Rutherford, NJ, March 16, 2026— Felician University proudly welcomed Sister Helen Prejean, author of the critically acclaimed book Dead Man Walking, and renowned human rights activist, to the Lodi and Rutherford campuses on Monday, March 16. Sr. Helen spoke at multiple discussion sessions throughout the day with members of the Felician community, drawing upon her nearly four-decade-long mission to advocate for legal reform and the abolition of the death penalty in the United States.

Sr. Helen was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the height of the Jim Crow era. Acknowledging her privileged upbringing, Sr. Helen began working in Louisiana’s housing projects in the 1980s, where she was exposed to the lived experiences of African Americans and the harsh realities of racial disparities. She would go on to work at an adult education center, serving as a literary assistant for residents of the housing project.

Sr. Helen’s visit served as a signature campus event, aligning not only with the University’s core mission and values but also with this year’s Women’s History Month theme of “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” Her lifelong advocacy reflects the spirit of women rebuilding and reimagining systems to promote long-term environmental, economic, and social justice reform.

In the discussion sessions, Sr. Helen shared a story about the moment she realized her calling to activism was a direct result of Jesus’ intervention in her life. In 1982, during her time at the housing project, she wrote to Patrick Sonnier, a man sentenced to death for the murder of two teenagers. Although she was initially apprehensive about building a relationship with an incarcerated individual, she would eventually find her calling as a spiritual advisor to both incarcerated individuals and the families of their victims.

When the Catechism of the Catholic Church was revised under Pope Francis in 2018, he wrote to the Bishops and said, “…the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.’” This further strengthened her commitment to advocating for the abolition of the death penalty.

Sr. Helen welcomed questions and honest dialogue with attendees, particularly among students studying criminal justice, psychology, religious studies, and ethics. She encouraged all to share their thoughts, even welcoming opposing views on modern-day death penalty laws. She emphasized that meaningful change begins when individuals are willing to engage in open conversation, question their perspectives, and share their experiences with one another.

All four sessions concluded with a personal signing of Dead Man Walking: Graphic Edition. Published in late 2025, Sr. Helen’s visually engaging version of her memoir offers an accessible way for readers to grasp the complexities of her connection with Sonnier alongside recent developments in today’s justice system.

This event marked the first in a series of programs held at the college campuses sponsored by the Felician Sisters of North America through Felician Services, Inc. and Felician University’s Mission Integration.

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About Felician University

Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supporting environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.