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Thea Bowman
MinistryThe Thea Bowman Ministry offers parishioners from Christ the King and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic churches opportunities for mutual fellowship, formation, and service in our parishes, especially in the context of our Church's complicated relationship with racial justice.
This group meets monthly on the 4th Thursday at 7:30pm. All are welcome!
(artwork credit to Kate McGee) -
Ongoing Community outreach
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We encourage parishioners to donate food and toiletry items throughout the year to the SVP Food Pantry. Donations can be dropped off at the CTK school office or at the Food Pantry.
Suggested food items:- canned tuna or chicken
- Vienna sausages
- spam
- peanut butter
- cereal
- pasta sauce
- mac & cheese
- instant potatoes
Suggested toiletry items:- soap
- toothpaste
- deodorant
- toilet paper
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A portion of money donated to the Thea Bowman Ministry supports the Katharine Drexel Scholarship Fund at Fr. Ryan High School.
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The saintly seven
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Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1766–1853) – A Haitian-born New York hairdresser, philanthropist, and former slave who used his wealth to care for the poor and sick
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Spirit to dwell among us,
that we, like your servant Venerable Pierre Toussaint,
may become living witnesses of your grace, mercy, and justice.
In a world wounded by division and inequality,
may our lives reflect the healing power of Ubuntu—
the sacred truth that we are bound together indignity and love.
Let the work of our hands sow seeds of reconciliation,
and may our hearts remain open to those cast aside.
Make us bold in compassion, faithful in service, and pleasing in your sight.
Amen.
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Venerable Mother Mary Lange (c. 1789–1882) – Founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first Roman Catholic religious community for women of color
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Spirit to dwell among us,
so that, like your servant Venerable Mother Mary Lange,
we may respond with courage and love to the cries of those cast aside by injustice and indifference.
Open our eyes to see the dignity of every person,
especially those whose worth the world refuses to acknowledge.
Strengthen our hands to serve with tenderness and resolve,
and guide our feet to walk the path of justice,
even when it leads through discomfort and resistance.
May our lives echo Mother Lange’s legacy—a legacy of faith that confronts racism,
of hope that builds community, and of love that reconciles and restores.
Amen.
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Venerable Mother Henriette Delille (1813–1862) – Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans, dedicated to nursing the sick and educating the marginalized
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Holy Spirit to dwell among us,
that we, like your servant Mother Henriette Delille,
may rise above suffering, injustice, and every obstacle placed before us.
Strengthen our hearts, O Lord, to walk boldly in faith,
even when the path is steeped in pain or resistance.
Let us not be deterred by systems that seek to silence or divide us,
but let us be empowered to live fully for you,
proclaiming your will on earth as it is in heaven.
Comfort us in the knowledge that, with You,
we can move mountains, we can heal wounds,
we can build a Church rooted in justice, mercy, and love.
Amen.
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Venerable Father Augustus Tolton (1854–1897) – The first recognized openly African American Catholic priest in the United States
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Holy Spirit to dwell among us
that we, like your servant Venerable Father Augustus Tolton,
are called to be living witnesses in a world still wounded by racism and exclusion.
May we speak truth where silence has prevailed,
and stand with those overlooked, dismissed, or denied because of the color of their skin.
Let our lives proclaim the sacred truth:
that every person is made in your Image and Likeness—Imago Dei—
worthy of dignity, belonging, and love.
Strengthen us to walk in the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love,
so that justice may flow like the waters,
and reconciliation may rise like the dawn.
Amen.
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Servant of God Julia Greeley (c. 1833–1918) – Known as Denver's "Angel of Charity", a former slave who walked the streets at night giving aid to the poor
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Holy Spirit to dwell among us
that we, like your Servant of God Julia Greeley,
may embody the healing power of charity in awounded world.
Born into bondage and scarred by injustice,
Julia chose mercy over bitterness,
Serving the poor and marginalized with quiet courage and love.
Help us to walk in her footsteps—to give with humility, to love without condition,
and to see Christ in every face, across every divide.
Draw us into deeper devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
that we may become instruments of reconciliation,
witnesses to your justice,
and bearers of hope in our communities.
Amen.
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Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman (1937–1990) – A Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, educator, and passionate advocate for racial justice and Black Catholic liturgy
Gracious and merciful God,
Send forth your Holy Spirit to dwell among us
that we, like your Servant of God Thea Bowman,
may boldly celebrate the sacred gifts you have woven into every culture and community.
Help us to honor the legacy of our ancestors—in song and story, in dance and devotion—
passed down through generations as a testament of faith and resilience.
May we lift these gifts to you in praise,
not only with our voices, but with our lives—
committed to truth, healing, and the work of racial justice.
Strengthen us to act justly, love mercifully, and walk humbly with you,
as Sister Thea did—with courage, compassion, and contagious joy.
Amen.
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Servant of God Friar Martin Maria de Porres Ward (1918–1995) – The first African American Conventual Franciscan friar in North America
Gracious and Merciful God,
Send forth your Holy Spirit to dwell among us,
that we, inspired by the witness of your Servant Friar Martin Maria de Porres Ward,
may continue to pray with boldness and hope
for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life,
especially from within Black communities.
Call forth our sons and daughters to hear your voice
to rise as prophets, priests, religious, and shepherds in your Church.
May they answer your call with courage,
knowing they are seen, valued, and needed.
We pray especially for the flourishing of African American episcopal leadership,
that your Church may more fully reflect the richness of your people.
Strengthen us in the work of reconciliation and renewal,
and may Friar Martin’s legacy be a beacon of faith, dignity, and inclusion.
Amen.
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Annual events
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Enjoy wine and snacks while painting one of the "Saintly Six." These six remarkable Black American Catholics are currently on the formal path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. Each year, Kate McGee leads the group in painting a different individual.
The Saintly Six are recognized for their deep faith, heroic virtue, and service to marginalized communities despite facing severe racism and hardship. As of now, there are no fully canonized Black American saints, making the causes of these individuals historically and spiritually significant for the U.S. Catholic Church.
The Sip n' Paint is held annually in February at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
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The Thea Bowman Ministry celebrates Juneteenth with a potluck picnic and live music. CTK's Knights of Columbus regularly provide hot dogs and hamburgers and parishioners from CTK and SVP bring a delicious array of sides and desserts. There's always live music and dancing lessons are often given by SVP's Ladies Auxiliary.
The Juneteenth Celebration is held on the CTK school field.
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History of the Thea Bowman ministry
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In June 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers, CTK parishioners met on Zoom for a three week series entitled “Why Black Lives Matter.” In this series, folks discussed the difference between individual and systemic racism and used this distinction to better understand the death of George Floyd, the ongoing prevalence of white supremacy, and the protests erupting around the country.
Following up on these educational sessions, parishioners collaborated in two forum sessions designed to create opportunities for concrete involvement in racial justice.
In the first of these sessions, participants brainstormed a list of possible projects that might advance anti-racism within the parish or in the wider Nashville community. In the second forum, participants evaluated this list and prioritized the projects that were feasible and relevant. Six of these projects generated enough immediate interest and commitment that small working groups of parishioners were formed around them. The others priorities were designated for future review.
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One of the six projects a working group embarked on was building a relationship between Christ the King and St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), the historically black Catholic parish in North Nashville. The working group's first step was to find out how CTK might participate in ongoing efforts at SVP to support their parish and community.
As will be unsurprising to anyone familiar with the history of the north side, SVP's neighborhood has folks who struggle to host a Thanksgiving feast for their families. Every year, the parish raises money to provide boxes of food from Second Harvest Food Bank, supplemented with other donations and purchased food goods. CTK parishioners offered to help. After some fruitful conversations with St. Vincent’s staff, the working group created three opportunities for CTK parishioners to join in SVP's annual Thanksgiving drive.
First, thanks to the generosity of those involved in the initiative, the working group raised $5,195 to contribute to the cost of the food boxes and supplemental items. Given that this fundraiser was internal to CTK's working group and not circulated to the wider parish, this was a very successful fundraiser.
Second, CTK provided two teams of volunteers to assist with the drive, one to help pack the boxes, and the other to distribute them. Both the funds and the volunteers were very happily received, and we think these efforts have contributed to the growing relationship between SVP and CTK.
Third, CTK’s annual angel tree ministry was able to join with SVP to help those who were struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their family.
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In June 2022, CTK hosted a celebration of Juneteenth with members of the St. Vincent de Paul community. Numbers greatly exceeded expectations, as folks gathered on the CTK school field over BBQ, potluck food, and live music.
In July 2022, the working group collaborated with folks from St. Vincent to host a joint "meet and eat" entitled Six for Sainthood. This evening offered folks from both parishes a chance to share a meal and learn about six Black saints on the road to canonization from SVP's Deacon Harry and Cheryl Guess.
CTK parishioners returned to SVP in November 2022 to help with the annual Thanksgiving drive. In addition, CTK partnered with SVP's angel tree ministry to help families provide Christmas gifts.
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After several years of mutual and fruitful collaboration between Christ the King and St. Vincent de Paul, members of both parishes agreed for formalize their commitment to ongoing fellowship and service by creating the Thea Bowman Ministry. This is a volunteer-led ministry of both parishes meant to create opportunities for mutual fellowship, formation, and service in our parishes, especially in the context of our Church's complicated relationship with racial justice.
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