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Russ Smith
The Rev. Maurice Lange, ot the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Godfrey, holds a handful of multi-colored cherry tomatoes, the bounty from his organic
garden.
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The Telegraph
August 19, 2001
Priest leads national ecology effort
By ANDE YAKSTIS
Telegraph staff writer
The Rev. Maurice Lange carries arms full of fresh tomatoes from his organic garden on the bluff land of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Godfrey.
"We're growing all kinds of vegetables the natural way without the use of chemicals and pesticides," said Lange, OMI, a Catholic priest in the missionary order of Oblates.
His garden stretches along the scenic, green valley of the Oblates Fathers on Levis Lane, a novitiate for the training of young novices entering the Catholic priesthood.
"We give the food from our garden to the Crisis Food Center and Ursuline Convent in Alton," said Lange, who watched a bright red Cardinal feeding on a sunflower in the garden.
He strolled along the wooded bluff trails of the 255-acres of Oblates land, overlooking the Mississippi River. "The land is a national treasure of forests,
flowers and wildlife," said Lange, admiring the 150-year-old oak trees towering along the white limestone bluffs.
The Oblate property, formerly the Levis family estate, is nestled along a
paradise of wooded land which includes the Olin Nature Preserve, Mississippi Sanctuary and Cora and Kemp Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary.
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Russ Smith
Gardenias, planted to control insects, form the edge of the garden next to corn.
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The 38-year-old priest has been selected by the U.S. Oblate religious order to spearhead its new national ecological ministry to preserve the beauty of woods, trees and protect the environment.
"The land, trees and flowers are God's creation and we need to protect them for our self-preservation and for future generations of people to enjoy," Lange said.
The national Oblate ecological ministry is based at the Oblates in Godfrey, and Lange will carry the message of nature preservation and environmental education to Oblate priests across the country.
He is sharing his love of nature with school classes and organizations across the Godfrey area and Madison County.
School classes, clubs, churches and organizations can call Lange at 466
-5004 to invite him to come and speak.
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Russ Smith
A few yards away, a statue of the Virgin Mary is the focal point of a prayer garden.
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"We have ecology and spiritual retreats at the Oblates at Godfrey," he said. "The public is invited to attend our autumn equinox celebration at 2p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22."
Lange grew up with a love of nature in San Antonio. He received a BA degree in environmental studies and was ordained 11 years ago as a Catholic priest in the Oblates, a worldwide missionary order.
His interest in environmental preservation was sparked by the nationally known Genesis Farm of the Catholic order of Dominican Sisters in Blairstown, N.J. "I was impressed with their ecological
learning center," Lange said.
The woods and land of the Oblates in Godfrey is protected forever by a U.S Forestry Division's forest legacy easement and a state scenic land easement
obtained with the help of the Great Rivers Land Trust.
"Great Rivers is proud to be a partner with the Oblates and The Nature
Institute to preserve the beautiful land along the Great River Road," said Annie Hoagland of Great Rivers.
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