Information for Prospective Assistants in Kilkenny

A brief history:

L’Arche is a worldwide federation of faith communities where people with intellectual disabilities and assistants share life together. The first L’Arche home was founded in Trosly, France in 1964 by Jean Vanier and Fr. Thomas Philippe OP. L’Arche has been in Ireland since 1978. We now have 4 communities: Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin, and Belfast.

Our community in Kilkenny was founded in May 1978 when our first core members (people with intellectual disabilities) moved into their home Moorefield House (named after the lady who donated the home) in the small village of Kilmoganny, which is 20km from Kilkenny and 10km from Callan. Today, 8 people live here i.e. 4 core members and 4 assistants. Our second house, An Siol (means “the seed”) opened in 1988 is now used for assistants on their rest days and is located in the town of Callan. It also has a space for trainings or meetings. In our third house, Lion De (means “net of God”), which opened in 2000, 3 core members and 3 assistants live together just on the outskirts of Callan. Our fourth house, An Solas (means “the Light”), opened in 2010 where 2 core members and 4 assistants live, and it is also located in Callan. There are also 4 additional semi-independent living facilities where 4 core members live on their own but with support. In addition, our community is made up of a craft workshop, administrative centre in Callan called Cluain Aoibhinn (means “beautiful place of peace”), and a horticultural project in Kilmoganny called Gort Moire (means “Field of Moore”, named after the lady who donated the land). We have 9 core members who do not live in L’Arche but come to the workshop for the day programme. We also have a local committee of 10 people who live locally and voluntarily support the community leader in the management of the community. There are also employees and volunteers of the work areas (i.e. work assistants, and FAS workers) and administrative employees. Another workplace is Café L’Arche, a historic building located in Callan where we serve tea and lunch to the greater community. Six core members work there in a training programme. In all we are about 70 people.

Life in the community:

L’Arche is first and foremost a “community”, where the emphasis is on “sharing life” as opposed to “being cared for” or “giving care”. We are a community of participation – i.e. everyone, new or old, with intellectual disabilities or not, have their part to play according to their own gifts. Choosing to come to L’Arche implies a willingness to enter into relationship and share life with people who are different – different in culture, language, beliefs, religious affiliation, intellectual ability and some people whose behaviour can at times be difficult due to their life experience. It requires a flexibility and openness of heart and mind. It also requires a willingness to move house or change roles in response to the needs of the community.

• Are you willing to open your heart/mind to new people and to new ways of thinking? • Are you searching for something more? • Are you ready for the challenge and open to personal growth? • Can you believe that this very simple way of life, lived with people who are different can be a source of hope and transformation for each one of us and for our world? • Are you flexible – willing to respond to the need of people with disabilities? If you answer YES to these questions, then L’Arche may be for you – READ ON:

Role of a house assistant:

The main role of a house assistant in L’Arche is to live and build community by creating home with people who have an intellectual disability and with the other assistants in the house in which you are living. As a house assistant you would be living in one of the community houses and sharing in responsibility for the life of the house. House assistants carry responsibility for creating home and building community. Assistants need to be flexible with their time and space.

The pattern of your day starts with getting yourself and others up for breakfast, then perhaps accompanying people to the workshop. The morning is spent doing household chores such as cleaning, shopping, laundry, etc. Every Tuesday morning, the team meets to check in with each other and plan the week ahead. Assistants are usually free from 12:30pm until 3:30pm when everyone comes home from work. Preparing and sharing the evening meal is an important time of the day for everyone. Afterwards there is time to relax together, go for a walk, listen to music together, etc. Like any family this takes many forms depending on the people in the house. Assistants assist core members with personal care. Assistants accompany core members to their various prayer services in the community and Mass in the parish churches.

Things may not be done as you want them done; people have abilities in different areas, and community is being true to itself when it can encourage people to develop to their fullest potential and grow through their weaknesses as well as build on their strengths.

If you choose to apply to become a house assistant, be prepared to settle in slowly, to get to know people gently and gradually, and to learn from the people you meet.

Who are the assistants?

Assistants come from all over the world and from varied backgrounds. Some people come directly from school or college while others feel called to leave their job and explore a new way of life. We can only consider applicants who are at least 18 years of age, emotionally balanced, and sound in mind and body. The main requirement is an openness to relationship with people who are different; firstly in their intellectual disability, but also in age, cultural background, faith, religious affiliation etc. We believe that these relationships are mutually transformative, a sign of hope and a powerful witness in our world – a world that often sees difference as a threat.

The L’Arche International Identity Statement

We are people with and without learning 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. (March 2006)

After being in the community for 3 months, assistants will be involved in an evaluation to see how they are getting on in the community. The community and the assistant give written feedback to validate the assistant’s strengths and also to encourage him/her to grow through their weaknesses.

Within the first 3 months, accompaniment is with the assistant’s coordinator and then after that it is with someone associated with L’Arche but lives outside the community.

Voluntary work:

Assistants receive pocket money each month - €248 in their first year. It takes time to build relationships of friendship and trust which are at the heart of life in L’Arche. This is why we ask for a one-year commitment – some end up staying 2 or more years. Note that this is a very full-time commitment and usually cannot be combined with either study or part-time work. Summer volunteers: Occasionally we are able to welcome people as assistants for a few months in the summer – usually June, July, and/or August.

Visa Requirements:

It is not easy to get a visa for Ireland. Therefore if you come from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, we require that you have previous L’Arche experience before we can consider your application. It remains your own responsibility to get a visa.

All assistants from outside the EU require a letter of invitation from us to enter Ireland. Our volunteer assistants do not require work permits, as this is a voluntary role where you receive only board and keep plus pocket money. The residence permit for persons coming from outside the EU costs €300 and we will ask you for at least €150 of that, to be refunded to you after 3 months.

Free time and Holidays:

All assistants are free for a few hours each day (12:30pm-3:30pm) plus one full day off each week. Details are worked out with the house team. An assistant is also entitled to one long weekend per month (Thursday after 12:30pm through Sunday evening) and 4 weeks holiday in their first full 12 month year. These are taken at times decided by the community – one week after 3 months, two weeks after 6 months, and one week after 9 months.

Assistants take part in a formation and training programme:

This covers a wide range of topics such as: building and living community, the philosophy of L’Arche, structures of L’Arche International, understanding and living with people with intellectual disability, dealing with challenging behaviour, First Aid, the Spirituality of L’Arche, etc.

We are a Faith community:

Inspired by the spirit of the Beatitudes as found in the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12. We believe that L’Arche has been called into being and is held by a loving God.

We in L’Arche are called to live in a special way the mystery of the poverty and weakness of Jesus who came to be with the poor and the weak. (Jean Vanier – founder of L’Arche)

We believe that each one has a spirit that needs nourishing, and for this reason we encourage members of the community to explore their own spiritual journey. Our community in Kilkenny practises its faith tradition within the Irish Catholic context. We welcome and respect each member’s religious tradition. Diversity of religious tradition is a gift for our community. Faith is an integral aspect of our community life though lived in a very simple way. For example: we say grace before and after meals, and gather for quiet prayer once a week in the houses and occasionally have times of prayer at the end of the week in the workshop. We ask assistants who come to live with us to be open to our spirituality and to facilitate the prayer life of the community. We celebrate a Catholic Eucharist in the community regularly and great attention is given to the times of celebration including birthdays, anniversaries, and major Christian feasts.

Application procedure:

We like assistants to write a little about themselves and their particular interest in coming to L’Arche in the form of an essay. We then ask them to complete an application form. On receipt of this, we contact two referees. Then if we feel the applicant is suited to our particular needs at the time, we arrange a telephone interview or visit. Prior to being invited, we require police clearance, which is now mandatory in Ireland for those working with those with intellectually disabilities. We also require from prospective assistants record of the Hepatitis B test and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination for females – recommended for work in this area.

Address all correspondence to: Assistants Coordinator L’Arche Kilkenny Fairgreen Lane Callan Co. Kilkenny Republic of Ireland

Email: [email protected]

Websites: L’Arche Ireland: www.larcheireland.org L’Arche International: www.larche.org

From the L’Arche Kilkenny Mission Statement

The Mission of L’Arche Kilkenny today is to welcome, create home, and a safe environment for all who come, both core members and assistants. This environment embraces professional care and fidelity to our call as a Faith Community. Inspired by the gospel of Jesus, we respect the dignity of each person, regardless of their role or beliefs.