Servant of God Thea Bowman 'right in the middle' of diocesan phase for sainthood

The Diocese of Jackson has published an update on the canonization cause of Servant of God Thea Bowman, one of seven African Americans currently on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church.

The information was released in the diocese’s newspaper on Sept. 9 in response to a request from Jackson’s Director of Catholic Schools, Karla Luke.

Bowman’s canonization cause, begun in 2018 by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, received approval from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops the same year and has since involved research on her life and work. This is part of the diocesan phase of the process, which for Bowman is reportedly halfway complete.

“The work being done meticulously right now includes gathering all of the Servant of God’s writings, studying them for sound doctrine, gleaning them for virtue and piety, and transcribing them into type[-]written format,” reads the report from Mississippi Catholic, authored by diocesan archivist and chancellor Mary Woodward.

“For those who knew the Servant of God, they are fully aware that she would often jot things down on envelopes, napkins, and any scrap of paper she could find. All of these notes have been archived by the Franciscan Sisters in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where most all of SOG Sister Thea’s papers reside.”

The collocation of Bowman’s writings and speeches has involved a large amount of volunteer work, including collaboration with the historical commission of the cause. An official scribe is also transcribing interviews with associates of Bowman, who by the time of her death in 1990 was an internationally known speaker, author, musician, and advocate for Black culture and spirituality. She was just 52 years old at the time of her passing from breast cancer.

Woodward noted that the historical commission for her cause includes the archivist for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), the congregation in which Bowman served for nearly four decades as its first African-American member. 

In addition, there are two professors of theology, as well as two “theological censors” who will evaluate Bowman’s theology to determine its fidelity to the teachings of the Church, as is standard for sainthood causes.

“Technically, they should remain anonymous due to the nature of their work and to avoid any outside influences creating a bias in the process,” Woodward wrote of the various parties involved in research prior to the authoring of a positio.

Last month, the commission met in La Crosse, Wisconsin, at the FSPA headquarters to “create a framework,” view Bowman’s items in the archives, and discuss Bowman with those of her fellow religious sisters who knew her.

Upon completion of the research, the commission will review all documents and, if they are deemed acceptable, present them to the cause’s postulator. They are then presented to the Vatican, commencing the Roman phase, in which the postulator prepares a “positio”—a formal positive argument for Bowman’s sanctity.

If that document is approved by the Vatican, the pope can then declare Bowman “Venerable,” putting her in the second stage of the canonization path. 

Among the seven African-American sainthood causes, Bowman’s is perhaps the most active. Her name adorns seven schools; multiple apartment complexes; a street, chapel, and homeless shelter in Washington; and numerous university centers across the country. A documentary on her life, “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman's Journey to Sainthood,” premiered in 2022.

There are currently no beatified or canonized African-American Catholics, and only one beatified Black person from North America. Though Bowman’s cause is relatively fast-moving, Woodward says her supporters should remain patient as the process develops.

“It takes time,” she wrote last month. “Our goal is to have the diocesan phase completed by next summer and off to Rome prior to September 2025.”

“We invite you to pray for the cause, especially for the historical commission, the theological censors, the transcribers, and the postulator as we continue to follow this unique and noble path. And of course, ask SOG Sister Thea to guide us from above with patience and joy.”

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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