Submitted by Pope John Paul II High School
Author of New York Times Best Seller Dead Man Walking, Sister Helen Prejean C.S.J., will be the Keynote Speaker for Pope John Paul II High School’s Light & Truth Gala on May 2 at St. Martin’s University in Lacey. Prejean has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on the death penalty and is helping to shape the Catholic Church’s newly vigorous opposition to state executions.
A life-long resident of Louisiana, Prejean moved into the St. Thomas Housing Project in New Orleans and began working at Hope House from 1981 – 1984. During this time, she was asked to correspond with death row inmate Patrick Sonnier at Angola. She agreed, becoming his spiritual adviser, and eventually accompanying him to his death. She has since accompanied five other men to their deaths. In 1995 Dead Man Walking was made into a major motion picture featuring Susan Sarandon as Prejean and Sean Penn as Sonnier.
Of tackling one of the most complex issues of our day, Prejean stated, “I have no doubt that we will one day abolish the death penalty in America. It will come sooner if people like me, who know the truth about executions, do our work well and educate the public.”
She has also been featured on an NBC series on the death penalty and has appeared on 60 Minutes, and ABC World News Tonight. Published articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the St. Petersburg Times, and the Baltimore Sun. She has received no fewer than 60 honorary degrees from colleges and universities throughout the world.
This Fall, JPII students brought Dead Man Walking to the stage, marking the high school’s first full-scale dramatic production.
In it’s fifth year of operation, Pope John Paul II High School provides a college preparatory education to South Puget Sound students in the rich tradition of Catholic education. The mission of JPII is to educate young men and women who are intellectually strong, spiritually alive, and committed to serving the needs of others. The school is located at 5608 Pacific Avenue in the former Lacey fire station building, just east of St. Martin’s University.
JPII is open to all young men and women, regardless of their faith tradition. We are committed to serving students from all economic backgrounds and provide financial assistance to families in need. The Light & Truth Gala is JPII’s primary source of scholarship funding.
Reservations for the event can be made by calling JPII at (360)438-7600 or visiting the website at www.popejp2hs.org.
