Sister Helen began her prison ministry in 1981 when she dedicated her life to the poor of New Orleans. While living in the St. Thomas housing project, she became pen pals with Patrick Sonnier, the convicted killer of two teenagers, sentenced to die in the electric chair of Louisiana's Angola State Prison.

Upon Sonnier's request, Sister Helen repeatedly visited him as his spiritual advisor. In doing so, her eyes were opened to the Louisiana execution process. Sister Helen turned her experiences into the book Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States.  In January 1996, the book was developed into a major motion picture. 

Fifteen years after beginning her crusade, the Roman Catholic sister has witnessed five executions in Louisiana and today educates the public about the death penalty by lecturing, organizing and writing. As the founder of "Survive," a victim's advocacy group in New Orleans, she continues to counsel not only inmates on death row, but the families of murder victims, as well.

A Prayer by Sr. Prejean

God of Compassion
You let your rain fall on the just and the unjust.
Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life.
For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death row and kill the killers in the name of justice, in the name of peace.
Jesus, our brother,
you suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you
Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal.
Holy Spirit of God,
You strengthen us in the struggle for justice,
Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart so that violence will be no more.
Amen.

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$100 per guest
$750 for table of 8
The Arizona Ecumenical Council is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, EIN 86-0170212.
$62 of each dinner ticket is tax deductible or $446 for a table of 8.
Bid amount over fair market value on silent auction items is also tax deductible.
You will be given a receipt for these tax deductions at the event.

Event Schedule
6 to 7 PM - Silent Auction and Reception
7 to 8 PM - Dinner
8 to 9 PM - Program with Speakers
9 PM - Silent Auction checkout begins

Silent Auction donations information:
Solicitation letter
Donation receipt
501(c)3 Status letter
Contact Lita at 602.468.3818 or aec@aecunity.net