Sr. thea bowman biography

Thea lived a full life. She fought evil, especially prejudice, suspicion, hatred and things that drive people apart. She fought for God and God's people until her death in Explore more of Sister Thea's story, watch videos and view photos using the buttons above. Sister Thea Bowman's Story.

Sr. thea bowman biography

Go to top. In this position Sister Thea continued to assail racial prejudice and promote cultural awareness and sensitivity. With the full support of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Sister Thea remained then and remains still a member in good standing in her religious community. InSister Thea faced devastating challenges: both her parents died, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Her friends and students encouraged her to choose life. Even when it became increasingly painful and difficult to travel as the cancer metastasized to her bones, she was undeterred from witnessing and sharing her boundless love for God and the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Donned in her customary African garb, Sister Thea would arrive in a wheel chair with no hair due to the chemotherapy treatments but always with her a joyful disposition and pleasant smile.

She did not let her wheel chair, or the deterioration of her body keep her from one unprecedented event — an opportunity to address the U. She enlightened the bishops on African-American history and spirituality. Sister Thea urged the bishops 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.

And the whole point is to love one another. And that's what she did. As the civil rights movement grew in the years that followed, Bowman worked to advance racial justice. She helped establish the National Black Sisters Conference and advocated for an increased representation of American-American people in Church leadership. She called for more encounters between white and non-white Catholics, and for a welcoming of music from different cultural backgrounds.

Bowman became a noted public speaker, and traveled around the country, talking about race and the Catholic faith. She continued to travel and teach even after being diagnosed with breast cancer ineven landing an interview with 60 Minutes. InBowman delivered what would become a famous speech at the spring meeting of the U. And one by one, the bishops came to her and knelt before her, in her wheelchair, and asked for her sr.

thea bowman biography. That's how much they thought about her," Smith said. Just months before her death from cancer, Bowman spoke to the U. Catholic bishops in from her wheelchair, [ 12 ] and the bishops "powerfully and visibly moved, applauded her. When she finished they stood linking arms and singing as Thea led them in the spiritual, 'We Shall Overcome'.

Less than a week before her death, the University of Notre Dame announced that it would award Bowman the Laetare Medal. It was presented posthumously at the commencement exercises. The 25th anniversary of her death brought forth numerous tributes. Paul, were re-released in for the 30th anniversary of Bowman's death under the title, Songs of My People: The Complete Collection.

At the inaugural event of the legacy day, the keynote speaker mentioned how Bowman had stressed the importance of education for Blacks, and how she had legitimized a distinct form of worship for Black Catholics. Shortly before her death, the Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation was established to raise scholarship money, on a national scale, for underserved students of color who sought post-secondary education but did not have the means to attend - an endeavor Bowman saw as key to raising up the Black people.

Don't walk behind us and don't walk in front of us; walk with us. By it had put more than African American students through college. A cause for canonization was opened for Bowman by the Diocese of Jackson in mid, gaining her an official designation as a Servant of Godthe first of the four steps toward sainthood. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk.

Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. Roman Catholic religious sister — Servant of God. Gregory Archbishops Eugene A. Roman Ordinary Form Zaire Use. Societal issues. Catholic politics. Links and resources. Life [ edit ]. Early life [ edit ]. Educator [ edit ]. Evangelist [ edit ].

Death [ edit ]. Legacy [ edit ]. Sister Thea Bowman Foundation [ edit ]. Cause for canonization [ edit ]. Institutions named after Bowman [ edit ]. Works [ edit ]. References [ edit ].