Today we want to honour an incredibly special gift bestowed upon L’Arche Saint John.
On June 18, 2020, Dr. Teréz Rétfalvi, former chair of the Department of Psychology and retired professor at the Université de Moncton, passed away. Her obituary states that she was "loved by all who knew her.”
To our knowledge, no one in L’Arche Saint John knew Dr. Rétfalvi. It came as a surprise, then, to learn that a portion of her estate is being shared with us.
Of course, we wanted to learn more about Dr. Rétfalvi. We were able to reach her sister, Andréa, who shared with us that Dr. Rétfalvi was a member of the Christ-Roi Catholic Church in Moncton and that she had a niece with an intellectual disability.
This is not the first time we have received this kind of surprise gift from someone we did not know. Dr. Rétfalvi’s story is a testament to the many ways that the heart and mission of L’Arche touches people deeply – even people we may not know directly. We are reminded that the story of L’Arche – the story of belonging, friendship, and community – is so much bigger than any one of us.
We want to express our profound appreciation for Dr. Rétfalvi’s support, and others that have given to L'Arche in the past. This generosity reminds us just how crucial the work we do is, of journeying with people with intellectual disabilities as they find their rightful place in society.
We give thanks for people like Dr. Rétfalvi, who dream of a better world for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Zoël Breau
Community Leader/Executive Director