Honoring Sister Jamie T. Phelps, O.P.

Sister Jamie T. Phelps, O.P. (baptized Jamie Theresa Phelps, formerly Sister Martin Thomas), was a luminous and devoted daughter of God, a tireless scholar, and a fearless champion of justice and Black Catholic pastoral ministry. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan, she passed from this life at the age of 84, in the 65th year of her religious profession with the Adrian Dominican Congregation. The NBSC community, the Adrian Dominican family, and all who knew her mourn with hearts full of love, gratitude, and deep admiration for a life well lived.

Sister Jamie’s life began in Mobile, Alabama, to Alfred and Emma (Brown) Phelps. From a young age, she carried a remarkable blend of warmth, intellect, and a steadfast commitment to serve others. She pursued education with zeal, earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, followed by master’s degrees in social work with a focus on group dynamics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and in theology from St. John University in Collegeville, Minnesota. She completed a doctorate in systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Her scholarly curiosity was matched by a fierce dedication to applying knowledge in service of people’s lived realities..... READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE.