From staff reports

Those unable to travel out of state for the annual March for Life in Washington can still make their voices heard at the Rally for Life from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 23 on the State House steps, Trenton.

Preceding the rally, at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. He is also expected to deliver a prayer at the rally. Those willing and able can join a procession after Mass from the Cathedral to the State House, where New Jersey Right to Life is hosting the pro-life rally against the 44th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion.

Clergy, pro-life leaders and state lawmakers are scheduled to attend.

Jerry Wutkowski, assistant coordinator of young adult ministry in the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life, said the Trenton rally, “gives us the opportunity to talk about issues on a local level.

“There are pro-life issues within this state to speak out to local representatives on,” he said, citing legislation such as the assisted suicide bill currently before the state Senate that would allow the terminally ill to take their own lives as well as the NJ Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban abortions performed after 20 weeks post-fertilization.

“It is very important to make your voice heard because we are the voice for the voiceless,” said Claire Howson of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown. “The unborn are our brothers and sisters in Christ who cannot speak for themselves. How can we not speak up?”