Black Catholic U.S. Causes for canonization

Sister Thea Bowman, fspa

 (1937-1990)

Sister Thea Bowman was the embodiment of the intersection of Black religion and arts, of cultural heritage confronting contemporary life issues.

Thea is best remembered for her gift of helping children to grow in awareness of their gifts, their cultural heritage and their heritage as children of God. Through song, dance, poetry, drama, and story, she evangelized and catechized, communicating joy, freedom, and pride.

Sister Thea helped to found the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana where her philosophy of religious education-educating the whole person, body, mind and spirit, using strategies and methods rooted in the Black Christian tradition in the context of community-shaped and transformed both faculty and students. She left her imprint on many hearts and lives through her lectures, concerts, courses, articles and recordings of traditional African American Spirituals.

 Her influence continues at Catholic Universities (Boston College, Notre Dame University and Xavier University of Louisiana, to name a few) and Catholic academic institutions throughout the US.


ARTICLES ON SISTER THEA

The Cause for Canonization
Biola University
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Catholic University of America