AAMEN ESSAY WINNER: Remington L.
The African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN) invites you to join us in celebration of National Black Catholic History Month (NBCHM). In 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus designated November as NBCHM. The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus chose Notre Dame University’s Theodore Hesburgh Library to entrust the archives. These historical documents contain information about African-American Catholic priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, seminarians and lay people. November also marks a time, when in loving remembrance, the church prays for all saints and souls, as well as a time to recall the saints and souls of Africa and African diaspora.
To celebrate NBCHM, St. Michael Chapter of AAMEN collaborated with St. Michael School to introduce the Middle School students to the inspiring life of Venerable Mary Elizabeth Lange, a pioneering woman of faith and the founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence. Venerable Lange, born in Cuba and later an immigrant to the United States, dedicated her life to education, care for the sick, and service to those in need, especially within the African American community. Through their studies, students explored her remarkable journey and her lasting impact on the Catholic Church.
Eighth Grade – Remington L.
As we look at the Catholic Church, we see heroes of all sorts. From Saint Michael in his shining armor to Mother Cabrini, they all serve as role models and examples of how we should live our life. One of these role models is the Venerable Mary Elizabeth Lange, who gave up everything that she had for others. She was a woman of kindness and selflessness. She never backed down from a challenge and had a steadfast faith in God and His guidance. Through her works she helped the elderly, the sick, and started her own order of African American Sisters. Her generosity, she inspired others to step up and be leaders too in the face of God.
Born in Santiago, Cuba, in 1794, she lived her childhood in a country on the brink of war. Then in the early 1800s, she and her family fled from Cuba to the U.S. as immigrants. After settling in Baltimore, Maryland, she and her friend Marie Magdalene Bais offered free education to people in their district who couldn’t afford it for ten years. After that, Reverend James Hector Joubert, SS, inspired by the Archbishop of Baltimore, offered her an idea she couldn’t refuse.
Revered Joubert asked her if she would like to create her own religious order of sisters for African Americans, and she eagerly complied. On July 2nd, 1829, Mary Elizabeth Lange and three other women professed their vows and became the first sisters in the Oblate Sisters of Providence. In this order, she and her sisters cured the ill during the Cholera Epidemic, and helped the elderly. Her life faced turbulence when Reverend Joubert passed away and faced a dwindling number of pupils and co-workers. Yet she never gave up hope. Instead, she prayed, fasted, and gave away her belonging to the less fortunate. She continued to live her life in sadness and despair until her death on February 3rd, 1882.
Due to her never ending love for others, her work has drawn the interest of The Vatican. In 1991, Archbishop William Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore opened an official investigation that could lead to her being Canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church. And on June 22nd 2023, she was declared venerable by Pope Francis. She is now being further investigated for a cause of canonization, but until then will remain venerable.
Throughout her years, Venerable Mary Elizbeth Lange lived a life of love and respect for our Lord and for others. She gave to the poor, helped those who were ill, and started a new order just for the African American women who were unwelcome in other orders. We should all live by her example, and should do what she did: love God and everyone around us.
Works Cited
https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/mother-mary-lange-declared-venerable-pope-francis
https://www.motherlange.org/mother-lange
https://sfacademy.org/mother-mary-lange-elizabeth-clarissa-lange/
https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/mother-mary-lange-declared-venerable-pope-francis