Two weeks before her death on March 30, 1990, US Catholic interviewed Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A., who said:

I pray for the children, that they may be saved and sheltered and nourished. I pray for the church and all the members of the church that they may be empowered to do the work of the church. I pray that all members of the church be united in their efforts to preach and to teach, to worship and to pray, to heal, to comfort, to reconcile, to feed, to nourish, and to raise the dead.

I pray for people who are needy, who hurt, who are alone, who are lonely. I pray for the ones who are discouraged and addicted. I prayer for the many people who have asked for my prayers. I pray for an end to hunger and poverty and violence. I pray for world peace, for the coming of the kingdom of God. I pray for the children, that they may feel good about themselves and that they may love themselves enough so that they can reach out to others.

I pray that we may learn to reach across boundaries of race, nationality, class, and status and love and help one another. I pray that we create a holy city where they will know us because we love one another.