Foundress began schools for blacks WASHINGTON (CNS)- Black Catholics are increasingly pointing to Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, a black nun who established' the first U.S.-based order of black sisters, as an important model to follow. . "She is an excellent role model for African-American Catholics," said Beverly Carroll, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Black Catholics and a resident of Baltimore, where Mother Lange established the Oblate Sisters of Prov·idence. Baltimore Archbishop William H. Keeler has formally announced that the Vatican has no objection to the Baltimore archdiocese taking preliminary steps for the sainthood cause of Mother Lange. Auxiliary Bishop Carl J. Fisher of Los Angeles, meanwhile/ has given her credit for his remission after surgery for colon cancer. "Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange is a modern example for all people CNS photo who seek to place their trust in BISHOP CARL A. FISHER God, even in the midst of adversity," Bishop Fisher said. _ "She was a woman wh() faced .tremendous opposition, discouragement and defections among closest followers, yet never lost faith in God," he added. Alexis, a sister of the bishop, is secretary general ofthe Oblate SisLOS ANGELES (CNS) - Can medical findings as "a miracle" ters of Providence. and attributed them to the intercancer make one a better bishop? Oblate Sister of Providence Auxiliary Bishop Carl A. Fisher, cession of Mother Mary Elizabeth Virginie Fish said, "I am swamped 45, of Los Angeles, who underwent Lange, foundress of the Oblate with requests for information and surgery for colon cancer on April Sisters of Providence, whose cause prayer cards for Mother Lange as 30, believes it can. for canonization was 'introduced a result of Bishop Fisher's comHe's convinced he can give great- at the Vatica'n last year. ments." "I believe our prayers have been er witness to his personal faith in God. He's sure he can help oth.er heard through the intercession of Mother Lange joins Pierre Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange," Christians be more serious about Toussaint as the first black U.S. their relationship with their crea- he said. "I'm convinced of that, Catholics to be considered for sainttor. And he's positive he can get and no one's going to convince me hood. more people to listen to him as a otherwise." Neither was native born but "I really don't know about the preacher. each eventually journeyed to the "My role as a bishop has taken cancer," Bishop Fisher said. "All United States, where they peron a new dimension in the sense that I can tell you is that I feel formed the works that brought that now I have a wonderful op- absolutely fantastic. I've had no them notice and. possible canoniportunity to give even greater per- negative side effects from the chezation. Toussaint came to New motherapy. I've had no hair loss. sonal witness to my trust and my York City in 1787 and died in I've had no weight loss, in fact, I've faithfulness in God," the bishop 1853. told The Tidings, Los Angeles gained 20 pounds, which is amazMother Lange, born around ing. archdiocesan newspaper. "It's my 1784, is believed to have fled to But cancer has made Bishop faith that's sustained me, and I feel Cuba after a revolution in her Fisher"prioritize" his life and minGod wants me to share that story. native San Dominique, now Haiti. "People always listened to me istry. He said things are "much Sister Fish said she later left Cuba before," he said .. "But I think clearer" to him now. for Baltimore, entering the United Cancer has forced him to come States at Philadelphia about 1812 they're listening to me even more so now. Whenever I mention the to grips with "who I am" in rela-- with her family. words 'death' or 'cancer' or 'termi- tionship with God. He feels the Mother Lange spent her .own presence of God "more deeply" nal illness,' I can just pause and money for 10 years educ~ting than ever and, as a result, calls the refugee children from her native every - every! - face is glued to malignancy the "greatest spiritual land, Sister Fish said and founded me. So I see it as an opportunity to '. blessing" of his life. really bring the Gospel message her order in the 1820s to further The youngest bishop in Califor- her apostolate. even closer to home." During the bishop's April sur- nia, who seemed to be on the fast Ms. Carroll praised the fact that gery at St. Mary's Medical Center track in the U.S. church hierarchy, . Mother Lange "started the first . in Long Beach, doctors removed especially in African-American school system for our kids part of his colon and discovered circles, he said "that's not even in Catholic or non-Catholic." Moththe picture anymore." Cancer, he er Lange, she added, was well the malignancy had spread to his insisted, has freed him of all eccleliver and lymph nodes. So followsiastical personal ambition. ing the surgery he began chemoThese days, his thoughts turn therapy treatments. A new round of tests in late Sep- more often to his own mortality. He thinks about death every morntember indicated the cancer had ing, he said, not in a "morbid" spread no farther. "Physical findings of how Bishop sense but in wanting to live the next 24 hours as fully as he can. Fisher is doing, the lab tests as well "I realize that my days are as the CAT scan and other X-ray limited," he said. "But all of our tests all failed to reveal any evidays are limited. We're all termidence of the disease at this time," nal from the day we're born. But Dr. N. Simon Tchekmedyian of somehow it never sunk in before." the Pacific Coast Hematology/ OnOne of a dozen children raised cology Medical Group told The in poverty and segregation in MisTidings. "That is a clinical remission," he , sissi ppi, Bishop Fisher said he and his family have "always been peoadded. "So what we're dealing ple who had to struggle in life. with is an illness that has been That's part of me. I'm not one who arrested, that has been placed in a gives up. I'm a fighter. complete halt and that is entirely CNS photo controlled... "And I'm. going to fight," he said. "I'm going to struggle." Bishop Fisher described the MOTHER LANGE
Can cancer make one a better bishop?
aware that education is "our way into society." , To have f ound~d "a congregation of black women in a slave state long before the Emancipation Proclamation," Sister Fish said, "speaks highly of God's providence." Information on Mother Lange's cause may be obtained from Sister Virginie Fish, Oblate Sisters o.f Providence, 70 I Gun Rd., Baltimore, MD 21227.
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