“I’m Happy!” – A Story About Belonging
Hello L’Arche Friends –
Recently, I was driving one of our Core Members to one of his regular weekly activities. The moment he got in the car, he looked at me, beaming, and said, “I’m happy!”
I smiled and replied, “Right on!”
Without missing a beat, he declared again: “I’m happy! I’m with my friend. The sun is shining! God woke me up today! I’m happy!”
That moment has stayed with me ever since. It was simple, profound, and contagious. His joy wasn’t dependent on anything fancy—just friendship, sunshine, and the gift of another day. Since then, I’ve borrowed his exclamation for my own morning mantra. Before checking email or pouring my coffee, I try to begin with those same words:
“I’m happy. I’m with my friends. God woke me up today.”
At L’Arche North Carolina, joy shows up in unexpected places. Since I began working here in 2021, I’ve seen time and again how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only recipients of care, but givers of joy, connection, and purpose. Each of our four Core Members brings light into our community in a way that can’t help but ripple outward.
Everyday moments at the L’Arche house reflect something much deeper: shared meals where someone’s favorite song gets everyone dancing, quiet mornings where Assistants gently help with routines, game nights full of inside jokes. This is not just a place to live—it’s a place where people are truly known, celebrated, and loved.
When we say our house is full, we mean it in every way. It’s full of life. Full of meaning. Full of connection.
That’s what you make possible through your generous gifts and support. And we can’t thank you enough. We’d love to invite you into that joy:
Grow Together: Paint & Plant – May 17th at Bethany UMC: Bring a friend and let your creativity bloom.
Sundaes on Sunday – June 1st at the L’Arche House: Family fun, live music, and an ice cream bar you won’t want to miss.
Summer Movie Nights in Raleigh – Details listed below! Each night has a fun dress-up theme.
If you’ve had a hard week, if the news feels heavy, or if you’re simply looking for community—you’ll find something special here. I hope you’ll join us soon.
Surrounded by joy,
Laura Steed Lorino,
Executive Director & Community Leader
Beverly’s Visit To L’Arche GWDC
“You had to be there.” This is the phrase we say when words cannot fully express an experience. This week I had my first L’Arche home experience. If I could, I would just say “You had to be there,” but that wouldn’t make for a very interesting read, so I’ll do my best. If you have randomly come across this blog you might not know what a L’Arche home is. L’Arche is a community where people with and without disabilities live together and support one another in community. When we first arrived at the L’Arche GWDC home in Arlington, Virginia, we parked in a beautiful neighborhood where I could immediately imagine myself spending a lot of time outside, walking down the sidewalks, and exploring the neighborhood. As we entered the house, we were greeted by a person named Alice, who briefly showed us the living room and then quickly showed us where to find snacks and drinks and told us to help ourselves during our stay. This first impression ended up being a brief example of how I felt the rest of our visit. I felt “At read more
Michael’s Story
Last summer, I had the opportunity to visit L’Arche Greater Washington D.C. (GWDC). It was wonderful to visit one of their four homes and meet the community members. One Core Member who I had the pleasure of meeting was Michael. As we were finishing up lunch, one of his friends stopped by to join him on his daily visit to McDonald's for his three cups of coffee (yes, three!). Rain, snow, or shine, he goes to McD’s for this daily treat. I learned that Michael has been doing this for decades, and if you’re selected to go with him to McDonald’s, you are one lucky friend! Everyone knows him, and on his journey around the block to the local golden arches, he is greeted by friends and neighbors along the sidewalk and at the restaurant. During my visit, I also learned that each Tuesday, L’Arche GWDC holds a weekly celebration dinner. This is an opportunity to gather as a wider community and celebrate the big (and small!) things, such as birthdays, a new haircut, holidays, and, of course, anniversaries. This year, Michael is celebrating his 40th year read more
Grateful for Partner Congregations
It's always a delight to partner with local congregations and organizations to share in the joy of inclusive and accessible community gatherings. Earlier this month, we joined Community United Church of Christ (CUCC) in Raleigh for worship. During this Lenten season, CUCC has focused on Creation Justice. Friends of L'Arche NC shared the scripture passage (John 9), and Tatum Tricarico, our Disability Theology & Justice Intern, preached a very moving and thoughtful sermon on Disability Justice. We are grateful for this opportunity to be in community again with this partner congregation to sing, pray, learn, and dance together. To view and listen to this worship service, including Tatum's amazing sermon, click HERE and select March 19. It was just one year ago, that we joined with CUCC for a very fun event to celebrate Mr. Rogers' birthday. It was an unforgettable community gathering as we made puppets, participated in hilarious improv skits, and enjoyed music and cake. Joy and love are always present at CUCC as soon as you enter their church. Our Board Chair, Stuart Harrell, also shared about L'Arche NC, and the importance of celebrating read more
Our Hearts are Full: Thank You St. Francis of Assisi Church
On Friday, March 17, we gathered with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Raleigh for the Stations of the Cross: Disability Justice. Our Disability Theology & Justice Intern from Duke Divinity School, Tatum Tricarico, wrote reflections for each station that included joys and sorrows from a Disability perspective in connection to Jesus' journey to the cross. Participants were invited to notice the unique ways that God is at work with and through the Disabled Community. As we traveled through the stations together in solidarity with Disabled people, we prayed to move beyond the Ableism and discrimination that are often present in society. If you missed this gathering, we will offer the Stations of the Cross: Disability Justice again as a virtual gathering on Zoom on April 4 at 7:00pm. Click here for more information. At the gathering, St. Francis presented a $25,000 donation to L’Arche NC to support the establishment of our first residential home in the Triangle area! This donation is half of their three-year pledge to support L’Arche NC and our mission to create an inclusive and dignified community. We are incredibly grateful for the read more
Our New Website
Check out information about our site redesign!
You’re Never The Same
At my first prayer service at L'Arche, a long-term assistant welcomed me and said, "Be careful. L'Arche gets in your blood, and you're never the same." 26 years later, I still affirm that she was right. L'Arche is so much a part of me that it's like it's "in my blood."
Welcome Tatum Tricarico, our new Disability & Theology Intern
This month, we welcomed a Duke Divinity School Intern to L'Arche North Carolina. We are excited to introduce Tatum Tricarico.
Passion & Gifts
by Tammy Breeding, Board Chair L'Arche Fort Collins Recently I attended an event entitled “Y'all Belong Here.” It is an inclusive sacred space event collaboration by L’Arche Atlanta and L’Arche North Carolina. I love to attend, to make time in the midst of a busy day for a “soul break”, to focus on gratitude. The theme was Passion & Gifts. We were invited to ask ourselves questions, such as “What do you Love?”, “What are you good at?”, and “How can you use your gifts to benefit the world around you?”. For me, I love children, nature, music, and faith. I am good at collaboration, singing, organization, and communication. I can use my gifts to benefit the world around me through my involvement in L’Arche. I find that the more I receive from L’Arche, the more I want to give back to L’Arche. I have a son with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and one of the things I love about him is his childlike approach to life. When I look at the world through his eyes, I get in touch with my own inner child, and experience joy read more
