A Memorial Mass at the tomb of the 100 aborted Loveladies babies will be celebrated Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. in Ocean County Memorial Parish, 1722 Silverton Road, Toms River.
The event is sponsored by the Ocean County Right to Life and the Roman Catholic Churches of Toms River, which include the parishes of St. Joseph, St. Justin the Martyr, St. Luke and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
In 1984, 100 aborted babies were found in a trash can in the Loveladies section of Long Beach Island. Members of Ocean County Right to Life went to court and were instrumental in obtaining permission to bury the babies in 1985 at the park.
Augustinian Father Denis G. Wilde of Priests For Life will be the homilist. He earned a doctorate in music from The Catholic University of America, Washington, and has been actively involved in pro-life concerns since before Roe v. Wade. In addition to preaching and teaching on campus, the priest has traveled to more than 750 venues in 47 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe with his pro-life message.
Father Wilde said, “There is sadly no more dangerous place to live than the womb. This bizarre situation of a culture of death propped up by law and camouflaged as medicine perpetuates a lie of a colossal order. Its consequence is a dead end street to baby, mother and civilization. [This] can serve as a national and Church wake-up call to act on the promise God has given us all – to thwart evil and reclaim his victory over death.”
The morning will consist of Mass, a history of the site and a flower ceremony. Attendees are asked to bring a lawn chair. For more information, contact Patti Tardi at 732-678-7367