By Christina Leslie|Correspondent

Faithful from throughout the Diocese of Trenton joined Catholics from other dioceses across the nation to gather in prayerful purpose June 21 during the opening of the second annual Fortnight for Freedom. Father Joselito Noche, chaplain and diocesan liaison for Family Life and Pro-Life Activities, was principal celebrant and homilist of a Mass held in St. Mary Parish, Middletown, before scores of concerned yet resolute people of faith eager to put their belief in religious liberty into action.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer and action, to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, Supreme Court rulings that could attempt to redefine marriage, and religious liberty concerns in areas such as immigration and humanitarian services.

Beginning June 21, the feast day of martyrs St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, and running through July 4, the nation’s Independence Day, this two-week period is intended to educate and empower the faith-filled of the nation to defend their rights and beliefs.

Donna Goodwin, diocesan coordinator for Respect Life Ministry, engaged attendees in the narthex before the liturgy, offering packets of information which included prayers, preaching suggestions, parish signature drives and petitions on the issues surrounding religious freedoms. Parishioners were alerted to upcoming signature drives and methods to contact their local legislators to express their concerns.

In his homily, Father Noche noted, “St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher … died as martyrs because of their refusal to set aside their beliefs.”  “It was a different time and age, but their struggles echo today. In our struggle for religious freedom, we are not facing torture and death, but freedom of religion is still in jeopardy.”

Father Noche recalled the evening’s Gospel wherein Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me" (Mt. 10:38), and asserted, “We are stewards of the faith. When our religious faith is threatened we must speak up. Pope Francis said, ‘We cannot be part-time Christians! We should seek to live our faith at every moment of every day.’ We need to be witnesses to the truth.”

The celebrant urged the congregation to speak up in defense of their religious freedoms to remind the nation of the tenets Catholics hold dear. “This fortnight gives us a chance to pray so we can be a source of freedom to the world,” he concluded. “Freedom is not doing what we like but doing right in the eyes of God. Try throughout this fortnight and beyond to act for the glory of God.”

After the intercessions, Father Noche, concelebrant and St. Mary pastor Father Jeffrey Kegley along with the congregation recited with one voice the U.S.C.C.B. Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty which was projected onto large screens suspended in the sanctuary:

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Congregants were unanimous in their support of religious liberty. Diane Platt from St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands, stated, “I think religious freedom is one of the most important things to strive for in the United States. I don’t see how we can survive as a country without it.”

Paul Griffin of Neptune’s Holy Innocents Parish echoed, “I believe very strongly in religious freedom and am concerned about the path our country is taking, threatening our liberty with things like Obamacare. It is threatening our individual consciences.”

The Cinkos, parishioners at the Middletown host parish, agreed. Mary Cinko declared simply, “We have to defend our freedoms,” while husband, Joe, asserted, “I pray tonight that more Catholics will wake up and realize we are losing our freedoms. It’s time to stop, sit down and pray the Rosary.”

For further information on the Fortnight for Freedom, including prayer cards, legislative contacts, and fact sheets on pertinent issues, see the U.S.C.C.B. sponsored website www.fortnight4freedom.org.