Preaching from Sr. Thea's Kitchen

Kathleen Sullivan

Boston College Campus Ministry recently began a video series called “Preaching from Sr. Thea’s Kitchen,” a platform that focuses on and amplifies Black voices at Boston College through the intersection of Scripture and Ignatian spirituality with racial justice. The series is named after Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman H’89, namesake of BC’s Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center, who was known for integrating Catholic tradition with Black spirituality.

Tthe idea for the series arose from conversations among Campus Ministry staffers who have been working to identify ways Campus Ministry can contribute to a community that upholds the dignity of the person and affirms that Black Lives Matter.

The initiative kicked off with Campus Minister Myer Chambers, who met Sister Thea while he was in graduate school at Xavier University. His presentation included readings of 1 Corinthians 13 and Psalm 112. He also talked about his favorite saint, Peter Claver, S.J., who ministered to and cared for countless enslaved people, and the Knights of Peter Claver, the largest lay Black Catholic organization in the United States. Chambers said, “Many people are asking, ‘What can I do?’ You can pray. You can protest. You can donate. You can be a friend. You can listen. You can empathize.”

“Our hope is to honor the legacy of Sister Thea by centering Black voices of faith from the BC community,” said Campus Ministry Associate Director Ryan Heffernan. ■

Kathleen Sullivan is Senior Media Officer at Boston College.

Meyer Chambers Campus Minister, Boston College

Meyer reflects on Saint Peter Claver’s life and Saint Paul’s teaching on love, both of which encourage us to be clear-eyed and hopeful as we respond to ongoing racial injustices. Valeri Lewis-Mosley Boston College, ’79

Valeri talks about Sr. Thea Bowman’s witness as a faithful Black Catholic woman and how it shaped Valeri’s Catholic faith. She discusses the providential connection between Sr. Thea and Boston College’s AHANA Center. Kwasi Sarkodie-Mensah, Ph.D. Manager, Instructional Services, Boston College Libraries

Kwasi shares his experiences of seeing God draw together white and Black Catholics into one family, in which souls have no color and in which every soul is perfectly loved by the Father.

To view more videos, visit: www.youtube.com/c/BostonCollegeCampusMinistry