This month, Mary’s Child Pro-Life Minstry’s 26th annual Champion for Life Award dinner will recognize two individuals of the Diocese who have been exemplary in their defense of human life.

The event will take place Oct. 23 in Doolan’s Shore Club, 100 Highway 71, Spring Lake Heights, and will begin with a reception from 5 to 6 p.m. and buffet dinner following at 6 p.m.

The Mary’s Child Pro-Life Ministry represents the parishes of St. Catharine-St. Margaret, Spring Lake; St. Denis Parish, Manasquan; St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Avon-by-the-Sea; Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune; St. Mark, Sea Girt, and St. Rose, Belmar. Each year a member of the Church community who most distinguishes themselves in the cause of protecting and defending human life is selected for special recognition. This year the group will honor Father Evarist Kabagambe as its 2016 Champion for Life, and will present a lifetime achievement award to Beatrice Murday Menard.

Father Kabagambe, priest in residence in Holy Innocents Parish, was born in Uganda and attended school there.  When civil war broke out in his country he could no longer attend school, but with financial help from several people he managed to attend College Seminary in Uganda, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy.

His education was supplemented with attendance at Mundelein Seminary, Chicago.  In 2003, Father Kabagambe returned to Uganda, was ordained a priest in August 2003. In August of 2005, Father Kabagambe returned to Mundelein Seminary to obtain a licentiate in sacred theology (STL).  His destiny, however, was to serve the sick in Monmouth County.  He was assigned to live in Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, and was named chaplain at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune.

Laura Connell, member of the Mary’s Child Pro-Life Ministry, said, “He is really very committed to enriching the spiritual life [of patients].”

Beatrice Murday Menard, member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Avon, was born in Trenton in 1919. She married Colonel Stanley Murday in 1941 and had 12 children; together they lived a military family life, traveling the globe for Colonel Murday’s various assignments.

After his retirement in 1972, they settled in Avon-by-the-Sea. Beatrice became the director of religious education in St. Elizabeth of Hungary, taught First Communion class, was president of the Altar Society and did various tasks for the parish for 40 years.  Several years after her husband’s passing, she was contacted by a former high school classmate, Wilfred “Bud” Menard (also widowed). They were both 92 years old when they married.

Shortly after moving to Avon-By-the-Sea, Beatrice began regular visits to local nursing homes, which she continues to this day.

“Mrs. Murday is a beacon of hope,” said Connell, “sharing love and joy with our youth, with our elderly and with everyone in between.”

Reservations are required by Oct. 16. Cost for an adult dinner is $50, student dinner is $35, and children’s dinner is $20. Tables of 10 are available; attach a guest list to reservation. To make reservations, mail a list of names, phone number, number of dinners, email address, and enclose with check payable to Mary’s Child Pro-Life Ministry, c/o St. Catharine Parish, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762.

For further information, please email Mary Reilly at [email protected], or call Laura Connell, 732-776-6579.