On November 14, 2024, Professor Veryl Miles published an article in Catholic Standard, reflecting on November's Black Catholic History Month, established by the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus to highlight the contributions of Black Catholics in the U.S. Among those being considered for sainthood are six remarkable individuals, including Sister Thea Bowman, who became a Catholic after being inspired by nuns in her community. Sister Bowman, a graduate of Catholic University, called for the Church to fully embrace Black Catholics. Her life, celebrated in Father Maurice Nutt's biography "Faithful and Free," is a testament to her faith and dedication. Click here to read the full article.

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Catholic Standard
Date: November 14, 2024
By: Veryl Miles
To be faithful, free and Black

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This month, in particular, is a time to contemplate the lives of extraordinary men and women who found the gift of faith in spite of circumstances they faced during their lives. All but one lived during the period of legalized enslavement of people of African descent. The six include the Venerable Pierre Toussant (1776-1853); Venerable Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange (1784-1882); Venerable Sister Henriette Delille (1812-1862); Venerable Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897); Servant of God Julia Greeley (circa between 1833 and 1848 -1918); and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1990).

I have been focusing on the life of Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman. She is the most contemporary member of the group, born in Canton, Mississippi in 1937. Sister Thea Bowman attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1966 to 1972 and earned her master of arts degree and Ph.D. in English literature.

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