There are several people with connections to The Catholic University of America on the path to sainthood, including Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman.

The Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, who earned her master’s in English in 1969 and her doctorate in English and literature in 1972 at the University. November is Black Catholic History Month and University community members can use the opportunity to draw closer to Sister Thea and other Black Catholics with sainthood causes. 

“Black Catholic History Month is a great opportunity to become familiar with the amazing Black Americans currently on the pathway to sainthood,” said Veryl Victoria Miles, professor of law at the Columbus School of Law. “Their stories are profound examples of faith, hope, love, and their capacity for forgiveness.”

Javier Bustamante, director of the University’s Center for Cultural Engagement, said the University community is called to reflect during the month and beyond.

“The Catholic Church in the United States is a beautiful tapestry of cultures, communities, and histories,” Bustamante said. “These men and women provide us with examples of virtue and faithfulness to the Gospel. Their lives, given in service to others, are an example for our Church and wider society in these times of great polarization. Their stories are our stories. Their history is our history.”

Sister Thea’s Enduring Legacy

The work of Sister Thea, an outspoken witness to what it meant to be Black and Catholic, has a special place at the University.

A granddaughter of slaves, Sister Thea became Catholic as a child and then a religious sister before teaching at the elementary, secondary, and university levels. She advocated nationally for interreligious solidarity and promoted the gifts of Black Catholics within the Church.

The University made its commitment to embrace and reflect the racial and ethnic diversity that enriches the Catholic Church, city, and nation by forming the Sister Thea Bowman Committee in 2020.

In fall 2021, the committee released its report with numerous recommendations for meaningful change. The University named a campus street “Thea Bowman Drive” last year. 

“While she went home to God more than 30 years ago, the impact of Sister Thea Bowman’s life is still felt in our own time,” Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington said during a blessing ceremony for the street. “By her words and example, she challenged everyone to follow the command of the Lord Jesus to love God with all of our heart and our neighbors as ourselves.”

Celebrated Tolton Performance Coming to Campus

Later this month, the University will host Tolton: From Slave to Priest, an immersive, multimedia live production, filled with music and drama. The Center for Cultural Engagement, the Office of Campus Ministry, Alumni Relations, the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art, the Busch School of Business, and the Office of the President are all co-hosting the event, which looks at the life “Venerable” Father Augustus Tolton, whose sainthood cause was championed by the late Cardinal Francis George, M.A. 1965.

Performances will be held Nov. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. in Della Ratta Auditorium in Maloney Hall.

The touring production is the story of the man who became the nation’s first Black priest after being born into slavery.

This event is free, with tickets available at https://bit.ly/3FkjWb5.  

Community Experiences

There are other on-campus opportunities to engage and deepen understanding during Black Catholic History Month and beyond, including:

• The campus will host a lunchtime conversation with Father Christopher J. Kellerman, SJ., author of the book All Oppression Shall Cease: A History of Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Catholic Church, Nov. 2 at the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center’s Nest gathering space.
• Howard University will join Campus Ministry and Black Student Alliance (BSA) to kick off Black Catholic History Month on Nov. 3 at the 5:10 p.m. Mass inside St. Vincent de Paul Chapel celebrating St. Martin de Porres, with Howard University Chaplain, Father Robert Boxie preaching, and their choir singing. After Mass, there will be a soul food dinner in Heritage Hall. RSVP for dinner on the Nest event page.
• Take a walking tour of 13 important sites of events in the University’s history of civil rights. 
• Students participating in the BSA promote a sound foundation among all people who are focused on Black culture at The Catholic University of America. The organization's core principles are the recruitment of dynamic individuals, retention of all members passionate about Black culture, and participation in community service projects that promote economic and educational development.
• In addition, the Black Law Students Association chapter on campus seeks to effect change in the legal system and to sensitize the legal profession to the ever-increasing needs of the Black community.

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