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Dr. Charles C. Camosy to speak at ‘The Last Things’ breakfast event Oct. 31
Living well involves facing the end of life well – and dying well. On Oct. 31, Dr. Charles C. Camosy, award-winning author and professor of moral theology and bioethics at The Catholic University of America, Washington, will speak on the topic at the annual breakfast hosted by the Respect Life Committee of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat.
All are invited to attend “The Last Things: Living the Fourth Quarter Well: The Spiritual, the Medical, the Funeral,” starting with 8 a.m. Mass in St. Mary of the Pines Church, Manahawkin, followed by the breakfast and presentation in the parish center.
Dr. Camosy has written prolifically about end-of-life matters, emphasizing dignity from the beginning of life until natural death, including in several of his nine books, such as “Living and Dying Well: A Catholic Plan for Resisting Physician Assisted Killing” (2025) and “Losing Our Dignity: How Secularized Medicine Is Undermining Fundamental Human Equality” (2021). His writing has also appeared in Linacre Quarterly, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Ethics and Medics and the New York Post.
With ongoing cultural conversations and legislation about “medical aid in dying,” which was legalized in 2019 in New Jersey, as well as shifts away from funeral celebrations for the deceased, the Church’s wisdom is more crucial than ever, organizers say. Unlike secular culture, the Catholic Church addresses end-of-life realities, offering guidance instead of avoiding, medicalizing or minimizing them. The breakfast discussion will provide practical and pastoral support to help attendees learn Catholic theology for navigating the final stages of life and preparing to die well.
The diocesan Department of Evangelization & Family Life is co-sponsoring the event with the Respect Life Ministry of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat. St. Mary of the Pines Parish Center is located at 100 Bishop Lane, Manahawkin. For more information, contact Peg Buck at (973) 960-6383 or at mmbuck@gmail.com.
Mary’s Child Pro-Life Ministry to host annual dinner
Mary’s Child Pro-Life Ministry is set to hold the 37th Annual Champions for Life Awards and Fundraiser on the evening of Oct. 25 in Spring Lake Manor in Spring Lake. Based in St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, and including the pro-life communities of St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt; St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake; St. Rose of Lima Parish, Belmar; St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold; St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach; and Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, the outreach group will celebrate individuals whose efforts have helped protect and uphold the sanctity of human life.
This year’s Champion for Life is Jim Meyer of St. Rose of Lima, Freehold, who has led prayer vigils near Planned Parenthood for decades. The ministry has also renamed its Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of St. Gianna Molla, the Italian mother and physician who sacrificed her life to save her unborn daughter. Irene and Larry Gallagher, devoted parents of a daughter with a disability and members of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Bradley Beach, will receive this award at the event. Another new development is the inauguration of the John MacGowan Servant of God and Country Award. Named for a recently deceased Army veteran, the award recognizes a person who has served honorably in battles abroad and at home. John Blomquist of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, will be the first recipient of the award, which was also created in commemoration of those who heroically gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
The dinner is hosted by students from the Catholic Youth Organizations of St. and St. Teresa of Calcutta Parishes.
Diocese joins nationwide 40 Days for Life Campaign
Events around the Diocese of Trenton will mark the national pro-life 40 Days for Life effort, an annual observance of prayer, fasting, peaceful vigils and outreach aimed at ending abortion. The campaign runs from Sept. 23 to Nov. 1.
Daily vigils are being held at Planned Parenthood, Shrewsbury, during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekend days at will. The Monmouth County location is 69 E. Newman Springs Road.
Another vigil will be held Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside the Cherry Hill Women’s Center. The location is 502 N. Kings Highway, and the local contact is Rosemary Wilkins at 40daysforlife.cherryhill@gmail.com.
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton, invites the faithful to recite the Rosary at a vigil near the entrance to Golden Crest Corporate Center in Hamilton Square, which houses a Planned Parenthood office. Participants will gather Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m. The vigil will run from Sept. 23 to Oct. 28. For more information, contact Maureen Smitley: maureensmitley@gmail.com.
Around Mercer County, prayer vigils will be held at Planned Parenthood in Trenton on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. That location is 437 E. State Street, and the local contact is Rich Pieslak: richpieslak@gmail.com.
Two Rosary for Life prayer meetings are offered in Mercer County as well. On the first Wednesday of the month, faithful can gather in St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square, at 5 p.m. to pray, and on the second Sunday of the month, after the 11:30 a.m. Mass, a Rosary for Life group meets in St. Raphael Church, Hamilton. St. Gregory the Great Church is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, and St. Raphael Church at 3500 South Broad St.
Those who would prefer to pray online can do a Zoom-based Rosary for Life on Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Contact Dominic Conte at Flyingc84@gmail.com for more information.