Staff reports

Sunday, October 4 is designated as Respect Life Sunday by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the entire month of October as Respect Life Month.

Throughout the diocese, parishes will hold holy hours, rosaries for life, life chains, prayer witnesses at abortion facilities, and priests will preach about the sanctity of life at Mass.  With legislation pending that could legalize physician-assisted suicide in New Jersey, the importance of witnessing on behalf of the fact that “every life is worth living” is just as important as ever.

Those interested in standing up on behalf of respect for human life and dignity are invited to the following events. For more information, contact the point person listed for each event below.

Oct. 4

Burlington County: 1014 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill. Life Chain in front of  South Jersey Women’s Center (park behind Center) to Route 70, 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Sharon Marino, 856-461-0815).

Burlington County: 560 Walton Ave., Mount Laurel. Rosary at St. John Neumann Parish Rosary Garden, 3 p.m.

Ocean County: Rt. 37 at Harley Ocean County: Rt. 37 at Harley Rd., Toms River. Life Chain, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (Ed DiMarco, 732-341-9029).

Ocean County: Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head will celebrate Respect Life Sunday Oct. 4 with a living Rosary in Monsignor Casey Hall, 751 Main Avenue, with CCD students, parents, and parishioners after the 9:15 a.m. Mass.  Pro-life Rosary beads will be given to all students.  At each Mass, Becky Blonski of Madonna House in Neptune will give a reflection focusing on respect for life from conception to natural death. Red lapel roses will be handed out after each Mass. Respect life banners will be on display for the month of Oct.  All are invited.  For information, call 732-899-1398.

 Mercer County: 2279 State Hwy. 33, Hamilton Twp. Life Chain, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Bob Pawson, 609-610-3522).

Monmouth County: US Highway 9 at Salem Hill Rd., Howell. Life Chain in front of St. Veronica Rectory, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. (Thomas Moresco, 732-367-0284).

Monmouth County: St. William the Abbot Parish Respect Life Ministry, Howell, will hold a "baby shower" Oct. 3 and 4 after every Mass in the church at 2740 Lakewood-Allenwood Road.  New baby items will be collected and donated to Catholic Charities to be given to mothers in need.  For information, call 732-840-3535.

Mercer County: St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish Respect Life Committee, Hamilton, will host its third annual Good Counsel Homes-South Jersey-Riverside Baby Bottle Campaign.  The campaign will kick-off at all Masses in Holy Angels Church, 1733 S. Broad Street and St. Raphael Church, 3500 S. Broad Street Oct. 3 and 4.  Good Counsel Homes supports homeless pregnant mothers and their babies.  Forty-Five babies have been born to mothers living in the Good Counsel Homes-South Jersey in Riverside since it opened four years ago.  For the parish Mass schedules, visit www.straphael-holyangels.com/.

Monday, Oct. 5

Monmouth County: 603 Seventh Ave., Belmar. St. Rose Parish to host Holy Hour for Life with homilist Deacon Rich Weber, from 7 to 8 p.m. (St. Rose Parish office, 732-681-0512).

Saturday, Oct. 10

Monmouth County: 100 N. Main St., Marlboro. St. Gabriel Parish will hold a public square Rosary to pray for our unborn children and our nation, noon.

40 Days for Life: Sept. 23 to Nov. 1

Monmouth County: 69 Newman Springs Rd., Shrewsbury. 40 Days for Life is a national movement of peaceful prayer vigil held at abortion facilities. You are invited to participate in the 40 Days for Life vigil on the public right-of-way outside of the Planned Parenthood in Shrewsbury (732-610-7437, [email protected]).