By David Kilby | Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C - Hundreds of pro-lifers from the Diocese of Trenton marched with hundreds of thousands of other marchers from around the country Jan. 25 at the 40th annual March for Life.

Bishop David M. O’ Connell, C.M., met with the Trenton Diocese marchers near the national mall shortly before they walked the mile-long trek to the U.S. Supreme Court steps.

“This is such a great occasion,” he said. “It’s so wonderful to see all the people we have from Trenton, the great love and commitment they have for life. People are filled with this great enthusiasm for the cause. It’s the most important cause. If you don’t have life you don’t have anything. We support life in all its phases from conception to natural death.

“It’s magnificent,” he continued, referring to the turnout for the march and the cold but bearable weather. “The weather is cooperating. It’s always cold at the March for Life, but I’m just happy to be here with all our people from Trenton.”

 In total 21 buses traveled from parishes throughout the diocese to the march.

As marchers spoke with each other about how they came to support the pro-life movement, they discovered inspiring stories of those who chose life everywhere they turned.

Tom Ballard, 15, a marcher who came with about 38 people from St. Mary Parish, Middletown, said he and his siblings are quadruplets and this motivated him to support life.

He said he was always motivated by the fact that he and his siblings all survived in the womb, especially since so many others have not.

Young people, especially those born after the Roe v. Wade decision 40 years ago, made up the largest demographic in the march. In total, according to various news outlets, the number of marchers was expected to exceed 500,000, which would be a new record for the march.

“We’ve come to stand for the preborn who can’t stand for themselves,” said Robert Wissmann, 20, of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson. “It’s our right to come and profess what we believe. I believe everyone has a right to live. Hopefully we can make a bill about stopping abortion.”

Tim Weir, 33, also from St. Charles, said he was encouraged by the number of people who showed up on a day when the temperature was in the low 20s.

“We’re exercising our American right to assemble,” he said. “When something isn’t right we have the responsibility to try to change it.”

Robert Paci of Blessed Sacrament – Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Parish, Trenton, said he always wanted to go to the march, but something kept popping up. So when the opportunity arose to go with the Diocese of Trenton Pastoral Center’s bus he seized it.

Paci said his son George was very active in Cornell University’s Students for Life group, and through the group met his wife Molly, who was a member of the national organization Feminists for Life.

Don Norbut, youth minister in St. Clement Parish, Matawan, said today’s youth are inundated by a culture of death.

“They need to hear the message of life, that life is sacred, God’s teachings about life,” he said.

Pat Duffy, a sophomore at Northern Burlington High School and member of St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish Lifeteen youth group, said the number of people who came to support life was the most inspiring part of the march.

 He mentioned how he came to the march not only to oppose abortion, but also to help demonstrate the “strong faith” of his generation.

Likewise, many teens and young adults held signs reading “I am the Pro-life generation.”

Denise Marcell of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, said we need to support life every day.

“Every day is significant for life. It’s not for us to take that from anyone,” she said. “We all have a right to live. From the moment of conception, and when you take that away you start to lose all of your rights.”

“They (the media) make it seem like there’s nobody for life,” said Anne Naples, also from St. Barnabas. “Look around and see the next generation, all the young kids. They’re for life and it’s such a wonderful thing.”

At 3 p.m. almost 200 marchers from New Jersey filled the Rayburn Building across the street from the Capitol to hear encouraging words from Congressmen Chris Smith of New Jersey’s 4th Legislative District, Scott Garrett of New Jersey’s 5th District, and Congresswoman Diane Black of Tennessee’s 6th Legislative District. The three pro-life representatives in Washington explained how there is still great hope for the culture of life.

“Know this, the pro-life movement is comprised of noble, caring, smart and selfless people,” Congressman Smith said. “It is an extraordinarily powerful, nonviolent, faith-filled human rights struggle that is growing in public support, intensity, commitment and hope.

“And know this, Mr. President, the pro-life movement is not only on the side of compassion, justice, and inclusion; we are on the right side of responsible science and of history.”

Congressman Garrett said Mr. Smith is the “leader and strongest driver in pro-life efforts in Washington,” adding “We’ve seen changes in the number of representatives who uphold the same values as we do. We see the polls shifting. That’s because of all of you who brave the cold weather.”

He cited examples of informed consent state legislations that have limited abortions in some states, and how Gov. Chris Christie has defunded Planned Parenthood in New Jersey.

He said there’s an irony to abortion rights since they’re based on a woman’s right to choose, while “we as taxpayers don’t have a right to choose whether to fund abortion.”