Catholics to join in regional series of events in observance of Roe v. Wade
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Catholic News Service and Staff Reports
Whether it will be in the nation’s capital or on the steps before the State House in Trenton, Jan. 23 will be the day when hundreds of people of all ages from around the diocese will join in peaceful solidarity and show their support for the gift of human life in all its stages.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has invited pro-life faithful women and men from around the four-county Trenton Diocese to travel to Washington, to participate in the 39th annual March for Life Jan. 23. The March for Life is an annual pro-life rally held in the nation’s capital in numbers exceeding 100,000 of Catholics and other pro-life advocates peacefully and prayerfully protest the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion.
The theme for the 2012 March for Life is “Unite on the Life Principles to Overturn Roe v. Wade and With Love Protect Mothers and Preborn Children. No Exception! No Compromise!”
Washington’s Weekend of Events
The Washington rally, which traditionally draws people from around the country to brave freezing January temperatures in order to offer their visible witness to life, marks the culmination of a weekend of pro-life activities in observance of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Other events that are planned include a mini-rally to be held Jan. 22 in Lafayette Park across from the White House as well; a youth rally at a Washington hotel, and a Mass to be celebrated in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life which begins with a Jan. 22 Vigil Mass. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Another Mass will be celebrated in the basilica the morning of Jan. 23 with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, USCCB president, and Bishop O’Connell is expected to be among the concelebrating bishops.
For the 16th year, the Washington Archdiocese will sponsor its pro-life youth Mass and rally the morning of Jan. 23. Because of the large number of youth who turn out, the archdiocese was prompted to hold the event in two sporting venues, the Verizon Center and the D.C. Armory to accommodate a crowd totaling 28,000.
Trenton’s Visible Presence
The events on the Mall will kick off with a rally at noon at which Bishop O’Connell and Father Joselito Noche, chaplain and diocesan liaison for Family Life and Pro-Life Activities, are expected to accompany the Trenton delegation, walking with them along Constitution Avenue, up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court and on to Congress where they will make the case for life with legislators.
Many of the expected 1,100 pilgrims from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties will travel to Washington on buses sponsored by parishes and Knights of Columbus councils, as well as a bus that will transport diocesan staff and personnel. Other pilgrims will make the journey by way of mass transit or their own vehicles. Historically, the Trenton Diocese has had a strong and proud representation of young people at the march, hailing mostly from Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and youth groups.
This year’s contingent of youth journeying to Washington Jan. 23 includes those from St. Joseph Parish and Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River; St. Mary Parish, Barnegat; St. Clement, Matawan; St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, and St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold.
Cindy Craft, youth minister in St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, indicated that the 12 participants from her parish will depart for Washington Jan. 22 and travel to a Maryland parish for a concert and overnight stay. On Jan. 23, the Barnegat contingent is also slated to participate in the annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life in the Verizon Wireless Center.
Catherine Werner, youth minister in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, said the plan for her group on Jan. 23 is to attend the 7 a.m. Mass in St. Joseph Church before boarding the bus for Washington.
Werner, noted that young people from St. Joseph Parish have been going to the March for Life for at least 10 years.
“This gives them a chance to witness their faith,” said Werner. “It’s important for young people to realize that their voices can be heard and the March for Life gives them opportunities to stand up for their faith, what they believe in and who they believe in.”
Catholic schools from the diocese that will be represented at the March For Life, include Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville; St. Aloysius, Jackson; St. Paul, Burlington; St. Mary, Bordentown, and Holy Cross, Rumson.
Closer to Home
While Bishop O’Connell strongly encourages everyone to participate in the March for Life in Washington, those persons who are not able to make the trip to Washington will have an opportunity to stand up for life by attending the annual New Jersey Right to Life Rally to be held on the steps of the State House in Trenton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Catholics representing parishes, schools and pro-life groups come from all parts of the state to participate in the rally, which is scheduled to feature a number of speakers including pro-life legislators, leaders of pro-life groups and ministries, clergy and representatives from the offices of U.S. Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Scott Garrett (NJ-5). Both congressmen are scheduled to be in Washington that day.
Earlier that day, a State House Rally Mass for Life will be celebrated in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 151 North Warren Street, Trenton, with Father Joseph Roldan, cathedral rector, as principal celebrant and homilist.
The 10 a.m. Mass will implement the new prayers and texts from the Mass of Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life found in the third edition of the newly minted Roman Missal. (The Mass of Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life was approved by the Vatican for use on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.)
For a complete listing of the parishes and Knights of Columbus Councils sponsoring buses to Washington, see the back page of this week’s issue of The Monitor; visit www.respectlifetoday.com; call 609-403-7192; e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
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By Catholic News Service and Staff Reports
Whether it will be in the nation’s capital or on the steps before the State House in Trenton, Jan. 23 will be the day when hundreds of people of all ages from around the diocese will join in peaceful solidarity and show their support for the gift of human life in all its stages.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has invited pro-life faithful women and men from around the four-county Trenton Diocese to travel to Washington, to participate in the 39th annual March for Life Jan. 23. The March for Life is an annual pro-life rally held in the nation’s capital in numbers exceeding 100,000 of Catholics and other pro-life advocates peacefully and prayerfully protest the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion.
The theme for the 2012 March for Life is “Unite on the Life Principles to Overturn Roe v. Wade and With Love Protect Mothers and Preborn Children. No Exception! No Compromise!”
Washington’s Weekend of Events
The Washington rally, which traditionally draws people from around the country to brave freezing January temperatures in order to offer their visible witness to life, marks the culmination of a weekend of pro-life activities in observance of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Other events that are planned include a mini-rally to be held Jan. 22 in Lafayette Park across from the White House as well; a youth rally at a Washington hotel, and a Mass to be celebrated in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life which begins with a Jan. 22 Vigil Mass. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Another Mass will be celebrated in the basilica the morning of Jan. 23 with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, USCCB president, and Bishop O’Connell is expected to be among the concelebrating bishops.
For the 16th year, the Washington Archdiocese will sponsor its pro-life youth Mass and rally the morning of Jan. 23. Because of the large number of youth who turn out, the archdiocese was prompted to hold the event in two sporting venues, the Verizon Center and the D.C. Armory to accommodate a crowd totaling 28,000.
Trenton’s Visible Presence
The events on the Mall will kick off with a rally at noon at which Bishop O’Connell and Father Joselito Noche, chaplain and diocesan liaison for Family Life and Pro-Life Activities, are expected to accompany the Trenton delegation, walking with them along Constitution Avenue, up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court and on to Congress where they will make the case for life with legislators.
Many of the expected 1,100 pilgrims from Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties will travel to Washington on buses sponsored by parishes and Knights of Columbus councils, as well as a bus that will transport diocesan staff and personnel. Other pilgrims will make the journey by way of mass transit or their own vehicles. Historically, the Trenton Diocese has had a strong and proud representation of young people at the march, hailing mostly from Catholic schools, parish religious education programs and youth groups.
This year’s contingent of youth journeying to Washington Jan. 23 includes those from St. Joseph Parish and Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River; St. Mary Parish, Barnegat; St. Clement, Matawan; St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, and St. Robert Bellarmine, Freehold.
Cindy Craft, youth minister in St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, indicated that the 12 participants from her parish will depart for Washington Jan. 22 and travel to a Maryland parish for a concert and overnight stay. On Jan. 23, the Barnegat contingent is also slated to participate in the annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life in the Verizon Wireless Center.
Catherine Werner, youth minister in St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, said the plan for her group on Jan. 23 is to attend the 7 a.m. Mass in St. Joseph Church before boarding the bus for Washington.
Werner, noted that young people from St. Joseph Parish have been going to the March for Life for at least 10 years.
“This gives them a chance to witness their faith,” said Werner. “It’s important for young people to realize that their voices can be heard and the March for Life gives them opportunities to stand up for their faith, what they believe in and who they believe in.”
Catholic schools from the diocese that will be represented at the March For Life, include Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton; Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville; St. Aloysius, Jackson; St. Paul, Burlington; St. Mary, Bordentown, and Holy Cross, Rumson.
Closer to Home
While Bishop O’Connell strongly encourages everyone to participate in the March for Life in Washington, those persons who are not able to make the trip to Washington will have an opportunity to stand up for life by attending the annual New Jersey Right to Life Rally to be held on the steps of the State House in Trenton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Catholics representing parishes, schools and pro-life groups come from all parts of the state to participate in the rally, which is scheduled to feature a number of speakers including pro-life legislators, leaders of pro-life groups and ministries, clergy and representatives from the offices of U.S. Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Scott Garrett (NJ-5). Both congressmen are scheduled to be in Washington that day.
Earlier that day, a State House Rally Mass for Life will be celebrated in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 151 North Warren Street, Trenton, with Father Joseph Roldan, cathedral rector, as principal celebrant and homilist.
The 10 a.m. Mass will implement the new prayers and texts from the Mass of Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life found in the third edition of the newly minted Roman Missal. (The Mass of Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life was approved by the Vatican for use on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.)
For a complete listing of the parishes and Knights of Columbus Councils sponsoring buses to Washington, see the back page of this week’s issue of The Monitor; visit www.respectlifetoday.com; call 609-403-7192; e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]