Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation
Program Participants
The 3rd annual STBF Summer Symposium took place in Chicago during the July 4th week, in the South Loop of Chicago, IL. A complete group of new scholars attended that had not attended before and we had 9 participate and represent six of our partner institutions! The scholars came together in community to live and learn about our Catholic faith through our STBF Foundation Pillar of Spiritual Enrichment. Our participants came from
- 3 scholars attended from Assumption University – All rising sophomores.
- 2 scholars attended from Duquesne University – 1 rising sophomore and a recent alumnus.
- 1 scholar attended from The College of the Holy Cross – 1 rising sophomore.
- 1 scholar attended from Loyola University of Chicago – 1 rising sophomore.
- 1 scholar attended from DePaul University of Chicago – 1 rising senior.
- 1 scholar attended from Saint Vincent College – 1 rising sophomore.
We provided a professional classroom setting for our students to participate in each day and for our instructors to present to and engage with our scholars. Each lesson was provided by one of the participating instructors as follows:
- Dr. Andrew Prevot – Theology Professor at Georgetown University
- Dr. Steven Battin – Professor of Theology at University of Notre Dame
- LaRyssa Herrington - Doctoral candidate at University of Notre Dame
Welcome
Wednesday evening upon arrival, all scholars and instructors were greeted at the airport and escorted to the lodging for the week. Afterwards, the group attended dinner where Dr. Prevot opened with the scholars what the theme of the week was and the itinerary for the entire program.
Courses began promptly on Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. and the first day closed that afternoon early so that the group could enjoy the 4th off July celebration in Chicago. It was a wonderful afternoon, and the scholars had already begun to see the community that they have made for one another even though they are at different schools!
Class Lectures
Each morning started with a light continental breakfast, community conversation, mindfulness and centering, and prayer. Students began to learn about each other, their respective universities, their activities, and the whole while engaging with the instructors who joined us each morning in community as well.
Class lectures would start promptly at 9:15 a.m. over the course of the three days of classes and lessons were provided in the following areas:
- Future Saints, Part 1: Lay Black Catholics – Julia Greeley and Pierre Toussaint – Dr. Andrew Prevot
- Future Saints, Part 2: The Religious Life – Mary Elizabeth Lange, Henriette Delille, Augustus Tolton, and Thea Bowman – Dr. Andrew Prevot
- Indigenous Practices of Wholeness – Dr. Steven Battin
- Prophetic Truth-telling: The Story of Daniel Rudd – LaRyssa Herrington
The lessons were broken up into morning and afternoon sessions, always allowing time for community lunch and conversation.
Arts and Entertainment
Once more, we were able to engage in activities to help build community amongst the scholars in the afternoons and evenings! Each afternoon we scheduled events to provide additional enrichment opportunities for the mind, body, and spirit.
- We enjoyed an afternoon at the historic Wrigley Field watching the Cubs play!
- An amazing afternoon at the Chicago Tilt360!
- And the final session at with the Tolton Spirituality Center and later to at Navy Pier!
- We were able to once again, on the final day, celebrate Mass with Fr. David Jones at Fr. David’s parish Saint Benedict the African. Fr. David provided a wonderful tour of the historical art that is featured in his church following the liturgy!
Summary Review
The 3rd annual STBF Summer Symposium was a great success. We continue to adjust where needed to allow more direct time in the classroom as well as in the community for our scholars and the instructors. We continue to see the community of scholar’s bond and grow in the mission of our Foundation and to feel empowered to return to their schools and engage in ministry and community with others and to not feel isolated on their respective campuses.
This was all made possible by the efforts of many, but again this year, there are several that I need to thank for their tireless support and efforts to bring this program to fruition. First and foremost, Mary Lou Jennings, former Executive Director of the Foundation; this was her vision and through her tenacity and mentoring we continue to be able to execute this program. The Helen Brach Foundation and the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia for the generous grants that allow for such community and enrichment to take place for our scholars. The Bishops who generously and continuously respond to the appeal in support of this symposium, helped to bring this program to fruition. To the governing Board of Directors of the Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation, their support and guidance has allowed the pieces to come together through many obstacles so our scholars could grow from this. And most of all, to our scholars, they are the definition of community and we are blessed to be able to journey with them through their enrichment.
