Choir 
The mission of the Sr. Thea Bowman DRVC Gospel Choir is to continue Sr. Thea Bowman’s ministry of bringing the Gospel message through African Cultural avenues to ALL communities.  We are dedicated to the spiritual power and unified aliveness of Praise and Worship.  We have been called forth to lead our brothers and sisters toward Christ using the universal language of music.  We continue evolving to deliver the vibrant, exciting and unique approach to religious music that has become our signature.

Sr. Thea’s Choir made its debut in 1986 at Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston on the Feast of All Saints under the watchful eye of Sr. Thea Bowman herself and spent the next nine years known as Sounds in the Spirit of Praise Brooklyn Diocesan Gospel Choir under the Brooklyn Office of Black Ministry.  In 1992, the Adult Brooklyn O.B.M. Choir united with Sounds in the Spirit of Praise and became a new sound.  Honoring the great evangelist that we considered our godmother, we changed our name to the Sr. Thea Bowman Mass Choir and became a united musical force.  In 1997, we were asked to sing for the 16th Annual
Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving for the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Within the year, the invitation was extended by Vanessa Baird Streeter, then Director of the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry, for us to make this diocese our home.

Some of our highlights include:

  • Ministering to the Nigerian Community at St. John the Divine in Manhattan
  • Invited to sing for a Pontifical Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the inauguration of the U.S. National Chapter of the Blessed Tansi Solidarity Prayer Movement, His Eminence, Frances Cardinal Arinze and His Eminence, John Cardinal O’Connor concelebrants.
  • Concert given at Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica in Newark, New Jersey, for Black History Month.
  • Participated in Jesus Alive 2000 in Nassau Coliseum.
  • Ministered at the Award Ceremony in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen at Republic Airport presented by the Nassau County Office for Minority Affairs and the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry.
  • Has been responsible for singing at the liturgical and cultural events coordinated by the Ministry to Catholics of African Ancestry


We have been a feature on  Total Praise, a show of evangelization that highlights Catholics of African Ancestry and is show on Telecare.  For more information, please visit the Telecare website.

We have sung for revivals, prayer services and led praise and worship at many parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre and beyond. We have also walked the ecumenical line by reaching out and ministering at churches of other Christian denominations.

In the spirit of evangelization, we will continue to answer the call to win souls for the kingdom of God under the auspices of the Office of Multicultural Diversity.  Expanding our membership and workshop ability, we will forge ahead inviting ALL to join us as we KEEP ON KEEPIN ON.

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