interview with Les
In this month’s L’Arche Community Connections, you’ll find a Core Member Focus on Les with his love of the rock band Kiss and competing in the Special Olympics.
After over 40 years in our community, Les is an excellent example of someone who forms meaningful friendships at L’Arche.
Exploring Loneliness
If you’d like to dig a little deeper and explore ways to address the loneliness epidemic in America, I invite you to watch this video created by the L’Arche Greater Washington D.C. community. You’ll find images and interviews about what it’s like to be lonely whether or not you have an intellectual disability. The video also shows how we can reach out and accept friendship with others.
We also hope you’ll join us for Camp L’Arche in July! Running from Wednesday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 15 this summer camp will include a week of activities that celebrate summer and everyone is invited! You can download the schedule below.
Thank you for joining us in all the ways that you do.
In Gratitude,
Katie Miyakado
