Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, Advocate to End the Death Penalty, Visits Higher Ed Ministries
Sr. Helen Visits Felician Sponsored Higher Education Ministries
In March 2026, the Felician Services Charism & Mission Integration Team and the VP Ministry Development coordinated the visit of Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, to the Felician Sponsored Higher Education Ministries. Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, is an internationally recognized advocate against the death penalty and author of Dead Man Walking. The Felician Sisters of North America have a corporate stance which calls for the abolition of the death penalty. Sr. Helen has recently taken her most popular work, Dead Man Walking, and turned it into a graphic novel to make education on calling for the abolition of the death penalty accessible to new generations of learners.
At Felician University (March 16), Sr. Helen shared how her 1982 call to accompany people on death row ignited nearly four decades of advocacy, culminating in a public lecture and book signing that invited deep reflection on justice, accountability, and the dignity of every human life. At Villa Maria College (March 17–18), the community prepared through a screening of Dead Man Walking and then welcomed Sr. Helen for conversations grounded in her firsthand experiences, exploring mercy, compassion, restorative justice, and social responsibility through both a keynote address and a community forum. Ending the tour at Madonna University (March 19), Sr. Helen gave a powerful day of dialogue drawn from Dead Man Walking and its newest graphic edition, where she met with students and challenged the community to think deeper, listen closer, and lead with compassion. Together, these encounters embodied the Felician mission to form consciences, inspire action, and uphold the dignity of all.
Education Ministries
Honoring the Felician Sisters During Catholic Sisters Week
During Catholic Sisters Week, our K–12 ministries joyfully honored the Felician Sisters whose faith, service, and legacy continue to shape the Felician Sponsored school communities. At the Felician Sisters Child Care Centers (Livonia, MI), kindergartners at Montessori Center of Our Lady hosted Afternoon Tea on Tuesday, March 11, welcoming some local Felician Sisters and other sisters who live in the local convent, with warmth and gratitude. The children delighted their guests by serving tea and refreshments, presenting Felician Core Values note cards, sharing original artwork, and offering prayers and songs from Young Children’s Worship which made for a truly memorable celebration. At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (Coraopolis, PA), students marked Catholic Sisters Week by presenting the Felician Sisters with flowers to express heartfelt thanks for their lasting legacy at OLSH. Together, these moments reflect a deep appreciation for the Sisters’ enduring influence and the role that young people play in carrying their mission forward for future generations.
Senior Living and Health Care Ministries
A Ribbon of Hope for Catholic Sisters Week
During Catholic Sisters Week, Villa St. Francis (Milwaukee, WI) and Felician Village (Manitowoc, WI) honored the Felician Sisters by participating in the Ribbon of Hope project launched by the Felician Sisters of North America. Residents, staff, and volunteers wrote messages and words of hope on slips of paper that were then assembled and shared as Ribbons of Hope. These ribbons provide a visible sign of faith, gratitude, and reflect the Catholic Sisters Week theme Hope Unbroken. Through prayer services and community participation, both ministries celebrated a hope that is communal, enduring, and rooted in appreciation for the Sisters’ mission and persistence.
Social Service Ministries
St. Anne’s Family Services Experiences Community
St. Anne’s Family Services (Los Angeles, CA) gratefully celebrated the compassion and generosity of the 7th graders who attend St. Brendan School. a local Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The students put the needs of others first by collecting and delivering an abundance of in-kind donations for St. Anne’s families, including blankets, diapers, and baby formula. Their thoughtful efforts showed that philanthropy can begin at any age and that young people can lead with empathy and purpose. The young students help St. Anne’s to further its mission and that of the Felician Sisters to bring about the spiritual renewal of the world!
Response to Love Center Provides Outreach through Food and Welcome
Response to Love Center (Buffalo, NY) expanded its community outreach through engaging cooking lessons for people they serve. Most of the RTLC clients are new immigrants to the United States. This cooking class was made possible by grant funding from the Fillmore Office and the support of Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. With the guidance of Chef Emily Lonigan, these informational classes create a welcoming space where participants learn practical cooking skills while building confidence, connection, and community. This initiative reflects Response to Love Center’s commitment to hospitality, empowerment, and supporting families as they build new lives rooted in care and belonging in the Buffalo community.
