ASHA NIKETAN CHENNAI

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1 August 2017 ASHA NIKETAN CHENNAI L Arche communities throughout the world are united by a common Identity Statement and Mission. For this newsletter, we have included excerpts and themes to highlight our core values and practices within L Arche. Thank you for all the support you offer our community. Our Founding Story L Arche International Fritz & Vincent (L Arche GWDC) hosted an art show & donated all proceeds to our community. Photo by Lauren Palmer As most parents of children with intellectual disabilities, Mr. Barathan was concerned about the future wellbeing of his son Ramesh. While seeking to establish a home, where Ramesh and other young adults could receive loving care and live up to their full potentials, Mr. Barathan revealed his hopes to Fr. Pierre Ceyrac, a French Jesuit living in Tamil Nadu. Fr. Ceyrac helped Mr. Barathan to connect with Jean Vanier, and the two visionaries developed a deep and lasting bond. Jean shared about the spirituality and mission of L Arche, and with his support, Mr. Barathan remained enthusiastic and dedicated. On February 25, 1975, Asha Niketan Chennai became the third L Arche community to be founded in India. Ramesh, Jayakumar, Shankar Mama, and Sundaram were welcomed as the first Core Members, and Marielle Robitaille served as the first Community Leader. Their home was a modest rented house on East Coast Road, and the community became a simple sign of hope for the neighborhood and the world. Over four decades have passed; while the community has grown and changed in many ways, members of Asha Niketan Chennai continue to live out the mission of L Arche. While growing together in community, we are so thankful to all our sister communities and L Arche International for holding us in prayer and contributing to fundraising efforts after Cyclone Vardah caused severe damage in December. We have been rebuilding over the summer and will continue to rebuild before the next monsoon season. Friends of Asha Niketan (USA) Thank You! நன ற We are extremely grateful to Mrs. Usha Venkataraghavan and everyone committed to Friends of Asha Niketan (USA) for their constant financial support. These generous donors make it possible to preserve our way of life and assist all our community members with their various needs.

2 We are people, with and without intellectual disabilities, sharing life in communities belonging to an International Federation. Priya attended L Arche s Federation Assembly in Belfast, Ireland June Members of 151 L Arche communities were present from 37 different countries! Together everyone reflected on common gifts that we share in L Arche including: WELCOME, UNITY, LOVE, TRUST, TRUTH, TOGETHERNESS, and HOPE. Before attending the Federation Assembly, Priya and Amit (Asha Niketan Asansol) were invited to stay with L Arche Bognor Regis in England. Priya felt very touched by the hospitality she received. She especially enjoyed sharing stories with everyone during mealtimes. Seeralan and Sakthivel created artwork to send along with Priya for the Federation Assembly. Seeralan s painting represents UNITY and Sakthivel s drawing symbolizes DIVERSITY. While living with their families, Seeralan and Sakthivel join us on weekdays to attend the Development Centre and community activities. Rani has served as Asha Niketan Chennai s accountant for 20 years. Her son Surya first visited our community as a boy. In , Surya joined Asha Niketan Bangalore as an assistant, and in August 2017, he was welcomed to serve as an Assistant in L Arche Australia for one year. Before leaving, Surya volunteered in our community for three weeks. Everyone appreciated his positivity and willingness to help wherever he was needed.

3 Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey together. Jayaseelan & Umashankar offer us Faith and Hope. Sangeetha & Assiya offer us Beauty and Welcome. Asha Niketan Chennai exists as both an NGO and a faith community. As an NGO, we ensure our community members with intellectual disabilities (Core Members) receive professional care with their unique needs. Core Members benefit from the support of Assistants with their finances, hygiene, medical needs, and achieving goals. As a faith community, Core Members and Assistants live together, share meals, foster a home life, and pray together daily. We realize we rely upon God and the compassion of many generous donors, and we pray in thanksgiving for all the love and support we receive. We are always touched when friends and families reach out and ask us to hold them in prayer. Seeralan & Manikandan offer us Joy and Belonging. Selvaraj, Sathyaseelan, & Vengadesh offer us Honor, Tenderness, and Service. Every morning, in addition to helping with cleaning needs within her home, Pachammal always creates a new rangoli rice design on the prayer room floor at Asha Jothi.

4 We celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize our need of one another. Peter, Priya, Lalitha, and Sasikala during their birthday celebration Anbu welcoming Mr. Tewari (National Formation Coordinator) for an extended visit Bharathi & Najim welcoming a guest for dinner Celebrations are so important in our community; they are always occasions of rejoicing and unity. In his inspirational book Community and Growth, Jean Vanier expresses, Celebration is a moment of wonder when the joy of the body and senses are linked to the joy of the spirit. Over the years, we have developed traditions to honor our community members and everyone who comes to share life with us. WELCOMES One of our greatest gifts in Asha Niketan Chennai is that we welcome well. Whether it is someone new to our community, or more often a guest or meal sponsor, we always try to make everyone who joins us feel welcome. It is our custom to offer guests and new members flowers from our garden. Sometimes we also create colorful rangoli and rice kolam designs and have prayerful welcome celebrations. BIRTHDAYS So much could be expressed about our birthday celebrations. They are delightful! We sing and pray, those who are celebrated receive blessings and gifts, we dance, and there is always cake and extra sweets. We try to affirm the sacred value of each person while sharing how much we appreciate their gifts. FAREWELLS (THANKSGIVINGS) It is not often that we need to express farewell to community members. Core Members seldom move to new homes, and Assistants make commitments every year as to how long they intend to remain with community. When someone does leave, it can be a sad time, yet we also regard farewells as occasions to express our gratitude and well wishes.

5 Make known the gifts of people who Co have intellectual disabilities, mmunity basket. revealed through mutually transforming relationships. Ramesh and Marie painting gift paper in the Development Centre and Srinivasan and Sibasish planting a tree in our Garden In June and July, Assistants participated in two formations focused on recognizing and sharing the gifts of Core Members. For the first formation, everyone discussed moments of bonding with Core Members. As Santhanayagi described a time when Ramesh offered her consolation, and when Sangeetha shared a joyful experience she had with Franci, everyone resonated with their sharing. It was a unifying experience to reflect on our way of life and how the Core Members have touched our hearts. For the second formation, we took turns announcing specific gifts we recognize in the Core Members and wrote them down in a large heart. Community members working together in our Handicraft Workshop to create a papier mâché basket Rohit planting flowers outside the office Marie s brother Jean came to visit our community for one week in July. While with us, he surprised everyone with his incredible artistic abilities. In addition to creating a watercolor painting of Jean Vanier for our office, Jean used chalk to draw portraits of Veeran, Franci, Pachammal, Lloyd, and Bala on the walls of Asha Jothi. To take the time to draw a person s portrait is a beautiful way to honor someone and emphasize her or his sacred value.

6 Foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members while being faithful to the core values of our founding story. This photo was taken as Franci and Sibasish enjoyed a visit to the beach last year. Franci has had significant health concerns in recent months. We have been doing everything possible to support her and ensure she receives the medical care she needs. It has been a moving experience to join with her in the healing process. When Franci smiles, she brings joy to us all. As the eldest member of our community, Peter D Cruz (age 74) has remained remarkably healthy throughout his life. Having joined this community in 1976, one year after it was founded, Peter has a lot of wisdom and shares many memories with us. In July, Peter needed to have a second surgery to treat his eyes for cataracts. He remained calm and placed his full trust in God. This is a photo of Peter and James before they attended Mass on a Sunday. This photo is of Shuib (Asha Niketan Bangalore) and Marie (our International Volunteer from France). Marie was asked if she was willing to support Asha Niketan Bangalore for two weeks in April, and she accepted the request with an open heart. As we reflect on the changing needs of our members, sometimes Asha Niketan communities need to reach out to additional communities in solidarity. As our Core Members continue to age, we realize the need to learn as much as we can to be able to respond to their needs. Before joining Asha Niketan Chennai in 2016, Santhanaygi studied Special Education and earned her degree. With experience an assistant for the past seven years, Nadhiya continues to live in our community while studying Special Education.

7 Engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society. Amudha has always wanted to visit a L Arche community in another country for an extended period. In April 2017, she was accepted for a threemonth Solidarity Exchange with L Arche Canada. (When Amudha was the Community Leader of Asha Niketan Chennai, she welcomed Nancy and Mary Bee as volunteers. Now Nancy is a member of L Arche Arnprior and Mary Bee is a member of L Arche London. Amudha also worked with Manonmani before Manonmani moved to L Arche Arnprior. While on retreat in France, Amudha met Jeannette, the community Leader of L Arche Arnprior, and Jeannette extended the invitation to come stay with her community.) While appreciating these wonderful relationships, Amudha traveled to Canada to experience community life in two communities on the other side of the world. In L Arche Arnprior and L Arche London, Amudha was welcomed by everyone, and she felt moved as the Core Members helped her to adjust. Often after meals, Amudha and Core Members would wash dishes together. Amudha particularly enjoyed prayer times within both communities and opportunities to go on group outings. Amudha participated in formations with the Assistants and helped everyone to prepare for celebrations. She also attended the day program where Core Members of L Arche London work on weekdays, and she learned some new handicrafts. When Amudha returned to Asha Niketan Chennai in July, she shared with everyone what a peaceful and uplifting experience she had. It was like I was welcomed to a second family, Amudha often commented.

8 Gratitude from Marie Thank you Pachammal for looking after me like a big sister that I can tease, hug, laugh with, and ask for help. Thank you Vengadesh for being willing to contribute at any time and for your strong sense of responsibilities. Thank you Sathyaseelan for creating bonds through your unique way of communicating. Thank you Veeran for the tenderness and the care we can see in your sweet eyes. What a year it has been! When I arrived at Asha Niketan Chennai in November, I was welcomed with open arms. As I received guidance and care, it became possible to fit in and appreciate the positive attitudes that our Core Members share with us daily. When I look back at this volunteer commitment, I can recall some challenges (adapting to the food, dealing with the heat waves, struggling with language, Franci being diagnosed with dengue fever and typhoid, Kopika leaving the community, Gopi having seizures, and the cyclone in December). Even with these struggles, the main thing I realize is how fortunate I am to have experienced so much joy. These months have been filled with tenderness, celebration, and love. I want to thank every Core Member who has welcomed me as a sister. Thank you Franci for your sincere smile that melts my heart and makes the world around us look brighter. Thank you Lloyd for your unique dance moves and for always caring for me like a big brother. Thank you Ramesh for your irresistible charm and funny words that make us forget about any tension. Thank you Seeralan for your amazing and really entertaining talent as a singer and guitar player. Thank you Umashankar for the fatherly way you are having discussions with Sathyaseelan. Thank you Bala for your warmth and slow-motion greetings every morning. Thank you Gopi for your laughter, caused by any attempt at tickling, and your great singing skills. Thank you Assiya for accepting me as your roommate. Thank you Rohit for your dancing and sense of drama that always brings laughter in the room. Thank you Sakthivel for your stand-ups during celebrations and putting your full heart into them. Thank you Sathya for your shy and lightening smile that puts sparkles in your eyes. Thank you Anbu and Sasikumar for your gentle way of teasing each other and showing love like brothers. Thank you Najim for your practical jokes and for your great memory. Thank you Lalitha for the importance you give to welcoming. Thank you Peter D Cruz for welcoming my brother to stay with you and teaching me the significance of fidelity in prayer.

9 Thank you Peter Daly for your unconditional love repeatedly expressed to each one of us. Growing in Community Thank you Srinivasan for your loud and clear laugh. Thank you Selvakumar for your childish jokes and always being benevolent in your actions. Thank you all for reminding me to choose joy daily. It is a great honor to belong to this family. I felt so happy to introduce you to my siblings and parents when they visited India in May. The way you welcomed them with openness and affection was amazing. You really embraced my family and gave them a special place inside your heart. Your generous hospitality is so inspiring. I strongly believe in the greatness of L Arche s Mission. It is a unique way to grow; by putting aside everything we know, we discover that our diversity makes life incredible. The mutuality I have experienced in L Arche is a precious gift that I hope to preserve. As a member of Asha Niketan Chennai, I grew in compassion, humility, patience, and attention. Most of all, community life has given me a sense of belonging and beautiful friends to double my joy in life. I ll be always thankful for this opportunity. ~Marie Sadoux (International Volunteer from France) In June, I completed my first year serving as Community Leader. I have witnessed community members grow in so many ways. After the cyclone in December, Core Members and Assistants who work together in our Garden needed to reconsider what to plant, and I felt very touched as they added flowers outside the office. Community members who attend the Workshop and the Development Centre continue to discover new ways everyone can be creative and enjoy meaningful activities. In April, we evaluated needs in both our homes; Santhanayagi, Manikandan, and Nadhiya moved to Prem Jothi, and Marie, Sasikala, Lloyd, and Selvaraj moved to Asha Jothi. I am amazed at everyone s willingness to embrace new responsibilities. It has been positive to collaborate with James and reflect on our way of life. Governing Council members and generous friends have been very encouraging and supportive as I have embraced this role. Asha Niketan Chennai currently has one staff quarters, and I was able to welcome my wife and son in August. I feel very grateful for all the trust that I receive, and I continue to feel inspired to fulfill Jean Vanier s call: Carry L Arche forward. Our Core Members remain such a great source of joy and hope for us all. I am thankful I still have many opportunities to bond with them each day. ~Anthony Xavier

10 ASHA NIKETAN PRAYER O God our Beloved Father, Sole Helper of the helpless, Protector of the weak, Star of the morning, and Refuge of all sinners, bless our homes, Asha Niketan, and make them abodes of peace, of hope, of joy, of Your eternal love and presence, where poor in spirit and body may find You, Source of all life, where afflicted may find consolation, respect and love. O Heavenly Father, teach us to be true, humble and non-violent, trusting in You, so that we may welcome with compassion and tenderness those You send us. Give us hearts of peaceful mercy, to serve and to love our brothers and sisters, to quieten passions, discords and violence so that we may see Your presence in our rejected brothers and sisters. O Lord, bless us with the hands of Your poor; O Lord, smile at us through the suffering faces of Your afflicted; O Lord, receive us one day in Your eternal abode, where you live in bliss with Your beloved children. Thank you so much for your support! Please let us know if you would like to visit our community and if you have any prayer requests to share with us. 1/288 East Coast Road Kottivakkam Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India chennaiashaniketan@gmail.com