Thea Bowman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman FSPA
Religious
Born	Bertha Elizabeth Bowman (1937-12-29)December 29, 1937 Yazoo City, Mississippi, United States
Died	March 30, 1990(1990-03-30) (aged 52) Canton, Mississippi, United States
Venerated in	Catholic Church

Thea Bowman, a member of the FSPA, was born Bertha Elizabeth Bowman on December 29, 1937. She passed away on March 30, 1990. Sister Thea was a remarkable Black Catholic religious sister, teacher, and musician. She also became a popular speaker and scholar. She made huge contributions to the Catholic Church's work with African Americans.

Sister Thea became a powerful speaker, sharing her faith with many people. She helped create a special hymnal (a book of church songs) for African-American Catholics. She was also known for recording music. She helped start the National Black Sisters' Conference. This group offered support to African-American women in Catholic religious life. Sister Thea died from cancer in 1990.

In 2018, the Diocese of Jackson began the process for her to become a saint. She was given the title Servant of God. This is the first step toward sainthood.

The Life of Thea Bowman

Early Years and Education

Thea Bowman was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1937. Her grandfather had been born into slavery. However, her father was a doctor and her mother was a teacher. Thea grew up in a Methodist family. But with her parents' permission, she became Catholic when she was nine years old.

Thea went to Holy Child Jesus School. There she met her classmate Flonzie Brown Wright. At age 15, she joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She did this even though her parents were not sure about it at first.

Sister Thea studied at Viterbo University. This school was run by her religious group. She earned a degree in English in 1965. She then went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. She earned a master's degree in English in 1969. Later, she earned a Ph.D. (a high-level degree) in English in 1972.

A Dedicated Educator

Sister Thea Bowman taught at an elementary school in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She also taught at Holy Child Jesus Catholic School, a high school in Canton, Mississippi. Later, she taught at her old university, Viterbo College. She also taught at the Catholic University of America and Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Victor M. Parachin, a meditation teacher, wrote about Sister Thea. He noted her big impact on Catholic church music. She helped create a special way of worship for Black Catholics. Sister Thea explained, "When we understand our history and culture, then we can develop the ritual, the music and the devotional expression that satisfy us in the Church."

Sister Thea played a key role in creating a new Catholic hymnal in 1987. It was called Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. This was the first hymnal made for the Black community. James P. Lyke, an African-American bishop, led this project. Sister Thea helped choose the hymns. The hymnal includes her essay, "The Gift of African American Sacred Song."

In her essay, she called Black sacred song "soulful song." She described it in five ways:

• Holistic: It uses your mind, imagination, feelings, voice, and body.
• Participatory: It invites everyone to join in prayer and celebration.
• Real: It connects to the real feelings of the community, like joy, sadness, or struggle.
• Spirit-filled: It is full of energy and passion.
• Life-giving: It makes you feel refreshed, encouraged, and strong.

Sharing Her Faith

After teaching for 16 years, the Bishop of Jackson asked Sister Thea to be a special advisor. She would help people understand different cultures. She then became more involved in helping her fellow African-Americans. She started giving inspiring talks to Black church groups. People loved her messages.

She shared her "ministry of joy" with many audiences. She traveled to places like Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, New York, and California. She asked Catholics to celebrate their differences. She also encouraged them to keep their cultures. But most importantly, she wanted them to show their joy in being united in Christ. People saw her show this joy in a remarkable way.

Christopher Pramuk wrote in his book, Hope Sings, So Beautiful: "Perhaps no one in recent times did more to fight racism in the Catholic Church than Thea Bowman. She inspired millions with her singing and message of God's love for everyone."

In 1984, Sister Thea was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had strong treatments but kept up her busy speaking schedule. As her illness got worse, her fame grew. Friends helped her travel overseas to West Africa and Lourdes, France. She also became well-known in the news. She even appeared on the TV show 60 Minutes.

On 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace, she encouraged him to say "Black is beautiful." She also said: "I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm happy to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light."

In 1989, shortly before she passed away, Boston College gave her an honorary degree. This was to honor her work for the Church.

Her Final Days

Just months before she died, Sister Thea spoke to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1989. She was in her wheelchair. The bishops were very touched by her words. They applauded her. When she finished, they stood up, linked arms, and sang "We Shall Overcome" with her. Harry Belafonte met her in Mississippi in 1989. He hoped to make a film about her life, but it did not happen.

Less than a week before her death, the University of Notre Dame announced a special award for Sister Thea. It was the 1990 Laetare Medal. She received it after she passed away at their graduation ceremony. Sister Thea died on March 30, 1990, at age 52. She was buried with her parents in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sister Thea Bowman's Lasting Impact

The 25th anniversary of her death brought many tributes. Her albums from 1988, Songs of My People and 'Round the Glory Manger, were re-released in 2020. This was for the 30th anniversary of her death. The new collection was called Songs of My People: The Complete Collection.

Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center

Boston College created the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center. AHANA stands for African, Hispanic, Asian, Native American. In 2015, they started an annual Thea Bowman Legacy Day. At the first event, a speaker talked about how Sister Thea believed education was important for Black people. She also helped create a unique way of worship for Black Catholics.

Sister Thea Bowman Foundation

Before she died, the Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation was started. Its goal was to raise money for scholarships. These scholarships would help students of color who needed help to go to college. Sister Thea saw this as a key way to help Black people. She thought of this foundation as early as 1984. She wanted the students to "Walk with us. Don't walk behind us and don't walk in front of us; walk with us." Mary Lou Jennings brought this idea to life in 1989. By 2015, the foundation had helped over 150 African American students attend college.

Steps Toward Sainthood

The Diocese of Jackson began the process for Sister Thea to become a saint in mid-2018. This officially made her a Servant of God. This is the first of four steps toward sainthood. In 2018, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops fully supported moving forward with Sister Thea Bowman's sainthood cause at the local church level.

Places Named After Sister Thea

Many places have been named in honor of Sister Thea Bowman:

• Thea Bowman House at Boston College
• Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, Boston College
• Thea Bowman Center, Cleveland, Ohio
• Thea Bowman Community Health Center, Detroit
• Thea Bowman House, Utica, New York
• Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, Gary, Indiana
• Thea Bowman Residence, Amityville, New York
• Thea Bowman Spirituality Center, Raymond, Mississippi
• Thea Bowman Women's Center, Philadelphia
• Thea House Catholic Campus Ministry Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Sister Thea Bowman Academy, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
• Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School, Jackson, Mississippi
• Sister Thea Bowman Center for Women, Siena College, Loudonville, New York
• Sister Thea Bowman DRVC Gospel Choir, Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York
• Sister Thea Bowman Grade School, East St. Louis, Illinois
• Sister Thea Bowman Hall at Loyola University Maryland
• Sister Thea Bowman House (Catholic Campus Ministry) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro
• Thea Bowman Hall at Sacred Heart University

Her Writings

• Bowman, Thea (1985). Families, Black and Catholic, Catholic and Black. This book was about Black and Catholic families.
• Bowman, Thea; Cepress, Celestine (1993). Sister Thea Bowman, Shooting Star: Selected Writings and Speeches. This book is a collection of her writings and speeches.
• Bowman, Thea; Nutt, Maurice J. (2009). Thea Bowman: In My Own Words. This book is an index of her speeches, writings, and interviews. It also includes a short story about her life.