Sister Thea Bowman FSPA 1937-1990
By Sister Irene Hartman, OP
The granddaughter of a slave and only child of an African-American doctor and his wife in Canton, Mississippi, Bertha Bowman was born December 29, 1937. She belonged to the Methodist Church until at the age of nine she received her parents’ permission to become a Catholic. At that time, she was a student in Holy Child Jesus School in Canton, Mississippi. With a brilliant mind, beautiful voice, and dynamic personality, Bertha was intent on making the world a better place.
As a young lady, she felt that God was calling her to become a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This was a brave step for an African-American to enter a religious community where the members were predominately white. Along with her sister companions, she obediently prepared to become a teacher as Sister Thea, and she taught for 16 years in elementary, secondary, and university settings. Then she received permission to return to her hometown of Canton, Mississippi, to do ministry and care for her ageing parents.
At the invitation of the Bishop of Jackson, Mississippi, Sister Thea, the only African-American Sister in the diocese, was invited to become the consultant for intercultural awareness in the diocese. In this capacity, she made many presentations across the country, presentations of lively gatherings that combined gospel preaching, prayer, story telling, and music. Sister Thea directed her programs to break down racial and cultural barriers. Her main theme was aimed at establishing intercultural communication. She was advised "to keep a low profile," but this was not her style. She was a gifted teacher and scholar, and expressed her love for God in music and dance as she encouraged others to appreciate the riches found in all cultures.
For 10 years, she directed her efforts through the Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Intercultural Awareness with the support of Catholic Extension. She led revivals at black and white churches on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line and visited Africa to re-connect with her roots.
At 46, Sister Thea was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, which spread to her brain. This hardly slowed her down, and she ministered from her wheelchair. She prayed "to live until I die." She received a standing ovation after her presentation as key speaker at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1989. At the close of the meeting, she invited the bishops to stand, embrace arm-in-arm, and sing with much enthusiasm, "We Shall Overcome".
Dead from cancer at the age of 53, Sister Thea had lived a full life of hope, love, and justice. A holy person of our times, Sister Thea loved her faith; she loved God; she was at ease expressing her love for God and her lasting commitment as she invited others to share that same love. Sister Thea fought evil, especially prejudice, suspicion, and hatred.
She died in 1990 with a song in her heart and a prayer for social justice for all races and creeds.