Prince of Peace Parish Mobile
The Archdiocese of Mobile Department of Multicultural Ministry sponsored Black Catholic History Month programs on Nov. 15 at Prince of Peace Parish in Mobile and Nov. 16 at City of St. Jude Parish in Montgomery.
The programs titled "Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman: On the Road to Sainthood, Embracing the Witness of Black Catholic" highlighted Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA's life and included testimony from those impacted by her.
Born in Canton, Miss., Sister Thea became a Catholic as a child after being inspired by the witness of the Franciscan Sisters and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity.
At age 15, she entered religious life, becoming the only Black member of her congregation. She would go on to earn a doctorate and teach at every academic level. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984, Sister Thea continued traveling and speaking until her death in 1990. She delivered a now-famous 1989 address to the U.S. Catholic bishops, where she spoke about being both Black and Catholic, and challenged the Church to greater inclusion.
Faithful from the Diocese of Jackson also came to Alabama for a pilgrimage and all joined in prayer for the canonization of Sr. Thea.
As part of the celebrations, Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso celebrated Mass at Prince of Peace Parish. Fr. R. Tony Ricard, the Director for the Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and instructor of Church Doctrine and Youth Ministry for the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, served as homilist.
