February 25, 2009

Mission, ‘A Little Talk With Jesus,’ to share spirituality of late African-American nun

By John Gleason

An upcoming parish mission at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Aurora will be a special event featuring nationally known revival, mission and retreat preacher Father Maurice J. Nutt, C.Ss.R.  The title of the mission is “A Little Talk With Jesus Makes It All Right.”

Father Nutt, a Redemptorist priest, is pastor of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Church in Memphis, Tenn., and is on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, La.  He is also the author of the recently published book, “Thea Bowman: In My Own Words” (Liguori, 2009) which will be available for purchase during the mission and signed by Father Nutt.

Jim Peters, St. Michael director of religious education, said the parish is fortunate to have Father Nutt be part of the mission.

“Right now we’re in the fourth year of a five-year renewal of prayer (effort),” he said.  “This year we’ve spent each month focusing on a different person who has put their prayer and faith into action.”

Others who parishioners have focused on during the renewal effort have included St. Paul and Archbishop Fulton Sheen. In April, attention will be given to Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated in 1980 in El Salvador.

Peters said when it was decided that Sister Thea should be one of those to study, he knew that Father Nutt would be the perfect person to lead the mission as the priest had actually known the religious sister.

“We didn’t know that his book would be published within the same month,” he said.  “Talk about perfect timing.”

The name of the mission, Father Nutt said, comes from the title of an African-American spiritual, one that is popular in the black community. 

“’Have a little talk with Jesus’—it’s the power of prayer,” Father Nutt said.  “I’m going to reflect on people who did have a little talk with Jesus: the man born blind or the woman at the well.  Various people whose encounters with Jesus made everything all right.”

Having a little talk with Jesus isn’t simply a good idea.  It’s a necessary component of life, according to Father Nutt, who said he believes that in the midst of the current economic downturn and uncertainty, faith is essential. 

“We have to consider faith to be our ultimate economic stimulus,” he said.  “If we remember that God will provide if we trust in him things are going to be all right.”
Turning to his book, Father Nutt said Sister Thea had an overwhelming impact on his life, going back to the time she was his instructor in black spirituality and preaching at Xavier University.

“Her lessons weren’t the hum-drum lecture and take notes sort,” he said.  “They were life changing encounters. Sister Thea always made spirituality and theology practical, relating it to whatever you were going through.”

Born in Mississippi in 1937, Sister Thea was inspired by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and converted to Catholicism at the age of 10.  Six years later she entered a convent. Throughout her life she made it her mission to share her rich cultural heritage and spirituality in song, prayer and preaching.  In the book, her insightful reflections are divided into 14 themes including: “The Wisdom of the ‘Old Folks,’” “The Giftedness of Children,” “On Being Black and Catholic” and “The Power of Prayer.”

“Sister Thea’s story has something for all Catholics,” Father Nutt said.  “She was a practical and pragmatic woman who was in tune with her own African-American spirituality and culture, while at the same time, able to transcend her own culture and see into the lives of many other cultures and share their gifts and richness. 

“She is an example for the Church,” he continued, “to hold up as a symbol of racial reconciliation and racial understanding.”

“A Little Talk With Jesus Makes It All Right,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 2-4 in St. Michael the Archangel Church, 19009 E. Floyd Ave., in Aurora.