“Our responsibility as good Christians is to protect and honor life in all of its stages; from the beginning of life, for those in the end of life and for those who are struggling with life,” Father Joselito Noche said in his homily.  Father Noche serves as the chaplain and diocesan liaison for family life and pro-life activities.  He is also a parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, Middletown. 

Prior to being ordained a priest in 2007, Father Noche was a medical doctor where he was exposed to many practices that did not show a respect for human life.

“It’s something I really fought in the hospital and now I am fighting as a priest.  This is one of my passions,” he asserted.

“We need to value the dignity of every life by protecting and respecting the dignity of God’s creation of life,” he stated and acknowledged the violations of religious freedoms by the recent mandate from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

“As Catholics we should not be fearful to stand for our principles, faith and traditions,” he stressed.

And those present were not fearful to stand for their beliefs as they marched from Red Bank to Planned Parenthood in Shrewsbury where abortion services are offered and performed. 

Led by the fourth degree Knights of Columbus, Bishop McFaul Assembly, Vincent T. Lombardi Council, the Mass participants walked purposefully carrying the Papal and diocesan flags and various banners promoting the gift of life.

Tara Devine, from the Nativity Parish, Fair Haven, is currently studying to be a paralegal and hopes to incorporate the protection of human life into her future career. “I love the pro-life movement and it would be amazing to do pro-life work,” she shared, “specifically assisting women who have suffered abortion malpractice.”

Karen Puga, a Spanish teacher at Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and a parishioner from Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport, has been attending the Mass with her family for years. “What a privilege this is to unite our prayers, with all of these others, all of one mind and one heart,” she continued. “It’s really a blessing to do this.”

Those prayers of the faithful were united as the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary were prayed.

Donna Goodwin, coordinator for the Respect Life Ministry in the Department of Pastoral Care in the diocese, works with a committee of members representing the four counties in our diocese in the planning and preparing of respect life events.

“The Annual Respect Life Mass and Witness in Red Bank is an opportunity for the Church to come together and publicly pray for our Catholic belief in the sanctity of human life.  The need for public prayer is greater than ever because of the recent attacks on our religious liberty in the HHS mandate.  No cause is more important than the preservation of human life.  In today’s culture there is a failure to realize that abortion and abortifacient drugs destroy God’s gift of life,” she explained.

Following the recitation of the Rosary, participants gathered in St. Anthony Parish Center for fellowship and to also view the new pro-life materials supplied by different organizations throughout the state. 

“This is the first time we’ve come here,” relayed Janice Ordog, who was joined by her husband, Paul. Both are members in St. Francis and St. Clare Parish, Roebling.  The Ordogs adopted their son, Ethan, from Catholic Charities and are involved with the Respect for Life Ministry in her parish.  “We are very strongly committed to respect for life,” Ordog stresses. The couple is also looking forward to Ethan’s wedding in June.

“We have a long way to go in regards to the respect life issues, especially in terms of abortions,” Father Noche articulated. “We need to increase awareness of how life is not being respected; we need to continue to do small things to make a difference, we need to continue to pray.”