In 1997 the worldwide Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate issued a statement (called a Vade Mecum) entitled “Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.”

That same year Maurice Lange, OMI, attended a two-week Earth Literacy program at Genesis Farm in Blairstown, New Jersey, USA.

In 1998-99 Maurice was invited to do a two-year internship at Genesis Farm both in their Ecological Learning Center as well as their Community Supported Garden.

2000 Maurice was assigned to work half time at Ss. Peter & Paul Parish in Alton, Illinois, USA, and to also explore the feasibility of creating an ecological ministry in nearby Godfrey, Illinois.

2001 The Oblates send Maurice for a one-year assignment to Godfrey (the site of the novitiate) to continue exploring the possibility of the creation of an ecological ministry there. In August, a video was produced at the site for distribution to all American Oblates highlighting concerns regarding Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation and encouraging action.

December of 2001 saw the formal birth of the Oblate Ecological Initiative!  The Oblate’s provincial council approved the creation of this new ministry and gave a three-year go-ahead (through June, 2005) towards beginning both the La Vista Ecological Learning Center as well as the Community Supported Garden at La Vista.

2002 saw the first Earth Literacy programs being offered through the Ecological Learning Center.  The first issue of the Initiative’s newsletter “La Vista Visions” was published in the Spring. That year was also a time for the building up infrastructure for the Community Supported Garden. That October a 30’x 96’ greenhouse was erected by the local Rotary Club.  Also in October Amy Cloud, a qualified head gardener, was hired.

May of 2003 saw the first distribution of organically grown vegetables from the Community Supported Garden at La Vista to seventy families.  Ten percent of these were of low income. Hundreds of pounds of surplus vegetables were donated to a local food pantry.  That same year found a doubling in the number of folks attending the week long Earth Literacy program.

2004 saw another doubling (to capacity) in participants for the August Earth Literacy program.  One hundred families signed on that year to receive their six-month supply of vegetables, herbs and flowers.

In 2005 another twenty folks (capacity) participated in Earth Literacy. The number of families as shareholders in the Community Supported Garden grew to one hundred twenty. In June, 2005 the Oblate provincial council approved a three-year re-commitment to the Oblate Ecological Initiative in Godfrey. Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND was hired as assistant at the Ecological Learning Center. Head Gardener Amy Cloud completed her three-year term.  Kris Larson was hired on as the new head gardener for 2006-2008 seasons.

2006 saw Sr. Maxine become program assistant at the Ecological Learning Center and Mary Jo Jacobs hired as the administrative assistant. Eighteen Oblates attended a Spring gathering sponsored by the Learning Center.  This was in collaboration with the Center’s sponsoring of Satish Kumar speaking at two nearby universities. The website for the Learning Center was created. There was a focus on outreach to and collaboration with other institutions.  The Community Supported Garden went through a challenging summer with the heat and drought.  Autumn’s cooler temperatures and rain brought a tremendous abundance of food for the 200 families (equivalent of 120 full shares).