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Sister Thea Bowman |
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Timeline of Venerable Solanus Casey |
World
Timeline |
The granddaughter of slaves, Sister Thea Bowman was born in 1937 in rural Mississippi. She was baptized and received into the Catholic Church at age 10. In 1953 she entered the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration—the first African American to join the community. As a woman with a strong sense of black identity, Sister Thea’s skills as a teacher, poet, and singer greatly helped her shape her vocation to reflect an African-American way of being Catholic in the 20th century. She was proud of her heritage and possessed the remarkable ability to make all Catholics proud of their heritage. After earning a doctoral degree in English, Sister Thea returned to the South to work primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1980 she helped to establish the Institute of Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans. She was a popular speaker and appeared at hundreds of conferences—reinforcing her spoken message with inspiring songs. Gentle in demeanor, Sister Thea never minced words and made it clear that all people are called to carry forward the message of the Gospel. In 1984 Sister Thea became increasingly ill with cancer. She continued her very active speaking schedule, sometimes confined to a wheelchair. Her health in no way diminished her courage and faith. Asked abut her terminal illness, Sister Thea responded, “When I first found out I had cancer, I didn’t know what to pray for. I didn’t know if I should pray for healing or life or death, Then I found peace in praying for what folks call ‘God’s perfect will.’ As it evolved, my prayer became, Lord, let me live until I die. By that I mean I want to live, love, and serve fully until death comes.” Death came to Sister Thea on March 30, 1990. She spent her life teaching, preaching, and witnessing to the joy, life, and spirit of Jesus. Her message of intercultural awareness lives on. |
1937 1953 1980 1984 1990 |
