| Sr. Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bertha Bowman December 29, 1937 Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | March 30, 1990 (aged 52) Canton, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Viterbo University Catholic University of America Boston College |
| Occupation | Roman Catholic Religious Sister and teacher |
Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A., (December 29, 1937 – March 30, 1990) was a Roman Catholic Religious Sister, teacher, and scholar.
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Born as Bertha Bowman in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she converted to the Roman Catholic Church, during her childhood,[1] and joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she attended Viterbo University. She also attended Catholic University of America and Boston College, where she was a scholar of William Faulkner. She taught elementary school in La Crosse, Wisconsin and high school in Canton, Mississippi. Bowman also taught in colleges at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Viterbo College in La Crosse.[2]
After a career of years involved in education, Bowman became more involved with ministry to her fellow African-Americans. She began to give inspirational talks to Black congregations and found a tremendous response by the people to whom she spoke. Even after she developed cancer, she continued to speak to religious groups, becoming a model of hope and faith.
Later she appeared on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace.[3] She told Wallace on 60 Minutes that:
"I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light".[4]
Sister Thea died of cancer in 1990, aged 52, in Canton, Mississippi. Less than a week before her death it was announced by the University of Notre Dame that they would award Sister Thea the 1990 Laetare Medal. It was presented posthumously at the 1990 commencement exercises.