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Prophet of Peace 2026

Prophet of Peace 2026

Mary Nelson
Mary Nelson

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie Prophet of Peace Award is given each year to an individual or group that embodies some aspect of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie and Oblates Corporate Commitment to be "a healing presence and a prophetic witness for peace and justice and to climate conscious living. We will decrease harmful patterns of consumerism and work with others to create systemic change needed to meaningfully address the climate crisis."

This year's awardee is Mary Nelson.
The Benedictine Sisters are pleased to announce our 2026 Prophet of Peace: Mary Nelson, a healing presence in our midst and a prophetic witness for peace and justice. “We are so grateful to be able to honor Mary as a Prophet of Peace. She is a long-time friend of our Benedictine community and shares our commitment to peace, hospitality, and compassion nurtured by a deep spirituality,” said Sister Diane Rabe, administrator of the Benedictine Sisters.

From an early age Mary learned to care for others, to be generous, inclusive, and merciful. “Our parents taught my brothers and me that God provided us with grace and abundance, that we are meant to share. And scripture teaches us that to be an authentic follower of the non-violent Jesus, we must work for the common good, to be his hands and feet, his eyes and ears and voice, especially for the vulnerable and all of creation. The Holy Spirit is given, not to make us comfortable, but to make us courageous,” she said when asked about her work. Read more below RSVP form.

Sunday, September 20
4:00 p.m. prayer and reception at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery
6101 East Lake Road, Erie

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Mary is a leader, organizer, and advocate who can be found wherever she is needed, rolling up her sleeves and working for the common good. Professed into the Secular Franciscan Order in 2009, she has served her local fraternity as secretary, formation director, and minister; and in the Lady Poverty Region as councilor, vice minister, and regional formation director, as well as on the JPIC (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation) commission. She received the Regional “Contardo Ferrini Service Award” in 2026 and is a member of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) Justice Circle.

Benedictines for Peace is happy to have Mary on their steering committee; she is also a team leader for NETWORK Advocates of Western Pennsylvania, advocating for Catholic Social Justice issues on the federal level. One of the efforts she currently supports is the regular prayer gathering to pray for Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees, “You Are Not Alone,” based on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 2025 Special Message on Immigration.

She is a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic parish, where she is a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Parish Safety Team, and a previous member of the Healthcare Committee. As a volunteer at Emmaus Soup Kitchen, Mary cares for Emmaus guests every Friday. During the winter, she also serves at the Overflow Shelter, Our Neighbors’ Place.

The eldest of six children and only daughter of William and Patricia Trimble, Mary graduated from St Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, with bachelor of science degree in biology, and earned a degree in physical therapy from Northwestern University in Chicago. After graduation Mary worked at the Mayo Clinic for eight years where she met Todd Nelson. They were married in 1984 and a few years later moved to Erie. Mary is a retired physical therapist and enjoys reading, family time, gardening, traveling, baking, quilting, and genealogy studies.

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