André and Mary Catherine Ruel are a part of the L’Arche Comox Valley story. And while their own tale started back in 1969 in Port Alberni, BC — where they met as teachers — it was when they moved to the Comox Valley that they found faith friends and the inspiration that would lead them to L’Arche.
A Good Group of Friends
When the couple moved to the Valley in 1972, they met many people including Lock and Joanne Mawhinney (see below). The Mawhinneys were devoted to advocating for people with developmental disabilities. Lock was the first Director of Student Support Services (Special Education) for the Comox Valley School District and the couple had their own children, some with disabilities.
Lock developed a team of educators, including Mary Catherine, a Special Education teacher. Lock, Mary Catherine and other team members were very aware of how their students’ lives changed after graduation. Good friendships often faded as students went off on new adventures, typically leaving town, getting their own apartments, jobs and busy lives. That meant teenagers with disabilities found themselves – and still often do today – feeling isolated and lacking meaningful relationships outside of their family.
This isolation became an added burden for their parents, who asked themselves, “What is going to happen to my child as I age?” and as the parents did age, “What will happen to my child when I die?”
A Seed is Planted
In 1983 Joanne and Lock attended a L’Arche retreat in Victoria, BC, facilitated by founder Jean Vanier. It was so very personal and touching for the Mawhinneys, that it was their greatest desire to bring a L’Arche Community to the Comox Valley. Mary Catherine and André felt called to support their friends in their dream.
“So many of us were touched by what Lock and Joanne shared from that weekend,” says Mary Catherine. “Forming a L’Arche community became a deep calling for many of us.”
Lock knew many like-minded people from churches in the Valley and adults with developmental disabilities. And soon a group started to gather to share Christian scripture and prayer, including André and Mary Catherine.
Open Hearts and an Open Door
Over the next 17 years the Mawhinneys — with the support of André, Mary Catherine and so many other dedicated friends –immersed themselves in building an environment that embraced people with disabilities and their families. And this small community grew and grew. Gatherings that used to include 10 people ballooned to as many as 50 at times. Everyone who came was encouraged to join monthly gatherings which included meals, celebrations, prayer, dances and fun activities like the ‘L’Arche Olympics’.
“The Mawhinneys lived their lives with open hearts and an open door,” explains Mary Catherine. “Everyone was welcome.”
In 1991 L’Arche’s Regional Council instructed the founding friends to formally create a ‘Friends of L’Arche Comox Valley’ and continue to meet regularly, which they did.
Jubilee House Becomes a Reality
In addition to the need for social support, the group knew there was a need for housing, which they set their sights upon. And following many years of fundraising activities, L’Arche opened Jubilee House in 2000, to provide a home for four people with developmental disabilities and their live-in Assistants. A skilled handyman, André oversaw renovations to Jubilee House, adding bedrooms and making the home more accessible. He also continued to renovate four L’Arche Outreach Centres to accommodate the community’s growth until the I Belong Centre opened in 2017 on Grieve Ave.
It was a very busy period for the couple as Mary Catherine also sat on the board at one time and held several roles in L’Arche Comox Valley, including House Leader, and Semi-Independent Living Coordinator, while continuing to raise their family. This was the case for many people who dedicated time and energy to L’Arche.
Equally Important Priorities
For André and Mary Catherine, their spirituality is a constant in their lives and they’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of L’Arche’s history and mission. They’re also thankful for the impact that their faith community has had on their children. “We see the influence now that they’re grown” says André. “Each of our children is involved in outreach work of some type.”
And now that their kids are raising their own kids, the Ruels have a different issue – wishing they were everywhere at the same time. “Many grandparents and parents know this challenge,” says Mary Catherine. “It can be difficult deciding how to spread your time between a family that you love so much and a cause that calls to you.”
These days, life is more relaxed. Mary Catherine volunteers on the L’Arche Spiritual Life Committee; André goes for coffee with Core Members and does some maintenance and repairs on the L’Arche properties. You’ll also find the couple at L’Arche events and activities, and they’ve remained friends with many of the members of their original ecumenical faith community.
The Ruels story demonstrates that when you find something that calls to you and you nurture it, like a seed, the possibilities are incredible.
