Mary Elizabeth Lange was an African-American religious sister who lived in the 19th century. Born in Haiti, she eventually immigrated to the United States and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. She is most recognized for establishing the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1829, which was the first religious congregation for women of African descent in the country. As the first superior general of her order, she dedicated her life to providing Catholic education and support to the Black community during a period of significant social hardship.
Life and work
After arriving in Baltimore, Lange opened a school in her home to educate African-American children. She later collaborated with priest James Nicholas Joubert to found the Oblate Sisters of Providence to serve the needs of Black women and children. Throughout her life, she faced poverty and racism, serving as a teacher, a mistress of novices, and a domestic worker to support her community. She also participated in nursing victims during a cholera outbreak in Baltimore.
Veneration
The Catholic Church has recognized her holiness through a formal process of investigation. In 1991, her cause for beatification was opened, and she was initially titled Servant of God. Following a review of her life, Pope Francis declared her venerable in June 2023. Her remains have been reinterred in the chapel of her religious order in Baltimore.