A new documentary from NewGroup Media and the Diocese of Jackson, MS, "Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood", presents the riveting life of my classmate and childhood friend, Sister Thea Bowman, an African American Catholic Franciscan Sister who used her powerful gifts to educate and challenge the church and society to grow in racial inclusivity. Her skills of preaching, music, and teaching moved many to begin to confront their own racism while she urged her African American brothers and sisters to claim their gifts and share their “fully functioning” personhood. Thea worked tirelessly to proclaim this message until her untimely death from breast cancer in 1990.
The film features interviews and commentary from her family, Sisters in community, colleagues, friends, and former students. Input from African-American scholars, clerics and bishops will speak to the ongoing issue of systemic racism in the church and country. Extensive use is made of archival media that portrays Thea in action–photographs, film, video and audio recordings recorded in locations of significance to her life. The program title is drawn from a quotation attributed to Sojourner Truth. When Thea was asked what she wanted said at her funeral, she answered, "Just say what Sojourner Truth said: I'm not going to die. I'm going home like a shooting star."
"I am honored to be featured in this moving film chronicling Thea's life's story not only during our years as young girls at Holy Child Jesus Catholic School in our hometown of Canton, MS, but also during her transition in becoming the first African American FSPA Catholic Sister to her untimely passing."
Enjoy this 7 minute trailer of the film:
The film began airing on ABC stations nationwide on October 2, 2022. There is no standard broadcast day/time--every station can decide when to air it. The window for this program is 60 days from Oct 2-- so roughly, October and November. In addition to the live broadcasts, the 58-minute film is available to watch free of charge NOW on YouTube by clicking here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9oOa2iOwck
Original source can be found here.
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