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Servant of God
Thea Bowman
FSPA
Thea Bowman.jpg
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

Sister Thea Bowman (born Bertha Elizabeth Bowman on December 29, 1937) was a remarkable Catholic nun, teacher, and musician. She was a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA). Sister Thea dedicated her life to helping the Catholic Church better serve African Americans.

She shared her faith and joy through teaching, singing, and speaking. She also helped create an African-American Catholic hymnal (a book of church songs). Sister Thea was a founder of the National Black Sisters' Conference. This group supported African-American women in religious life. She passed away on March 30, 1990. In 2018, the process to recognize her as a saint began. She is now known as a Servant of God.

The Life of Thea Bowman

Early Years and Education

Thea Bowman was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, in 1937. Her grandfather had been born enslaved. However, her father became a doctor and her mother a teacher. Thea was raised in the Methodist faith. With her parents' permission, she became Catholic at age nine. She attended Holy Child Jesus School in Canton, Mississippi.

Becoming a Sister

At 15, Thea joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was the first African-American to join this group. She also took part in the civil rights movement. As part of her training to become a nun, Thea studied at Viterbo University. She earned a degree in English in 1965.

Advanced Studies and Activism

Thea continued her studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. She earned a master's degree in English in 1969. She then completed her Ph.D. in English in 1972. Her doctoral paper was about the writer Thomas More. While studying, Thea helped start the National Black Sisters' Conference in 1968. This group formed after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. She remained active with the group throughout her life.

A Dedicated Educator

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

Shaping Catholic Music

Sister Thea greatly influenced church music for Catholics. She helped create a special way for Black Catholics to worship. She believed that understanding one's history and culture helps create meaningful church music. She said, "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."

In 1987, Sister Thea was key to publishing Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal. This was the first hymnal made for the Black community. She helped choose the songs. She also wrote an essay for it, "The Gift of African American Sacred Song." She described Black sacred song as "soulful song." She said it was complete, active, real, spirit-filled, and life-giving.

Sharing Faith and Joy

After 16 years of teaching, Sister Thea became a consultant for the Bishop of Jackson. Her role was to help people understand different cultures. She began to focus more on ministry for African-Americans. She gave inspiring talks to Black church groups. She shared her "ministry of joy" in many places. These included Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, and the Virgin Islands. She also visited Hawaii, New York, and California.

Her Message of Unity

Sister Thea urged Catholics to celebrate their differences. She encouraged them to keep their cultures. But she also wanted them to show joy in being united in Christ. Author Christopher Pramuk wrote about her impact. He said Sister Thea did much to fight against segregation and racism in the Catholic Church. She inspired many with her singing and message of God's love. She helped people feel connected, both inside and outside the Catholic world.

Facing Illness with Hope

In 1984, Sister Thea was diagnosed with breast cancer. She began treatment but kept a busy speaking schedule. As her illness progressed, her fame grew. She traveled overseas, visiting West Africa and Lourdes, France. She also appeared on national news shows. A documentary was even filmed about her life after her diagnosis. During an appearance on 60 Minutes, she encouraged host Mike Wallace to say, "Black is beautiful."

In 1989, Boston College gave her an honorary doctorate. This award recognized her service to the Church.

Her Lasting Impact

Just months before her death, Sister Thea spoke to American Catholic bishops in 1989. She was in a wheelchair. The bishops were deeply moved and applauded her. When she finished, they stood, linking arms. They sang the spiritual, "We Shall Overcome," led by Sister Thea. Harry Belafonte met her that year. He hoped to make a film about her life with Whoopi Goldberg. However, the project did not happen.

Honored for Her Service

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

A Legacy of Support

The 25th anniversary of Sister Thea’s death brought many tributes. Her 1988 albums, Songs of My People and ’Round the Glory Manger, were re-released in 2020. They were titled Songs of My People: The Complete Collection.

Boston College created the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center. AHANA stands for African, Hispanic, Asian, Native American.

The Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation was started before her death. Its goal is to raise money for scholarships. These scholarships help students of color who want to go to college but lack the funds. Sister Thea believed this was key to helping Black people succeed. She envisioned the foundation in 1984. She told students, "Walk with us. Don't walk behind us and don't walk in front of us; walk with us." By 2015, the foundation had helped over 150 African American students attend college.

Steps Toward Sainthood

The process for Sister Thea’s canonization (becoming a saint) began in mid-2018. The Diocese of Jackson opened her cause. This gave her the official title "Servant of God." This is the first of four steps toward becoming a recognized saint. In 2018, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops fully supported her cause.

Places Named in Her Honor

Many places are named after Sister Thea Bowman. These include:

The Writings of Thea Bowman

  • Bowman, Thea (1985). Families, Black and Catholic, Catholic and Black. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference. Commission on Marriage and Family Life. ISBN: 978-1-5558-6890-1.
  • Bowman, Thea; Cepress, Celestine (1993). Sister Thea Bowman, Shooting Star: Selected Writings and Speeches. La Crosse, WI: Saint Mary's Press. ISBN: 978-0-8848-9302-8. OCLC 28935744.
  • Bowman, Thea; Nutt, Maurice J. (2009). Thea Bowman: In My Own Words. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications. ISBN: 978-0-7648-1782-3. – This book is an index of Bowman's speeches, writings, and interviews. It also includes a short biography.
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