Sister of St. Mary of Namur Roberta Fulton, left, with a student of St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Columbia, S.C. (Provided photo)
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Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Thea Bowman never lived in Texas, but in the 1980s, she made several visits to the predominantly black Holy Cross parish in southern Dallas. Bowman made a lasting impact on the parish -- so much so that the parish hall was named after her. And October 15, Holy Cross parishioners will come together for a celebration of Bowman's life.
The celebration will include storytelling, songs and a special Mass setting composed by Aaron Mathews, the director of liturgical music at St. Charles Parish in Hartland, Wisconsin. Two of Bowman's friends -- Daughter of the Heart of Mary Sr. Anita Baird and Sister of St. Mary of Namur Roberta Fulton -- will speak at the celebration.
Fulton, who is the principal of St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Columbia, South Carolina, spoke with Global Sisters Report about Bowman and the importance her legacy has for the Catholic church.
GSR: Why are you participating in this event?
Fulton: Well, I think for several reasons. No. 1, I knew Sr. Thea Bowman. I knew her for quite a period of time. She was a good friend, and she was a member of the National Black Sisters Conference, where I am also a member. I loved her. I loved who she was, what she stood for and who she worked among -- just her lively spirit and her interest in the African-American community, her interest in our people and, as she said, 'my people.' That's the first reason.
