Nazareth Catholic Community
February 3, 2019 - 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sr. Thea Bowman: Advocate for Cultural Awareness and Racial Harmony
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, Thea Bowman listened and learned from the wisdom of the elders of her community. Ever precocious, she asked questions and gained insights on how her elders lived, thrived and survived. She learned from family members and those in her community coping mechanisms and survival skills. These skills proved essential as she navigated through the horrid experiences of blatant racism, segregation, inequality, and the struggle for Civil Rights in her native Mississippi. At an early age, Thea was exposed to the richness of her African-American culture and spirituality, most especially the history, stories, songs, prayers, customs and traditions.
For Thea Bowman, Catholicism was rooted in what she witnessed: she was attracted to the Catholic Church by the example of how Catholics seemed to love and care for one another, most especially the poor and needy. For Thea, she was impressed by how Catholics put their faith into action. At the age of fifteen she told her parents and friends she wanted to join the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and left the familiar Mississippi terrain to venture to the unfamiliar town of LaCrosse, Wisconsin where she would be the only African-American member of her religious community.
At her religious profession, she was given the name, “Sister Mary Thea” in honor of the Blessed Mother and her father, Theon. Her name in religious life, Thea, literally means “God.” She was trained to become a teacher. She taught at all grade levels, eventually earning her doctorate and becoming a college professor of English and linguistics.Sister Thea became a highly acclaimed evangelizer, teacher, writer, and singer sharing the joy of the Gospel and her rich cultural heritage throughout the nation. In 1978, Sr. Thea became the director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs for the Diocese of Jackson. In this position Sister Thea continued to assail racial prejudice and promote cultural awareness and sensitivity. She was a founding faculty member of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans.
In 1984, Sister Thea faced devastating challenges: both her parents died, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sister Thea vowed to “live until I die” and continued her rigorous schedule of speaking engagements. In 1989, she was invited to address the U.S. Bishops at their annual June meeting. In her address she explained what it meant to be African-American and Catholic. She enlightened the bishops on African-American history and spirituality. Sister Thea urged the bishops to promote inclusivity and full participation of African-Americans within Church leadership, and to understand the necessity and value of Catholic schools in the African-American community.
Sr. Thea died on March 30, 1990. Her life was always one of Gospel joy, enduring faith, and persevering prayer even in the midst of racial prejudice, cultural insensitivity, and debilitating illness. This past November, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops approved the first steps in the process to declare Sr. Thea Bowman a Catholic saint.
THIS THURSDAY NIGHT: Eucharistic Adoration and Compline
THURSDAY, February 7, 8:00PM to 9:00PM Linehan Chapel.
Eucharistic Adoration is simply spending quiet time in the presence of Jesus.
Compline is an evening prayer that settles the mind and heart and serves as a peaceful connection between one day or week and the next.You do not have to be Catholic to participate and there are no special requirements.
Any questions, please call Sr. Donna- 585-733-4422 or email her at ddelsanto@ssjrochester.org.
All are welcome! Come Again or For the First Time!
Take a Study Break and Spend Time in Silence and Stillness
ONLY TWO SPACES LEFT!! THIS Weekend! WINTER RETREAT 2019 to the Abbey of the Genesee!
RSVP Today! Space is Limited!
Abbey of the Genesee
Friday, February 8 to Sunday, February 10
(We will leave Friday late afternoon and
be back to campus by noon on Sunday)
The format of this weekend retreat is relaxed! You will have free time to:
~ Read and get caught up on work.
~ Spend time in quiet.
~ Enjoy a winter walk in the country.
~ Participate in the prayer life of the Monks.
~ Eat home cooked food!
~ Meet with a real live Monk!
Space is limited! Cost ONLY $10.00
To learn more, visit: www.geneseeabbey.org
Winter Retreat 2019
Friday, Feb 8, 2019, 04:30 PM
Abbey of the Genesee, River Road, Piffard, NY, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Are You Free on Wednesdays at 12:30? Come to Mass!
Do you like to sing? Do you play an instrument? Our Mass Choir is for you!
Come again or for the first time!
If you play an instrument bring it along!
Questions? E-mail Our Choir Directors:
Teresa Colosanti, tcolosa8@mail.naz.edu
Caelie Flanagan, cflanag11@mail.naz.edu
Julianna Pollicino, jpollic3@mail.naz.edu
Nazareth College Catholic Community
Wednesday Mass: 12:30PM
Gluten free hosts available upon request - Please contact Jamie Fazio
For the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please e-mail one of our priests to schedule an appointment.
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div., Catholic Chaplain, Office: GAC 160
The Nazareth College Catholic Community is part of the Nazareth Center for Spirituality. All are always welcome!
Join our Facebook group:
Nazareth College Catholic Community
Follow us on Instagram: @nazarethcatholiccommunity
Be sure you have the Nazareth College App, naz.edu/app, and that you've set your preferences to include the type of spirituality events you're interested in knowing about.
Email: jfazio1@naz.edu
Website: http://www.naz.edu/center-for-spirituality/catholic-community
Location: Linehan Chapel, East Avenue, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585 389 2308
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/35057526410/
Twitter: @NazCatholic
Nazareth College Catholic Community Pastoral Team:
Julianna Pollicino
Emma Clive
eclive6@naz.edu
Teresa Colosanti
tcolosa8@mail.naz.edu
Danica Aquitania
Sacristan
daquita8@naz.eduCaelie Flanagan
Choir Director
Gabriela Groman
ggroman7@naz.edu
Sarah Schuler
Parish Council President
Nancy Garcia
Coordinator of outreach to Our Lady of Guadalupe Migrant Community
Sr. Donna DelSanto, SSJ
ddelsanto@ssjrochester.org
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div.
Fr. Richard Briclker
fr.richard.brickler@dor.org
Cassie Dupre
cdupre0@naz.edu
Fr. Robert Resier, SJ
rreiser@mcquaid.org
Fr. Matthew Temple, O.Carm.
Pope Franics
Office: Vatican
Follow on Instagram: @francisus