Thea Bowman

Thea Bowman (1937 – 1990)

Bertha Bowman was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1937. While her grandparents were slaves, her father was a physician, and her mother was a highly educated teacher. The Bowmans were Methodists, but when young Bertha was exposed to the lives and mission of Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, she asked her parent’s permission to become Catholic.

Before Mississippi exploded in the violence and upheaval of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, Bertha was subjected to the full horrors of the discrimination and segregation of the Jim Crow Laws. Despite the outrages, Bertha followed the call from Christ and found her vocation as a nun with the sisters of Perpetual Adoration and professed her solemn vows as Sr. Thea Bowman and the only black sister in the congregation. She excelled in her studies, and after her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she was awarded a doctorate by Catholic University of America.

Returning to Mississippi to take care of her elderly parents, Sr. Thea was employed by the bishop of Jackson to advance the cause of inculturation throughout the diocese. Thea was characterized by her joy and passion for the Gospel and its message of peace and justice. Thea developed a passion for liturgy and the music of African American Catholics and compiled the first-ever hymnal for use by Black Catholics. She embarked on a worldwide lecture series, preaching the joy of the Gospel and her black brothers and sisters’ rich contributions to the Church.

Thea was diagnosed with breast cancer and, shortly after a powerful speech to the USCCB (made from her wheelchair) about the horror and injustice of racism, died at the age of 52 in 1990. The cause for Servant of God, Sr. Thea Bowman, was opened in Rome and today there are over a dozen institutions named in her honor around the U.S.

The Thea Bowman tile was created in 2022. Our 12" X 12" signed and numbered reproduction is created on stretch canvas and is suitable for matting and framing.