The Catholic Church is one step closer to canonizing its first-ever saint from Mississippi: Sister Thea Bowman.
Sister Bowman is a trailblazing Black nun known for her deep faith, passion for justice, and lifelong commitment to uplifting marginalized voices.
Born on Dec. 29, 1937, in Yazoo City, Sister Thea was the only child of a doctor and a teacher and was raised Methodist before converting to Catholicism at age 9, inspired by the nuns at her local school.
She would go on to become the first African American member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, leaving Mississippi as a teenager to join the order in Wisconsin.
Armed with a Ph.D. in English and a gift for preaching, storytelling, and gospel music, Sister Thea broke barriers as an educator and speaker.
Her career spanned elementary classrooms to university lecture halls, but her most profound influence came through her advocacy for racial equity within the Catholic Church.
In 1968, the year Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Sister Thea co-founded the National Black Sisters’ Conference, helping to amplify Black voices in religious life and culture. She also helped produce the first Black Catholic hymnal, bridging African American traditions with Catholic worship.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984, she continued her ministry from a wheelchair. Her iconic 1989 address to the U.S. bishops—delivered while she was terminally ill—moved the entire assembly to join her in singing “We Shall Overcome,” a moment that still resonates in Church history. She passed away in 1990, but her mission lives on.
The Road to Sainthood
In 2018, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops formally endorsed her cause for canonization, a rigorous process that includes examination of her life, virtues, and any miracles attributed to her intercession. The Diocese of Jackson is leading the effort, and Pope Francis is reported to have personally blessed her sainthood process before his passing.
If canonized, Sister Thea Bowman would not only become the first saint from Mississippi, but also one of the very few African American saints in Catholic history.
A documentary titled “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” premiered in 2022 and is now available on YouTube through the Diocese of Jackson. It chronicles her extraordinary journey and the fire that still burns in the hearts of those inspired by her.
Honoring Her Legacy
In downtown Jackson, St. Peter Catholic Cathedral unveiled a statue in her honor, celebrating her spirit, her voice, and her path to sainthood. Visitors and pilgrims can reflect on her contributions and pray for her canonization in the adjoining Adoration Chapel.
Sister Thea’s legacy is one of resilience, cultural celebration, and faith in action.
