Rosemont continues its celebration of Black Catholic History Month with this focus on Sister Thea Bowman and her profound impact on the Catholic Church. Sister Thea Bowman was a woman whose life blended faith, education, cultural awareness, forgiveness and a joyful commitment to justice.
Sister Thea, a granddaughter of a slave, was born Bertha Elizabeth Bowman in 1937 in Canton, Mississippi. In Mississippi, she learned much of her African American culture from her family and the community around her. The African American culture she learned in her youth from those around her included history, stories, songs, prayers, customs and traditions. At the same time, she witnessed the realities of the poor, oppressed, blatant racism, segregation, and the struggle for civil rights in her community.
Convert to Catholicism
Sister Thea Bowman converted to Catholicism at a young age. Her conversion was inspired by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity who were her teachers, and pastors at Holy Child Jesus Church in Canton. She was moved by Catholics who lived faith in action and cared for one another in addition to those most in need. At the age of 15, she joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. There, she was the only African American member of her religious community.
After becoming a member of the religious commuity, Sister Thea became a teacher. She taught at all grade levels. Later she earned a doctorate in English and linguistics and became a respected college professor and educator.
African American Catholic in the Civil Rights Era
During the transformative 60s, many in the United States were in search of racial equality and justice for all. During this time, Sister Thea Bowman experienced a personal, spiritual, and cultural awakening. This caused her to rediscover her African American heritage and spirituality she learned in her youth, while simultaneously calling the Catholic Church her āhome,ā and, āfamily of familiesā. According to a website dedicated to Sister Thea, she became a noted, āevangelizer, teacher, writer, and singer sharing the joy of the Gospel and her rich cultural heritage throughout the nationā.
After returning home to Mississippi in 1978 to care for her aging parents in Mississippi, with permission of her superior and religious community, she accepted an appointment by Bishop Joseph Bernard Brunini. The bishop asked her to direct the Office of Intercultural Affairs for the Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi. Eventually she became a founding faculty member of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans. She promoted racial equality and consistently called the Church to greater inclusivity.
Sadly in 1984, Sister Thea lost both her parents and soon thereafter was diagnosed with breast cancer. With the support of her surrounding community she remained undeterred by her illness, physical deterioration, and pain choosing to face her circumstances with bravery, faith, and purpose.
In 1989, she embraced the opportunity to address the United States Bishops at their annual meeting. From her wheelchair, dressed in African clothing and bald from chemotherapy treatments, Sister Thea had a āheart to heartā with her ābrothersā. With clarity and conviction, she spoke extemporaneously about fully including the African American community in the Catholic Church in areas of spirituality, education and Church leadership. She shared what it meant to be Catholic and African American. Her joy, enthusiasm and raw authenticity moved the bishops to tears as she encouraged all to lock arms and sing with her, āWe Shall Overcomeā.
Redemption, Peace & Godās Love
As stated on a website devoted to her, sistertheabowman.com, āSister Thea Bowmanās life was always one of Gospel joy, enduring faith, and persevering prayer even in the midst of racial prejudice, cultural insensitivity, an debilitating illness. Her personal holiness witnessed to the faith and endurance of her ancestors, the hope expressed in the Spirituals, compassion for the poor and marginalized, her devotion to the Eucharist, and the radical love embodied by St. Francis of Assisi. Asked how she made sense of suffering, she answered, āI donāt make sense of suffering. I try to make sense of lifeā¦I try each day to see Godās willā¦'ā
āWe unite ourselves with Christās redemptive work when we reconcile, when we make peace, when we share the good news that God is in our lives, when we reflect to our brothers and sisters Godās healing, Godās forgiveness, Godās unconditional love.ā ā Sister Thea Bowman
Sister Thea Bowman died in 1990 at the young age of 52 in the home she grew up in after her courageous battle with breast cancer. Her legacy continues through housing for the poor and elderly, schools, and a health clinic named in her honor. Books, a stage play, works of art and stained glass windows remember Sister Thea and her exemplary life. Black Catholic Studies continues at Xavier University.
Rosemont Honors Sister Thea Bowman by celebrating a woman who lived with bold faith, great bravery, and an intimate understanding of Godās love she wished to share with all people. Her example continues to guide those who work for justice and equality of all people as well as a universal invitation to participate in the Catholic Church.
