From a young age, Jonas suffered epileptic seizures, which prevented him from attending school and which had significant side effects. A rumour circulated in his village suggesting that his epilepsy was a punishment for some sin of his ancestors. L’Arche assistants visited him a number of times and drew him out of his isolation. Jonas was then invited to come and live at L’Arche Chantal.

He quickly became one of the pillars of the community. He knew how to build relationships with everyone in the neighbourhood, and he loved to assist in the manufacturing of peanut butter in the workshop. L’Arche became his real family, and he often prayed for all L’Arche communities across the world and, in particular, for the members who visited or stayed at Chantal.

It was never possible to completely suppress his epilepsy and, little by little, he lost his abilities and his independence. His face bore wounds from many falls. At times, he was angry and rebellious because he was not able to live like everyone else in the world. He talked more and more openly in anticipation of his departure from this world. This reality often permeated his reflections and his prayers.

One day, during a community prayer time, each member was asked, in turn, to comment on the biblical scene in Mark 10:51. In this passage, Jesus asks a blind man a question before healing him. Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?” When it was Jonas’ turn, he was asked how he would have replied to Jesus? Would he have asked Jesus to heal him? Jonas replied in Creole: “No, Jezi ap soutni’m.” “No! ... Jesus sustains me,” he said. He was thus both a man of faith and a realist.

Robert Larouche*