We Are Beloved: 30 Days with Thea Bowman (Paperback or Softback)

We Are Beloved: A 30-Day Retreat with Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman invites you to encounter one of the most inspiring voices in Black Catholic spirituality. As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, Catholics are taking renewed interest in the often-overlooked contributions of Black Catholics to the life of the Church and the country. Drawing on the prophetic wisdom of Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman―a renowned Black Catholic evangelizer, teacher, writer, singer, and candidate for sainthood―this daily devotional offers a simple yet powerful path to prayer, belonging, and Christian unity.

Designed for busy Catholics, this thirty-day retreat requires only a few minutes each day and features selections from four decades of Sr. Thea Bowman’s writings, talks, reflections, and interviews. Through brief morning meditations, daily mantras, and evening prayers, you will deepen your understanding of the dignity of every person, and reflect on Christ’s call to welcome all people into the Body of Christ.

As the first Black member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Sr. Thea Bowman devoted her life to proclaiming the joy of the Gospel through preaching, storytelling, and song. Her witness celebrated the beauty of diverse cultures and called Catholics to greater unity and reconciliation. With growing recognition of the rich legacy of Black Catholics in American history and the advancement of her cause for canonization, Sr. Thea Bowman’s message speaks powerfully to the Church today.

Through her joyful witness and timeless wisdom, We Are Beloved helps you:

• Grow in daily prayer and spiritual reflection
• Discover the richness of Black Catholic spirituality
• Gain a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Black Catholics in the United States
• Experience a greater sense of belonging in the Catholic Church
• Embrace the dignity of every person and foster unity amid diversity
• Root out division and respond to God’s call to ongoing conversion

Perfect for individual prayer, small groups, and anyone seeking a Catholic devotional on belonging, racial reconciliation, and spiritual growth, We Are Beloved offers a practical way to encounter the wisdom of one of the Church’s most beloved modern spiritual leaders.

Part of the Great Spiritual Teachers series, this accessible devotional provides a month of daily readings from some of Christianity’s most influential spiritual guides, helping busy people establish a faithful prayer routine grounded in the wisdom of the saints and great Catholic teachers.

Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman (1937-1990) joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin, when she was fifteen years old. Bowman developed a deep appreciation for her identity as fully Black and fully Catholic and became a poet, preacher, master teacher, vocalist, evangelist, and prophetic voice for change and renewal across the United States.

She earned her master's degree and doctorate at the Catholic University of America, then taught at CUA, Viterbo College, and Xavier University.

Just before her death in 1990, the University of Notre Dame announced that Bowman would receive the Laetare Medal, which is given to a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church and enriched the heritage of humanity.”

Bowman’s cause for canonization was endorsed by the US bishops in 2018 and is ongoing.

Karianna Frey is a Catholic writer, speaker, and ministry leader. She is a member of the Fiat Conference planning team and the author of two books, Serviam Non Serviam and The Virtuous Path.