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The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center
A Ministry of The Oblate Sisters of Providence
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The Dream

The mission of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Inc. is to serve the poor and the needy. They follow the charism of the foundress, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange in this endeavor as they continue their services through The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center to bring wholeness to adolescent girls and their families.

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The "dream" to fulfill this mission was enthusiastically supported by Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, member of the city council, The Johnston Square Community, the MELC Board of Directors and many others benefactors dedicated to improving the lives of abused, neglected and abandoned girls in the community.

Initial construction of this four story residential facility began on July 2, 1997 on the designated site at 610 East Chase Street in Baltimore, Maryland adjacent to St. Frances Academy. The Academy is a one hundred seventy-five year old high school founded in 1828 and operated by The Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African-American order of women religious in the United States. Historically, The Oblate Sisters have been dedicated to the education of children of African-American descent.

Yesterday

The Oblate Sisters of Providence was founded in Baltimore in 1829 by Mary Elizabeth Lange, a Black French refugee from San Domingo. Mary Elizabeth Lange blazed a trail for education, peace, justice and love for all at a time when these virtues were lost to a country mired in systemic, economic and human rights violations through the enforcement of slavery. Today slavery exists in systemic, economic, physical and spiritual bondage to drugs and victimization of violence, despair, poverty, neglect and abandonment. The Oblate Sisters of Providence, like their foundress, refuse to submit to the myriad of hardships experienced everyday in the urban cities throughout the United States. A response to challenge this "modern day slavery" is:

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The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center

The Lange Center is a not-for-profit organization, which offers residential care for girls who have been abandoned, neglected and/or abused. The 1997 groundbreaking for the Lange Center was a ceremonious day attended by the Oblate Sisters of Providence, clergy, The Joubet Board of Directors, government officials, Oblate Alumnae, other guests, benefactors and the community-at-large.

One year later, in 1998, The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center was completed and dedicated to the mission of the Oblate Sisters of Providence to improve the lives of girls in need.

Today

The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center, Inc. is licensed to care for girls, ages seven to fifteen. Living quarters are located on the two upper levels. Administrative offices and counseling areas are on the first level. Kitchen, dining and recreational areas are on the lower level. The program provides individualized treatment for the residents and their families. When the resident returns home, the Center maintains contact for a minimum of six months. The staff and clinicians identify each child's interests, strengths and needs and works with her individually as we as in group sessions.

Daily experiences are planned so that each resident knows that the community-at-large values her. This therapeutic milieu is designed to provide the residents with opportunities and strategies to develop self-control and problem solving skills. The treatment team determines clinical intervention based on the needs of the child. Clinicians measure each resident's performance in sessions with the resident in order to interpret and promote progress.

Services offered at The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center
Referral * Admission * Life Skills * Education * Case Management

The Mission

To serve the poor and needy through the establishment of a residential care facility for 20 abused, neglected and/or abandoned girls.

The Goal

To reunite these girls with their families or place them in a safe permanent residential setting, e.g. adoption, that is appropriate to their age and needs.

The Philosophy

To focus on the needs of the individual child and to provide the services needed to restore the girls to healthy responsible citizens who have hope and aspirations for their future.

Sister M. Claudina Sanz, O.S.P., Executive Director
The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center

As a teenager growing up in Belize, Sister M. Claudina Sanz, O.S.P. was inspired by the mission of the Oblate Sisters of Providence and their dedicated service to orphans. Although these services have changed in recent years, the Oblate Sisters have never forgotten their mission to care for neglected and abandoned children.

The Oblate Sisters of Providence Chapter of 1989 regenerated its efforts to fulfill the mission of Mother Mary Lange to teach girls how to improve the quality of life for themselves. When Sister M. Claudina Sanz was elected Superior General in 1993, she responded to these efforts by establishing the Mary Lange Center. As the Project Director for the Lange Center and with stalwart support from the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the Joubet Board of Directors and others encouraging benefactors, Sister Claudina succeeded in opening The Mary Elizabeth Lange Center in 1998. Today she resides with the girls at the Center as its Executive Director.

Mary Elizabeth Lange Center
601 E Chase Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 244-8605
Sr. Claudina Sanz, OSP Executive Director

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