RUTHERFORD, NJ—Felician University is excited to host Sister Helen Prejean, internationally-recognized author, speaker, and human rights advocate, for a day-long series of lectures, panel discussions, and a special book signing on March 16, 2026. The event will take place on both the Lodi and Rutherford campuses, inviting engagement with topics on the justice system, moral responsibility, and the human impact of incarceration.

A Journey to Advocacy

Sister Helen’s spiritual awakening began in 1982, when she wrote a letter to Elmo “Pat” Sonnier, a convicted murderer on death row in her home state of Louisiana. Believing that the Gospel calls not only for charity and kindness but also for justice and understanding towards marginalized people, she embarked on a nearly four-decade-long mission to provide counsel to death row inmates and the families of both victims and the incarcerated.

Sister Helen visited Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana to meet with Sonnier, who was convicted of murder in the first degree two years prior. During their initial meeting, Sister Helen was overwhelmed with fear and reluctance, questioning why her calling drew her to inmates on death row.

For the next two and a half years, Sister Helen would meet with Sonnier multiple times a week to preach the Bible and to help him reconcile with the depths of his crime. She encouraged him in his final months to die with love rather than hate, and was present in the death chamber in hopes of providing Sonnier a sense of dignity during his execution.

Sonnier’s execution was initially going to be the end of Sister Helen’s inmate counseling mission. However, shortly after his execution, she was approached by attorney Millard Farmer to provide the same counsel to inmate Robert Lee Willie.

Robert Lee Willie was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death in 1983. Though his crimes were similar on paper to Sonnier’s, Willie gained special attention from the public due to his outright expression of racist, sexist, and vulgar language.

The nature of Willie’s character and his lack of remorse encouraged Sister Helen to take a firmer approach to counseling. She urged him to confess to his crimes and seek forgiveness from the victim’s families, to which he would eventually come to terms with his actions and address the family’s grief with an apology at the time of his execution.

The impact of this experience would eventually lay the foundations for her advocacy work on the brutal realities of state-sanctioned executions, the dignity of human life, and how the death penalty inherently prolongs the suffering of victims’ families.

The Story Behind Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking is a compelling recount of her transformative experience as a spiritual advisor with Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie. Published in 1993, Sister Helen aimed to spark moral and national debate surrounding capital punishment, the realities of the justice system, and the possibility of bridging the gap between resentment and forgiveness.

Sister Helen reflects on her spiritual obligation to find compassion for the condemned while recognizing the rage and sorrow felt by the victims’ families. After witnessing both Sonnier and Willie’s executions, she channeled her feelings of shock and trauma to guide the families towards healing, driven by closure rather than vengeance.

The book’s success paved the way for its feature film adaptation in 1995. The film follows Sister Helen Prejean, played by Susan Sarandon, and her spiritual journey to counsel Matthew Poncelet, played by Sean Penn, through his remaining time on death row.

Poncelet’s character is a combination of Sonnier’s brutal crime and Willie’s defiant personality, demeanor, and appearance. By crafting the character as such, writer and director Tim Robbins created a character that represents Sister Helen’s intense challenge of ministering to a human responsible for committing grave acts of sin.

Dead Man Walking was both a commercial and critical success, garnering three Oscar Awards for Best Actor, Actress, and Director.

Ongoing Impact and Outreach

Following the movie’s release and into the present, Sister Helen has been a tireless advocate for abolishing the death penalty. With a large following on social media and a well-established presence in the advocacy world, she continues to utilize her platform to share firsthand accounts of the effects of capital punishment and other ethical concerns within the justice system.

Sister Helen has spoken at more than 50 colleges and universities worldwide, inspiring the next generation of leaders to think critically about the justice system and their role within it. She continues to collaborate with legal advocates, faith leaders, and policy organizations to support legislative efforts, educate communities, and amplify the voices of those directly impacted by violent crime and incarceration.

Through her ongoing work, she remains a powerful example of how one person’s conviction can influence national conversations and inspire meaningful social change.

Public Event Details

Members of the public are encouraged to join us on our Rutherford Campus on March 16, 2026, from 5 PM to 8 PM for an open discussion and book signing with Sister Helen Prejean. Register now to secure your spot: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/FelicianUniversity/events/sr-helen-visit

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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.