Honoring the Gift of Life - Building awareness about organ and tissue donation during Donate Life Month

April 8, 2025 at 10:25 a.m.

Dorothea Duffy of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park had been suffering from kidney failure for four years before undergoing a lifesaving transplant in 2014. She received two small but suitable kidneys from Ben Diamond, a 2-yearold boy who died of complications from encephalitis and the flu. Duffy (right) meets Ben’s family for the first time in 2016. They are from the left: Michael, Ben’s father; Jake, his brother (holding a photo of Ben); and Susan, his mother. Courtesy photo

Each April, National Donate Life Month raises awareness about the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation.

Across New Jersey, more than three million residents have made the selfless decision to register as organ and tissue donors, offering those in need a second chance at life. The Catholic Church has long supported this act of generosity, recognizing it as a reflection of Christ’s teachings on love, charity and sacrifice. 

Organ and tissue donation is a meaningful way to carry out the Christian call to help others. Locally, NJ Sharing Network is the nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to facilitate these lifesaving gifts, partnering with hospitals, transplant centers, and faith communities to educate and inspire individuals to register as donors. Every day, organ and tissue donation transforms lives not only for recipients who regain their health but also for donor families who find comfort in knowing their loved ones have made a lasting impact.

The Catholic Church has affirmed the moral and ethical responsibility of helping those in need through organ and tissue donation.

Pope Francis has called it “a testimony of love for our neighbor,” emphasizing that it is an act of selfless generosity that should be encouraged. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also recognizes organ donation as “a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity.”

The Catholic community plays a vital role in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation. Many parishes and faith-based organizations use Donate Life Month as an opportunity to educate congregants and encourage donor registration. Church leaders emphasize that choosing to be a donor aligns with Catholic values of compassion and service to others.

The impact of this generosity is evident in New Jersey’s growing number of registered donors and record-breaking organ transplant rates in recent years.

In 2024, NJ Sharing Network reported all-time highs with 297 deceased organ donors and 743 organs transplanted, marking the sixth consecutive year of record growth. Each donated gift represents a powerful legacy, bringing hope to those in need and reinforcing the growing support for organ and tissue donation in the Garden State.

This Donate Life Month, Catholics across New Jersey are encouraged to reflect on the importance of organ and tissue donation and to consider registering as organ and tissue donors. By doing so, they can live out their faith in a meaningful way, offering hope and healing to those in need.

For more information on organ and tissue donation or to register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

Duffy, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln Park (Diocese of Paterson), is a kidney transplant recipient and volunteer with the NJ Sharing Network.

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