On this anniversary of her death, call upon Servant of God Sr. Thea to intercede for you, especially in prayers for unity in our Church and world!
Let’s be better together! TAKE 7 MINUTES TODAY TO LISTEN TO HER presenation at the 1989 US Conference of Catholic Bishops conference:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1WznAPRKWi/In her words, as Catholics let us walk together, not be divided. We shall overcome – the poverty, the loneliness, the alienation, and build together a city, a new Jerusalem together not apart. Celebrate who we are and whose we are! All we got to do to love the Lord is love our neighbor!
Sr. Thea Bowman (1937-1990) –was the daughter of a Mississippi doctor and a teacher; a granddaughter of slaves. This dynamic lady was proclaimed a “holy woman” in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
She was eager to learn from other cultures, but also wanted to share the abundance of her African American culture and spirituality. She was the first non-white member of her congregation (the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration) in an all-white city in Wisconsin. Her friends, both religious and lay, said she had the uncanny gift and energy that brought people together. She was a highly acclaimed evangelizer, teacher, writer, and singer sharing the joy of the Gospel. Despite her debilitating battle with breast cancer, she did not let it stop her from speaking to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1989. She explained what it meant to be African American and Catholic. She enlightened the bishops on African American history and spirituality. She urged them to continue to evangelize the African American community, to promote inclusivity and full participation of African Americans within Church leadership, and to understand the necessity and value of Catholic schools in the African American community. She seemingly touched the hearts of the bishops as evidenced by their thunderous applause and tears flowing from their eyes, after she brought them together all arm-in-arm to sing “We Shall Overcome.”
Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, pray for us!
