Pictured above: Patrick (left) plays guitar during a relaxing afternoon at McKim House, while his housemate Sarah (right) enjoys the music as she works on her art.
“It was the first time I saw a piano in the room, and the dogs really loved me, and all family members also loved me. One of my sisters took me down to the piano and taught me the notes.”
Patrick McGrath, 44, recalls the first time he met his adoptive family. He captured this moment recently in a piece that sold at L’Arche Saint John’s Creative Connections Exhibit “Welcome In.”
His art piece features young Patrick at the piano with his dog seated next to him and a window looking out at green trees. It was inspired by his adoption story which is also the day he first laid eyes on a piano up close.
“The theme was Welcome In so immediately I thought about the day I was adopted, which was in 1987 when I was six years old.”
After living in foster care for a time, this was a pivotal moment in Patrick’s life. His family immediately accepted and loved him including the family dog. Growing up Patrick got to travel a lot with his family and was open to new experiences and learnings.
Fast forward to when Patrick was 25 and living outside his family home, he was renting from a nice young couple who had two dogs and a little girl. When the family decided to relocate to Alberta, Patrick and his mom started researching options to live independently and learned about L’Arche Saint John.
“My first visit to McKim house, mom and I took our vehicle to Saint John (from Moncton) with a printout of a map from Google Maps. We found it in no time and I was talking with the core members, and they gave me a tour, and offered me hot chocolate and a cookie.”
Patrick felt that same hard-to-describe feeling of belonging the first time he walked into L’Arche Saint John’s McKim House. He felt the warm welcome instantly.
Besides the people, what made Patrick feel right at home was the piano he saw while touring the house. Now living at McKim House, Patrick enjoys daily life surrounded by housemates and the rhythms of shared community. Music is central to his life — he plays piano regularly, a skill he picked up thanks to his sister.
“It’s [McKim] a three story house with the top rooms having views of the uptown…or view down Lancaster Avenue and if you’re lucky, Martello Tower.”
Patrick is pleased to have his own room at McKim house. “I have a TV and a guitar, a piano and a computer and all kinds of cds, dvds, and blu rays.”
But he also really likes his six roommates. “It’s a lot of fun. We travel a lot. There are times when we use a hotel. When regional events come up that involve all of the Atlantic regional community, we would get in a vehicle and go to our designated place be it Cape Breton or Halifax. I met nice, kind people.”
It’s a tradition at McKim house to travel together on a vacation each summer. “Ever since I moved to McKim house, I traveled to countless places. I’d say I travel a lot.”
For Patrick, L’Arche is a place of friendship, support, and opportunities for shared experiences. It’s a community where he continues to grow and find joy. Music continues to play a big role in his life, whether he’s playing at McKim House, at work, at church, or that one time that Patrick performed on the main stage of the L’Arche International Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia.
“In the summer of 2012… I was miraculously chosen to go to Atlanta, Georgia for the L’Arche International Assembly. I met all kinds of nice people and learned songs in different tongues. We had night caps every night. I got to play on stage for everyone.”
Patrick also loves exploring Saint John. He works at Key Industries, is an artist at Creative Connections, and volunteers walking dogs for Elder Dog. Exploring and walking the city is a regular part of his routine whether it’s walking to Lawtons for art supply runs for Creative Connections, walking to Tim’s and the boardwalk and back on a work break from Key Industries, walking dogs, or heading to church.
Patrick’s days are busy and full and what he’s up to depends on the day. “If it’s the right day, I go to Key Industries in the morning, usually on a Wednesday. If somebody special is there, I go down to the choir area and sing and play guitar for the choir before I do my other work later on.”
His routine balances creativity, social connection, and belonging.
L’Arche Saint John is a vibrant community that opens doors for people to get the most out of life. June 2025 marks 20 years of L’Arche Saint John and December 1st will mark 19 years that Pat has been calling McKim House, home.
As part of this milestone, we’re asking folks to share their stories of L’Arche Saint John and to consider donating monthly to sustain this work.
Did you know L’Arche Saint John must fundraise nearly 50% of its operating budget each year?
Become a Core Donor by giving monthly and you will help sustain this community grounded in friendship, creativity, and belonging.
Become a core donor and help us sustain a community where everyone can grow, belong, and thrive.