The 'Miracle of Love' that is the L'Arche Community

My own impression of L'Arche was that of a God-filled time of breathtaking beauty and simplicity. It was the paradox of the Gospel that talks about the poorest among us as being closest to God, the wisdom and glory of Christ revealed in these very broken and rejected people. Their ability to transcend their own difficulties and 'handicaps' reminds us of our own mostly hidden brokenness and the potential of the risen Jesus to work his miracles in our hearts. Simply put, it is the miracle of love. I found that love can overcome all human limitations and barriers, that it is in being instruments of Christ's healing for others that we are healed ourselves. It is a shining light in what Jean Vanier calls the 'broken world', an invitation to reassess our priorities as to what is important in life and to create communities of mutual support and love.

Brendan McManus SJ
Campion Jesuit Community

WHO REALLY MINISTERS?

Katya shared the fate of hundreds of thousands in Stalin’s Russia. With her German background and eight years old, she was exiled to Kazakstan about 1943. Most of her family and friends did not survive. She met another exile, married and gave birth to four children in quick succession. Soon a widow, she reared her children in the harsh religious and economic conditions of the time and place. Eventually, in the Brezhnev era, her family stole back to Russia and got work in a Collective Farm.

A phone call was my first contact. Katya’s son heard there was a Catholic priest in Saratov, 50 kilometres away. He phoned, explaining his mother was very ill, probably dying. Could I come?

I drove out, over icy roads. Family members were ready to welcome me. I chatted with Katya, heard her first and last confession, gave her communion, anointed her. We talked for a time about the past. Before leaving I asked her if she had any worries or fears.

“I am not afraid”, she said. “I am so happy a priest could come before I die. All my life God has been with me, every day. He was always near. You don’t speak German and I don’t speak Russian very well. But we’ve enough to understand each other. Thanks for coming. What’s your name again? I will pray for you”.

I knew she would. As I drove home over an ice-sheet for 30 kilometres, the snow sparkled like diamonds and something sparkled in my heart too. A question would not leave my mind, “Who was really ministering here?”

Katya died the next wednesday. The following Sunday, a beautiful young girl, a university student came to me after mass. “I want to come to church here,” she said. “I’m Katya. You came to my grandmother last week”. I knew grandmother Katya was still praying and not only for me.

Michael Screene MSC

CAPTIVATED BY CHRIST

We need the infinitely attractive personality of Christ. Nothing else will catch and hold our attention, engage our interest, and fill our hearts, as Christ will. Christ lived a life so captivatingly loveable that it is enough to tear the heart out of anyone who will become acquainted with it.

Who can help but be influenced by the irresistible force of Him who said: ‘’ And I, if I be lifted up, I will draw all things to myself ‘‘?. It is impossible to look into the face of Christ without being drawn into the action of Christ. That is what Francois Mauriac meant when he said: ‘’ Once you get to know Christ, you cannot be cured of him.’’

Jesus is the Pied Piper of human hearts. He turns our lives inside out like gloves. He transforms weak, hesitant fishermen into strong, ardent champions of God. He makes us walk on water and live as carefree as birds.

This Christ is the God who dwells within us; who is closer to us than we are to ourselves; who is more real than we are. We are real to the extent that we are in touch with this reality; we are alive to the degree that we respond to His activity.

What is His activity? Making friends out of human stuff. He is always at it – loving, hounding, wooing, enticing – until there is an adequate response from the human person, which means complete capitulation before the devastating demands of a jealous lover, absolute surrender to the to the relentless chase of the Divine Friend.

From now on we must have one single reason for everything we do; and that reason must be Christ.

Father William McNamara, O.C.D., (The Art of Being Human)

Greetings from Peru,

My daily life here is very varied. To begin the day ...prayer. Morning visits. I have a nurse and social worker employed, so we meet and pray, before they set out on the rounds. Mornings are usually quieter than afternoon.

I visit our chapels, our feeding centre, and as the parish is only 3 years old, we usually have some building projects going on.

A medical centre is on the cards, because so many here don't have basic medical care and can't afford medicine or treatment.

I enjoy some quiet time with the Lord, in the Blessed Sacrament. I couldn't do without this. I'd be burnt out otherwise.

I get lazy at times and have no impetus, so I need others too. I like to visit ...we have some very poor areas and it's amazing the problems which literally come out the door to us.... Peruvian husbands are often violent, unfaithful, and irresponsible. Marriages often fail.

We have over 250 couples in a catechetical group,which really helps and heals, and brings God more into the picture.

Peruvians are very open to God, and almost always have faith, but for 2 million people here in our diocese there are only 42 priests. Night times include meetings of catechesis, Masses, prayer hours, visits; supper often has to wait till 10 or later!!

All this and much more, every day is different.

God bless the work your doing.

Fr Adrian Crowley

“As a still “newly” ordained priest my contact with committed laity astounds me just how active the Holy Spirit is in the lives of these people and how they truly want to be holy and serve the Church. When one sees such commitment in our day and age -- especially as a priest-- then we can only be consoled by this fact and say that yes God is truly here at work in His Church: ever active, ever sanctifying, ever present. We live in a changing world, which can bring both apprehension and hope to us. Yet these are exciting times that demand decision and conviction to live out our “baptismal identity” as Christians and many, many are rising to the occasion and want to be true disciples, authentic apostles of Christ our Lord.” I feel absolutely privileged to have been called by Christ to exercise my priesthood at such a transcendental moment in human history.

Fr. Martin Connor, LC

It is an amazing blessing to share in the Priesthood of Jesus.

I cannot describe what a joy it is to offer the Holy Mass every day and indeed, to unite my sufferings in union with the Passion of Jesus, for the salvation of the world.

What a joy it is to help people realize how great the mercy of God is through preaching and the blessed sacrament of reconciliation.

Each day there are so many opportunities to help people. For example, yesterday a woman was asking me to celebrate Holy Mass for her parents on the 50th anniversary of their wedding. I knew it would mean so much to them.

An t-Athair A. o Cearbhaill

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