AAMEN ESSAY WINNER #4: Isabelle Lu

The African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization Network (AAMEN) invites you to join us in celebration of National Black Catholic History Month (NBCHM).   In 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus designated November as NBCHM.  The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus chose Notre Dame University’s Theodore Hesburgh Library to entrust the archives.  These historical documents contain information about African-American Catholic priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, seminarians and lay people.  November also marks a time, when in loving remembrance, the church prays for all saints and souls, as well as a time to recall the saints and souls of Africa and African diaspora.

To celebrate NBCHM, St. Michael Chapter of AAMEN worked with St. Michael School to introduce the Middle School students to Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, an African American convert to Catholicism.  She was a Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.  The students studied the life of Sr. Thea, her contributions to the Catholic Church, and were invited to write an essay.  The winning essays will be featured in the bulletins though-out the month of November.  Please take time to reflect on Sr. Thea Bowman as she awaits our church’s recognition as a Saint.

Eighth Grade – Isabelle Lu

“My goal is to share the good news. I want people to know that happiness is possible” (Sister Thea Bowman 1937-1990). An African American born in 1937 achieved much more than most people. She was an educator, missionary disciple, and advocate for cultural awareness, and racial harmony. She witnessed how Catholics seemed to love and care for one another. She believed that God’s love would provide for the needy and the poor. A quote from her community said, “If you get, give. If you learn, teach”. This quote has guided her throughout her life, she has shown God’s love and compassion to others, especially to the needy.

Sister Thea Bowman was born on December 29, 1937, in Canton, Mississippi to African American parents (Biography). Sister Thea Bowman was gifted with a brilliant mind, a beautiful voice, and a very outgoing personality (Sister Thea Bowman’s Story). Growing up, Thea would listen to the seniors in their community on how they lived, survived, and thrived. She would also listen to her family members about coping mechanisms and survival skills they have used. All those skills she had learned from her community would eventually help her as she faced dreadful experiences of racism, inequality, segregation, and the struggle for Civil Rights in her home state. Thea was born a Protestant and was exposed to her strong African American culture and reverence, mostly the history, songs, stories, prayers, traditions, and customs (Biography).

Eventually, she noticed the Catholic religion and witnessed Catholics caring for each other. However, the biggest thing that she noticed was how they cared for the poor and the victimized people (Biography). At the age of nine, she converted to Catholicism with the permission of her parents (Sister Thea Bowman’s Story) and when she turned 15, she told her parents and friends that she desired to join the Franciscan Schools of Perpetual Adoration in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where she would be the only African American member in the religious community (Biography). Her religious name for becoming a sister was Sister Mary Thea in honor of her father, Theon, and the Blessed Mother.

As a Franciscan Sister, she became a teacher that had taught at all grade levels. She was extremely eager to learn about other cultures and to share her rich African American culture and devotion. She became a highly renowned evangelizer, writer, teacher, and singer (Biography). Thea shared God’s love through her teaching career. For 16 years, Thea taught at the elementary, secondary, and university school levels. She would use her gifts during mass by singing and she was always enthusiastic about her faith. As a consultant as well, Thea gave presentations across the US, along with lively gatherings across the country, gospel preaching, and storytelling for children (Sister Thea Bowman’s Story). However, racism was always present. She had struggled through racism even in her community (Sister Thea Bowman). All of her actions were aimed at breaking down racial and ethnic barriers. She had always encouraged people to communicate with other people to understand each other’s culture and ethnicities (Sister Thea Bowman’s Story).

In 1984, she was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer, but she did not let this obstacle slow her down, leading her to announce “I’ll live until I die”. She continued to travel around the United States and spoke to crowds, talking mainly about accepting one another as equals and embracing the role of African American identity in Catholicism. Thea’s refusal to become a victim of racism is certainly not an easy feat. Through her example, Thea changed the way people see the world (Sister Thea Bowman).  She quoted, “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 to make a change. But if each one would light a candle, we’d have a tremendous light”. (Sister Thea Bowman).

Works Cited

“Biography.” Sister Thea Bowman, https://www.sistertheabowman.com/biography/.  Accessed 6 October 2022.

“Home.” YouTube, https://www.fspa.org/uploads/content_files/images/TheaBowmanHappiness-crop.jpg.  Accessed 6 October 2022.

“Sister Thea Bowman.” Siena College, https://www.siena.edu/centers-institutes/sr-thea-bowman-center-for-women/sister-thea-bowman/.  Accessed 7 October 2022.

“Sister Thea Bowman’s Story.” Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, https://www.fspa.org/content/about/sister-thea-bowman.  Accessed 6 October 2022.