Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman

1937-1990

Artwork courtesy of the National Black Catholic Congress

Life and Witness to Racial Justice:

Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, was born in Canton, Mississippi, the only child of Dr. and Mrs. Bowman. Her early life was shaped by both the pain of systemic racism and the resilience of Black faith. When the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration opened a mission and school in Canton, young Thea felt a call to religious life. Though her parents were not Catholic, Thea embraced the faith of the Catholic Church as a child, drawn to its spiritual depth and the witness of the religious sisters who served her community.

As the only African American woman in her religious community, Sister Thea faced racism both within and beyond the Church. Yet she refused to be silenced. She became a fierce advocate for the dignity of Black people, the beauty of Black culture, and the richness of Black Catholic spirituality.

As a scholar, teacher, and speaker, Sister Thea challenged the Church to confront its history of racial exclusion and to embrace the gifts Black Catholics bring to the Body of Christ. Her momentous address to the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1989 was an inspiring call for justice, unity, and cultural celebration. She reminded them—and all of us—that to be Black and Catholic is to live at the intersection of suffering and hope, and to offer the Church a vibrant, prophetic witness rooted in song, story, and sacred tradition. Life and Witness to Racial Justice

Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman was born in Canton, Mississippi, the only child of Dr. and Mrs. Bowman. Her early life was shaped by both the pain of systemic racism and the resilience of Black faith. When the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration opened a mission and school in Canton, young Thea felt a call to religious life. Though her parents were not Catholic, Thea embraced the faith of the Catholic Church as a child, drawn to its spiritual depth and the witness of the religious sisters who served her community.

As a scholar, teacher, and speaker, Sister Thea challenged the Church to confront its history of racial exclusion and to embrace the gifts Black Catholics bring to the Body of Christ. Her momentous address to the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1989 (watch the video below) was an inspiring call for justice, unity, and cultural celebration. She reminded them—and all of us—that to be Black and Catholic is to live at the intersection of suffering and hope, and to offer the Church a vibrant, prophetic witness rooted in song, story, and sacred tradition.