She is an extrovert who never met a stranger. When the April 2nd Award Ceremony was scheduled to begin, Sister Helen Prejean was still in the hallway visiting with people! Upon entering the door of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), she ran into a friend who had served as a security guard in a school in which she had taught, and they had a lot to talk about in the days since they worked together. Her interest in people and their stories was apparent as she visited with people prior to and after the ceremony which honored her.
 
As a young Catholic girl, Helen Prejean gave her life to God, and the rest is history. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille in 1957 and has since served as Religious Education Director at the St. Frances Cabrinie Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the Spiritual Formation Director for her religious community, and as a teacher to junior and senior high school students. In 1981 she dedicated her life to the poor of New Orleans, Louisiana and began her ministry to inmates and their families. While living in a housing project she became pen pals with Patrick Sonnier, the convicted killer of two teenagers, who was sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Upon Sonnier’s request, Sister Helen visited him often as his spiritual advisor. In doing so, she became aware of the execution process in the state of Louisiana. She turned her experiences into a book that not only made the 1994 American Library Associates Notable Book List, but was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1993. Dead Man Walking: an Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States was number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for 31 weeks. It became an international best seller and has been translated into ten different languages. In 1995 the book was made into a major motion picture which received four Academy Award nominations. Actress Susan Sarandon won the award for the Best Actress in her portrayal of Sister Helen.
 
Today Sister Helen educates the public about the death penalty through her lectures and writings. As the founder of “Survive,” a victim’s advocacy group in New Orleans, she continues to counsel inmates on death row, and also the families of murder victims as well. As a member and former Chairperson of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (in the United States), she continues to be a prominent voice in opposition to the death penalty.
 
In receiving the 2008 World Methodist Peace Award, Sister Helen told the audience “the Methodists stood by my side at the very beginning.” In the 1980’s, Rev. Tim Lawson, a United Methodist clergy person in Louisiana, was also involved in the anti-death penalty movement for which Sister Helen became a leading spokesperson.
 
In presenting the Award, Dr. John Barrett read from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6, reminding the audience of the command of Jesus that His followers should love their enemies. “Peace is so much more than the absence of war,” he said. “It is about truly living in love. Sister Prejean is doing that by working to bring reconciliation between individuals and the society from which they have become alienated.”
 
The World Methodist Peace Award is given to individuals or groups who are recognized for their courage, creativity and consistency in working for peace, justice and reconciliation. For her witness in her ministry involving the perpetrators of crime, their families and the families of crime victims, the Council honored Sister Helen Prejean with the 2008 World Methodist Peace Award.