L'Arche Irenicon was founded in 1983 after several years of preparatory work by a dedicated group of volunteers. At one point the group was planning to open the new community to the south of Boston but when the priests at the LaSalette Shrine in Ipswich offered the use of a house on their grounds for a nominal fee, the decision was made to begin the community there.
Elizabeth Buckley, a long time member of L'Arche and the foundress of a L'Arche community in Scotland, agreed to be the founding community leader and director of L'Arche Irenicon. After six years Elizabeth moved to Daybreak, the L'Arche community in Toronto where she still lives. Sr. Patricia Murphy was part of the community since its founding. She played many different roles over the years and is currently the pastoral minister.
In the 1997 the LaSalette fathers found it necessary to sell their property. Having already purchased a home in the Bradford section of Haverhill in 1988, Irenicon decided to consolidate their homes in that area. The Mustard Seed apartment was established. In the late 1998, another home was purchased in Haverhill to replace the apartment. In 2003 Irenicon purchased their third home in Haverhill.
With 12 core members and 18 assistants (everyone is considered an assistant including the community leader, assistant director, etc.), several volunteers and countless friends, Irenicon is a healthy community of people leading simple lives in the L'Arche tradition.
Like all L'Arche communities in the United States, it is ecumenical and welcomes people from all faith traditions as well as those who have no faith. Community members take full advantage of their location in lovely New England where the fall foliage is exquisite, the springs are magnificent, the ocean is not too far away to cool off in the summer and in the winter, wellˇ¦ they belong to the local YMCA, enjoy regular trips to the very welcoming Haverhill library, continue the long standing tradition of pizza and bowling every other Tuesday evening and a few hearty community members occasionally venture out to participate in winter sports. Boston is 45 minutes away by car or an hour by train and offers endless activities in any season.
Life at L'Arche Irenicon is busy and active. At the center of community life are the Thursday night gatherings for prayer and special celebrations. Celebrations and rituals anchor the community in the L'Arche traditions.
