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Sister Thea Bowman: ‘Jesus was her everything’

How do you honor the bright light through to the level. that is Sister Thea Bowman? You plan “Sister Thea passionately for five years. You gather her friends engaged many in wake-up calls (who are really good storytellers). You for social justice ... in one year encourage an artist to get inspired. she spoke in 163 locations ... You enlist the 163 locations ... challenging and Concert Choir. And, “Just like Sister empowering others.” She contin- Thea, [you] let it shine, let it shine, ued, “As a spirit-driven woman, let it shine.” she opened us to another culture That’s what happened March 29 ... it’s hard to imagine FSPA and 30, as friends came together to without Thea and Thea without honor the 25th anniversary of Sister FSPA.” Sister Marla’s Thea- Thea Bowman’s homegoing. inspired message to the guests: Friends of Sister Thea: “Live the call to be in commu- Sharing the Joy nion with each person’s process Friends and storytellers Reverend to become more.” Maurice Nutt of the Congregation of Father Maurice Nutt recalled the Most Holy Redeemer, Franciscan his Thea awakening that came Sister of Perpetual Adoration Marla during her commencement Lang, Brother (Mickey) address at ’ Xavier McGrath of the Oblate of St. Fran- University in : “It was Brother Mickey McGrath unveiled “Brother Sun, cis de Sales and Mary Lou Jennings, a cathartic moment for me; Sister Thea” during Mass on March 30. His Thea Bowman Foundation founder, whatever she said, she spoke to inspiration: the humble meal shared between my heart. And after her address, Francis and Clare, where, while speaking shared their memories of Sister Thea about God, people for many miles observed who came to them in different stages she said ‘Maurice Nutt, you can be the best Redemptorist [priest] a bright, fiery glow. Prints are available at of their lives, and in hers. During this www.bromickeymcgrath.com. panel presentation, hosted March 29 you can be and still be an Afri- by the Franciscan Center, can American.’” At that point, he read, and was touched by, an La Crosse, Wisconsin, more than he knew he no longer had to try to be article about Sister Thea. Her words 75 guests heard firsthand how Sister anything else. As her former student “I’m not dying, I’m going home” gave Thea affected the lives of these men he said, “I don’t speak of Thea in the him peace as he said goodbye to his and women and how they carry out past tense because she’s always present dad. About a year later, ready to leave her legacy today. with me.” He sees her as the patron his teaching career to pursue art full Sister Marla opened the panel, of racial reconciliation. “She time, Brother Mickey was invited by offering “the love FSPA poured into used her blackness as a bridge over friends to view a video featuring Sis- Canton in the 1940s touched Bertha troubled water. She was my spiritual ter Thea. And after that, the art just Bowman (Sister Thea) deeply ... and mother, and you, her Franciscan flowed. It flowed out of him, right to during high school, she did whatever Sisters, are my aunties.” the paper—no drafts needed. “She it took to become an FSPA.” When Brother Mickey McGrath never led me to it; it’s all about joy ... joy of told the northerners would not like met Sister Thea, yet he declares “I the Gospel and Sister Thea taught it her, Sister Thea responded, “I’m have a little black nun living inside to me first.” His message: “Hold onto going to make them like me.” And of me.” While caring for his dying the joy, even in the darkest moments; they did. According to Sister Marla, father, Brother Mickey noticed a copy beauty heals and brings us peace.” when FSPA leadership recognized of U.S. Catholic on the coffee table. Brother Mickey, a , Sister Thea’s gifts, they educated her As he flipped through the magazine Pennsylvania, native and current

FSPA Presence Vol. 7, No. 2. May 2015. Published by the Communications Office, 608-791-5289 or [email protected]. Editor: Jane Comeau Writer: Jen Pick Designer: Nancy Chapman Proofreaders: Sisters Betty Shakal and Rita Rathburn Presence is printed on paper made from post-consumer fiber.

Page 2, Presence, May 2015 Page 11, Presence, May 2015 resident of nearby Camden, Dorothy Kundinger’s final New Jersey, added that when words spoken to Sister Francis visits Philadelphia Thea on March 30, 1990: in the fall, “I’m pushing my way “It’s OK to die ... don’t be to the front with a big picture of afraid ... you are not alone. Sister Thea!” I love you. Goodbye, Mary Lou Jennings, the founder Thea.” of the Sister Thea Bowman Foun- To those gathered in a dation, recalled Sister Thea’s full Mary of the Angels words “don’t forget the single Chapel and to the 170 mothers, Mary Lou.” And today, guests who watched live through the work of Mary Lou online, Father Maurice and her husband, Dr. Len Jen- said, “Today as we come Sister Romana Klaubauf enjoysThea Bowman: Life and nings, more than 250 African to remember Thea, there Legacy on display, the exhibit hosted by the Franciscan Spirituality Center March 17 to 30. The exhibit Americans—including single are so many attributes featured Thea art, artifacts and video presentation. mothers—have benefited from you could name about her a foundation scholarship. These as a scholar, an activist, Thea was always with Jesus, and individuals might not otherwise an advocate, a friend, a compan- Thea always wanted us to give to have had access to quality Catho- ion, as someone who loved her the Lord Jesus the very best that lic higher education and today, Lord, her Franciscan vocation, we had. And quoting Thea, Father hold college degrees. “What Sister the Eucharist. But I knew Thea Nutt offered this: “Let us stretch Thea didn’t tell me but tried to is,” as someone who worshipped. She ourselves, going beyond our com- said Mary Lou, “you’re going to was not ashamed to worship the fort zones, to unite ourselves with be parents to these young people.” Lord wherever she was.” Christ’s redemptive work.” She added “Through the 25 years He led the celebrants through The Viterbo University Con- we have paid our bills because up a series of wonderings he has cert Choir, led by Dan Johnson- in heaven, Sister Thea tells God had. “Over these last 25 years I Wilmot, had the church clapping ‘You gotta keep this going.’” have wondered what Thea would and singing along to Old Time Homegoing Mass think, say or do about: the wars in Religion and This Little Light of “Jesus was her everything,” Iraq and Afghanistan; the black- Mine—with verses “Here with the shared Father Maurice Nutt, who on-black violence in our country Franciscan Sisters, I’m gonna let celebrated Mass on March 30 to or the Black Lives Matter move- it shine ... ” and “Just like Sister honor Sister Thea’s homegoing. ment; about President Barack Thea, I’m gonna let it shine.” He opened his homily with Sister Obama becoming the first African After Mass, guests enjoyed a American president of the United southern fare of breaded catfish, States? What would Sis- loaded sweet potatoes, corn bread ter Thea say about her and pecan pie, prepared by the classmate, Sister Charlene St. Rose kitchen staff. Smith, and John Feister Like Father Maurice, we won- who wrote Thea’s Song? dered: What would Sister Thea What would she think, say have thought about the celebra- or do about the Martin tion? Sister Charlene Smith, who Luther King Jr. memorial coordinated the Thea homegoing on the National Mall in events, believes: “Thea appreciated Washington D. C.?” and loved every minute of the To ask those questions celebration and wants us to ‘keep about Thea, he offered her on, keepin’ on.’” probable reply: “God has A Thea event photo gallery is given you a brain. God has available at www.my.fspa.org. The Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter editor-at- given you insight. What do gallery includes the Mayoral procla- large, shares his memory of Sister Thea Bowman’s 1989 you think? What are your mation declaring March 30, 2015, presentation to the Catholic bishops, recalling it as the impressions about what is as Sister Thea Bowman Day in most powerful event he’s ever covered. Tom attended happening in our world La Crosse, Wisconsin. both the Friends of Thea panel and homegoing Mass. today?”

Page 3, Presence, May 2015