La Vista
is a ministry of the
Missionary Oblates
of Mary Immaculate
located in
Godfrey, Illinois,
on bluffs overlooking
the Mississippi River.
Offering programs and resources for living consciously within the Integrity of Creation
Why An Ecological Ministry?
This ministry emerged from the Oblate priority of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation as affirmed in 2016: "We will participate in efforts to care for the integrity of creation in the face of environmental devastation." (36th General Chapter)
Caring for our common home is essential to our mission to the poor, because they are the ones most affected by the devastation to the planet.
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis wrote: "I will point to the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet, that everything is connected."
Grounded in the sacred story of creation, the Learning Center educates for ecological conversion, calling us to change our relationship with the planet so the whole Earth community has a chance to survive and flourish.
Why is La Vista Unique?
It is home to special ecological initiatives:
​
​
​
​
​
​
Through participation in the Forest Legacy Program and the Illinois Nature Preserve System, Oblates have dedicated the land at La Vista in perpetuity. It is an integral part of one of the largest contiguous forested areas in Illinois.
News 1
Caring for Our Common Home: Ecological Restoration
Missionary Oblates
Woods Nature Preserve
Pollinator Garden
Forest Legacy
Conservation Land
