Trenton Mass draws hundreds to celebrate life
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
An impending blizzard did nothing to prevent hundreds of pro-life defenders from joining their voices to others throughout the country Jan. 22 to end legalized abortion.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
To see parishioners from Mercer County in Washington, D.C., click here.
To see photos from the March in D.C., click here.
“Thank you for being here as we join together as a nation, as a people to remember something very tragic,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., during the annual Mass for Life in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. “Pray for the unborn, pray for their mothers, beg our Lord to change their hearts.”
The annual Mass, and the Rally for Life which followed on the steps of the New Jersey State House a few blocks away, marked the 43rd anniversary of the “Roe v. Wade” United States Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion. Bishop O’Connell served as principal celebrant and concelebrants included about a dozen priests of the Diocese. Acolytes hailed from St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown.
Originally slated to attend the March for Life in Washington, the Bishop decided instead to celebrate the annual Mass closer to home for a crowd of hundreds, many of whom also were diverted from the nation’s capital due to the weather. Quoting from the Gospel of St. John in which Jesus told his apostles, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full,” he reminded the congregation that all life has meaning.
“Notice that he did not speak conditionally,” said Bishop O’Connell of Jesus’ declaration. “He did not say… ‘except the unborn, except those with handicaps, physical or mental or social, except the elderly or the terminally ill, except the guilty or the criminal, except anyone in certain socially questionable circumstances.’
“His mission and promise of life was and remains to all and for all. All human beings, born and unborn, are intentionally created by God and in God’s image,” said the Bishop. And, so, we chose life.”
He concluded his homily by inviting the congregation to declare their love for life aloud and with passion.
“The answer is life,” he said. “Let them hear it on the streets of Trenton. Let them hear it all the way in Washington. The answer is life.”
A contingent of 41 students and six chaperones from Red Bank Catholic High School filled the pews in the cathedral. Deb Flego, a religion teacher and leader of the “Caseys for Life” campus ministry team, explained the group had been Washington-bound but adjusted their plans to attend the Trenton commemoration instead.
“We always start with a Mass,” said Flego of the school’s yearly observance of the abortion decision. “We began last night with (RBC) chaplain Father Mark Nillo and had an overnight with the students.”
Four members of the group, all seniors in the school, explained the personal connections they had with the issue of respect and preservation of life at every stage.
“I have a dance class with a person with Down syndrome,” said Kirsten Saleh. “We are all interconnected.”
Taylor Tribuiani, whose cousin has Down syndrome, added, “Some parents would have aborted a baby like that. I’m happy he had the chance to live.”
“My cousin is handicapped, and I can’t imagine my life without him,” said Annie Flego, daughter of the group’s leader.
Jackie Robinson mused, “It is a good experience to come learn more about the issue and what having an abortion could be. We have to stand up for something.”
That same fervor was heard a few blocks away on the plaza in front of the New Jersey State House during the two-hour Rally for Life. Hundreds braved the biting cold to hear clergy and religious community leaders, pro-life speakers, elected officials and others including representatives from the offices of U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Scott Garrett (NJ-5). The Knights of Columbus were represented by former District Deputy John Brandon, an alumnus of Red Bank Catholic High School and father to a disabled son.
Vicky and Ed Feltz, parishioners in St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, carpooled with friends to attend the Trenton events after their bus to Washington was cancelled. Ed Feltz explained the couple attended the march each year, for “This is the most important issue, to defend life. If the lawmakers didn’t hear from us, they wouldn’t know what their constituents wanted. We must make our voices heard, and show the ugly truth of abortion. Prayer is paramount.”
More to come on this story.
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By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
An impending blizzard did nothing to prevent hundreds of pro-life defenders from joining their voices to others throughout the country Jan. 22 to end legalized abortion.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
To see parishioners from Mercer County in Washington, D.C., click here.
To see photos from the March in D.C., click here.
“Thank you for being here as we join together as a nation, as a people to remember something very tragic,” said Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., during the annual Mass for Life in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. “Pray for the unborn, pray for their mothers, beg our Lord to change their hearts.”
The annual Mass, and the Rally for Life which followed on the steps of the New Jersey State House a few blocks away, marked the 43rd anniversary of the “Roe v. Wade” United States Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion. Bishop O’Connell served as principal celebrant and concelebrants included about a dozen priests of the Diocese. Acolytes hailed from St. John the Baptist Parish, Allentown.
Originally slated to attend the March for Life in Washington, the Bishop decided instead to celebrate the annual Mass closer to home for a crowd of hundreds, many of whom also were diverted from the nation’s capital due to the weather. Quoting from the Gospel of St. John in which Jesus told his apostles, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full,” he reminded the congregation that all life has meaning.
“Notice that he did not speak conditionally,” said Bishop O’Connell of Jesus’ declaration. “He did not say… ‘except the unborn, except those with handicaps, physical or mental or social, except the elderly or the terminally ill, except the guilty or the criminal, except anyone in certain socially questionable circumstances.’
“His mission and promise of life was and remains to all and for all. All human beings, born and unborn, are intentionally created by God and in God’s image,” said the Bishop. And, so, we chose life.”
He concluded his homily by inviting the congregation to declare their love for life aloud and with passion.
“The answer is life,” he said. “Let them hear it on the streets of Trenton. Let them hear it all the way in Washington. The answer is life.”
A contingent of 41 students and six chaperones from Red Bank Catholic High School filled the pews in the cathedral. Deb Flego, a religion teacher and leader of the “Caseys for Life” campus ministry team, explained the group had been Washington-bound but adjusted their plans to attend the Trenton commemoration instead.
“We always start with a Mass,” said Flego of the school’s yearly observance of the abortion decision. “We began last night with (RBC) chaplain Father Mark Nillo and had an overnight with the students.”
Four members of the group, all seniors in the school, explained the personal connections they had with the issue of respect and preservation of life at every stage.
“I have a dance class with a person with Down syndrome,” said Kirsten Saleh. “We are all interconnected.”
Taylor Tribuiani, whose cousin has Down syndrome, added, “Some parents would have aborted a baby like that. I’m happy he had the chance to live.”
“My cousin is handicapped, and I can’t imagine my life without him,” said Annie Flego, daughter of the group’s leader.
Jackie Robinson mused, “It is a good experience to come learn more about the issue and what having an abortion could be. We have to stand up for something.”
That same fervor was heard a few blocks away on the plaza in front of the New Jersey State House during the two-hour Rally for Life. Hundreds braved the biting cold to hear clergy and religious community leaders, pro-life speakers, elected officials and others including representatives from the offices of U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Scott Garrett (NJ-5). The Knights of Columbus were represented by former District Deputy John Brandon, an alumnus of Red Bank Catholic High School and father to a disabled son.
Vicky and Ed Feltz, parishioners in St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, carpooled with friends to attend the Trenton events after their bus to Washington was cancelled. Ed Feltz explained the couple attended the march each year, for “This is the most important issue, to defend life. If the lawmakers didn’t hear from us, they wouldn’t know what their constituents wanted. We must make our voices heard, and show the ugly truth of abortion. Prayer is paramount.”
More to come on this story.
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