The month of October has been commemorated as Respect Life Month by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, with Oct. 1 designated as Respect Life Sunday. Holy Hours, life chains, prayer witnesses and other events held throughout the Diocese of Trenton and beyond will offer multiple opportunities for faithful to demonstrate their belief in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.

Events will include:

St. Monica Parish, Jackson, will host “The Sanctity of Life – Alternatives to Abortion” meeting Sept. 28, 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall, 679 W. Veterans Highway. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus council, the meeting will include a look at the methods and facts of, and the whys and alternatives to, abortion, and the event will serve as the kick-off to the 2017 K of C Baby Bottle Boomerang Campaign. Following the presentation there will be a period of questions and answers. All are welcome to attend. For further information, contact John L. White at 848-992-1652.

Life chains slated for Oct. 1 include one in Howell in front of St. Veronica Parish rectory, 4219 U.S. Route 9 at Salem Hill Road, from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. (contact Thomas Moresco at 732-367-2565), and in Toms River on the grass (right-of-way) on Hooper Avenue north of Bay Avenue (Rt. 571) in front of Ocean County Mall, from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (contact Ed Demarco at 732-341-9029). For additional information about Life Chains in New Jersey, contact state director Camille Bates at 908-387-0001.

As part of the 40 Days for Life Campaign, scheduled for Sept. 27 through Nov. 5, parishes across Monmouth County will use public prayer to bring a focus on the Planned Parenthood facility in Shrewsbury. Participants cover the location with prayer Monday through Friday from 8am until 6pm. Each day is hosted by three churches, which means 15 churches in total are coordinating hours. Ccontact Lillian Eagan for further information about any given hour and/or to sign up for any time frame. Call 732-610-7437.

The Respect Life Committee of St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, will host their annual breakfast Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Monsignor Reinbold Hall, 747 West Bay Ave. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children and include an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Guest speakers will be from the Sisters of Life. Tickets can be purchased at the rectory or by calling 609-607-8849.

 PISCATAWAY: The Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Metuchen are co-sponsoring the 2017 Critical Life Issues Conference Oct. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, 146 Metlars Lane, Piscataway. This year’s theme, “Be Not Afraid! Love Unleashes Life!” will be explored by presenters Stephanie Gray (Abortion and the Art of Communicating Truth), Sean O’Hare (Evangelization and Building a Pro-Life Culture), Eileen Benthal (Breathing Underwater - A Caregiver’s Journey of Hope) and Father Edmund Luciano lll (Organ Donation - The Gift of Life in the Midst of Sorrow). The $25 admission includes lunch and handouts. Exhibits and Eucharistic Adoration is throughout the day. To register, or for further information, call 732-562-1990 ext. 1543 or 1629 or email [email protected].