INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FROM THE

COMMUNITY LEADER

1

WE WILL MISS YOU

SUSAN!!

1

BELONGING TO THE

LARGER SOCIETY -

HAIRSPRAY AT THE

NAC

2

SENIOR’S

GATHERING—

BELONGING TO THE

REGION

2

BELONGING TO EACH

OTHER -EASTER

MONDAY A HIT

3

L’ARCHE WISHLIST 4

BELONGING IN

L’ARCHE

4

OUR MISSION IS: To make known the

gifts of people with

developmental

disabilities revealed

through mutually

transforming

relationships.

To engage in our

diverse cultures,

working together to

build a more human

society.

To foster an

environment in

communities that is

inspired by the core

values of our

founding story, and

responds to the

changing needs of

our members.

“BELONGING”

SPRING 2007

Belonging…. I wonder why

I am finding it so difficult to

write about this theme. Is it

because of the questions that

this word brings into my

mind? -- Do you belong to

this church? Do you belong

to that group? Does she

belong to L’Arche? And

what does it mean to really

belong? Richard Rohr has

written a book entitled

Everything Belongs. These

words speak to my heart. I

know that I am challenged to

live in a way that accepts not

only everything but also

everyone as belonging. Do

my words, do my actions

reflect this truth? I am

grateful that L’Arche

challenges me and supports

me to live from the truth that

we all belong. I continue to

learn from my

friend Ernest

Tucker who is

not afraid to

name

differences yet

at the same time

desires a real

relationship. To

belong is not

exclusiveness.

It is to

recognize the fundamental

truth that we all belong, and

we belong to each other.

WE WILL MISS YOU SUSAN!!

In January 2007, L’Arche

Arnprior’s long time board

member, Susan Burns-

McIntyre resigned. Susan

has been active on the

L’Arche Arnprior board for

over 16 years. Her most

recent position was as Board

president. We have many

fond memories of Susan’s

presence at our L’Arche

events, our Gathering of

Friends, the Bake Sale, our

Meetings of the Body, our

AGM and especially eating

venison with Lary at Lake

Street. Susan was not just

involved in our local L’Arche

Arnprior community. She

was also very active at the

regional, national and

international level and

attended many gatherings and

assemblies representing

L’Arche Arnprior, not only

speaking about L’Arche but

also living it in a very

personal way. We will miss

her involvement but know

that we still have her as a

very dear friend of the

Community.

L’Arche Arnprior

The L’Arche

Lantern

FROM THE COMMUNITY LEADER—NOREEN LAMORIE

It snowed the day before the show and

I was concerned that we may not be

able to go but it was OK that day. Liz

picked up Sharon and me and we

picked up Anne Ness at her apartment

in Ottawa. We went to Swiss Chalet

for a delicious lunch and then went to

the theatre after. We were all dressed

up too. We parked just down the street

from the theatre and walked. The NAC

has this red carpet. Tracey was the

main character. She had red hair that

she wore in a “beehive” and a quick

temper but she was funny. She wanted

to be on TV but her mom didn’t want

her on TV. She and her friend went to

the try-outs anyway and she met this

nice tall dark handsome guy who

already had a girlfriend but she fell in

love with him. She also made friends

with some black people and found out

how well they danced but they were not

at the try-outs. She tried to get them

involved and ended up in jail. Her

boyfriend found out that his girlfriend

was just using him too. In the end, they

all ended up on TV, even her Mom and

Dad. There was lots of 50’s and 60’s

music with a live orchestra. It was

nostalgic and made me think of my

childhood. The costumes were great –

the beehive hairdos, the short tight

skirts, jewelry, pantyhose and high

heels, ruffled tops and long sleeves.

The stage sets were colorful and there

was lots of singing and dancing. I

Freeman, Doretta Robinson

and I all had the chance to

enjoy this wonderful time.

June was able to stay in a

“unit” with Lisa, Ken got to

do his favorite thing – dance,

Lary was happy to see a lot

of old friends from other

communities as was Doretta.

Doretta and I got to wear

these absolutely beautiful

hats. It was a wonderful

time and Doretta said she

would like to go back again.

We all felt like we belonged.

This year, L’Arche Arnprior

was able to send four core

members and four assistants

to the Seniors’ Gathering in

Kingston. This Gathering is

a wonderful opportunity for

seniors in the Ontario region

to get together once a year

and exchange greetings and

have some fun together. The

highlight of the Seniors

Gathering for everyone

without exception seems to

be the high tea on the second

afternoon of our three day

gathering. Everyone gets

dressed to the “nines” with

hats, long dresses, gloves,

suits and ties. We have tea

and share homemade

squares and cookies

graciously provided by the

L’Arche communities. We

then finish off the afternoon

with a dance. This is a

wonderful occasion and this

year was no exception. Lisa

Kingsbury and June Antler,

Jerry Fisher and Ken Veley,

Bev McNab and Lary

BELONGING TO THE REGION - SENIORS’ GATHERING BY LIZ CAMPBELL

“The stage sets were colorful and there was lots of singing and dancing.”

THE L’ARCHE LANTERN

BELONGING TO THE LARGER SOCIETY - “HAIRSPRAY” AT

THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE BY RENEE MCKEOGH

PAGE 2

Bev & Lary making cards

We’re missing Jerry & Ken. Where do you suppose they are? Smoking….?

Look at the hats Doretta and I are wearing!

June & Lisa taking a quiet moment

Ken, June & Jerry in front of Providence Spirituality Centre

Anne Ness, Sharon and I enjoy the intermis-

sion at Hairspray at the National Arts Centre. Liz took the picture on the sly with no flash. We aren’t supposed to take any pictures in the theatre.

I am the Vice President of the

L'Arche Arnprior Board of

Directors. I recently attended a

gathering with the community to

celebrate Easter. There was a lot of

good food, good company, and fun

and games. It is always a wonderful

experience to see the smiles and hear

the laughter of the core members,

assistants, volunteers and other staff.

We played games in teams, where

everyone had a sense of belonging as

a team member. In one particular

game, the object was to push an egg

with your nose on the floor along a

line of tape. Not only was it very

funny to watch, but it was

heartwarming to hear the cheering

and applause for each and every

participant and then to see the look of

pride on the participants' faces.

It makes me very happy to be a part

of the L'Arche Arnprior community.

It is so much more than just being a

board member.

In one particular game, the object was to push an egg with your nose on

the floor along a line of tape...

PAGE 3 SPRING 2007

BELONGING TO EACH OTHER - EASTER MONDAY CELEBRATIONS

A HIT BY TRISH HEFFERNEN

Nancy watches Cindy try balancing a plastic cup on a straw.

Annette getting ready to try push-ing an egg

Melanie pushing an egg on the floor

Doretta tries her hand at egg push-

ing.

Ken, & Benno admire little Andrea Simmons

Marian plays a game that requires par-ticipants to pass a plastic cup between them using a bent straw in their mouth.

Doris joins in the game and pushes an egg on the floor.

Myself & Bob trying to balance cups on straws.

Lucy, her mother, Mary Ethel and Ernie wearing their Easter “bonnets”

Liz in her Easter bonnet

Greg,

Bernie & Melanie share a moment

L’Arche Arnprior

We are people with and without developmental disabilities, sharing life in communities of faith.

Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our life together.

We seek to build a world that recognizes the unique value of every person and our need for one another.

We’re on the web

www.larche.ca/en/communities

/on/arnprior

“Hi Lisa!!”. This makes me feel very

much that I am a part of the family and

that I belong and am truly accepted by

each home.

Today, my role with L’Arche is Seniors

Program Assistant at Rainbow House

and I love every moment of it.

Many people come into my life and I

find it really difficult to remember

everyone. It’s amazing that you all

remain unforgettable in my heart.

Thanks for giving me a sense

of belonging in your

community.

A special thanks to Kinsman

– my #1 family. You guys

really know how to make a

person feel like they belong.

I love you all very much.

Thank you L’Arche

Arnprior.

Hello my fellow L’Arche community

members. My name is Lisa and I

would like to tell you about my feelings

of the sense of belonging in the

L’Arche community.

I was welcomed into the L’Arche

community last April 2006. There, I

started working as relief. I was

welcomed into all the L’Arche homes

in Arnprior. I was surprised at how

everyone was so happy and so willing

to have me in their homes.

In L’Arche Arnprior, I feel that I have

become another “Norm” from “Cheers”

– I walk into a house and everyone says

BELONGING IN L’ARCHE BY LISA KINGSBURY

Here I am with my new friends, Mark, June & Ken.

Ernie, Sandra and Mark at Rainbow House

June and I dressed for St Patrick’s Day.

WISH LIST 1. Digital clock radio

2. Coffee table

3. Computer

4. Bedding plants

5. Small perennials or

annuals

6. Good used newer

model TV

If you have any of these

items that you would be

willing to donate to

L’Arche, please contact the

L’Arche Arnprior office at

613 623 3315.

16 Edward Street South, Suite 103

Arnprior, Ontario K7S 3G8

UNITED WAY DONOR’S CHOICE

PROGRAM

Do you give through United Way payroll deductions? If your

answer is “yes”, then it may be possible for you to support L’Arche

Arnprior through the Donor’s Choice Program. United Way donors

can now designate which organization benefits from their

contributions. The donor receives an income tax receipt from the

United Way and L’Arche Arnprior benefits from the gift. Ask your

employer to check….

Phone: 613-623-7323

Fax: 613-623-9629

Email: office@larchearnprior.org

www.larche.ca/en/communities/on/arnprior