God’s Gift of Life
State’s faithful stand together to pray for human life, to support mothers, unborn babies
September 27, 2025 at 2:25 p.m.
UPDATED Sept. 27, 2025
As the hosting bishop and principal celebrant of New Jersey’s second annual Mass for Life, the Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., stood before the more than 1,000 people gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and welcomed them to the capital city to pray for the sanctity of human life.
Bishop O’Connell’s remarks on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops officially opened the Sept. 25 Mass, which drew clergy, religious and lay faithful from throughout New Jersey. Beyond those attending, another 3,400 households watched the livestream of the Mass in either English or Spanish.
2025 Rally for Life/March for Life
“Let us offer to the Lord our heartfelt prayers that our country may turn to the Lord, that we might support the cause for life from conception until natural death,” Bishop O’Connell said.
In every respect, the Mass reflected the unity of the Catholic faithful across the five New Jersey dioceses in defense of human life. Joining Bishop O’Connell at the altar were Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese and Bishop Joseph A. Williams from the Camden Diocese. Representing Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., were Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito, Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, and Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.
More than 40 priests from the five dioceses concelebrated, and faithful from across the state participated in the Mass as readers, altar servers and gift bearers.
Delivering his homily in both English and Spanish, Bishop Sweeney asked the members of the congregation to reflect on how they came to be there at the Mass for Life. He observed, “We are here because God is love and we believe that life is a gift from our loving God, who forms each of us in the womb of our mother and has created us male and female in God’s own image and likeness.”
Bishop Sweeney continued, “We are also here because we believe that our laws should change so that life would be protected and respected from the moment of conception.”
Recalling his own pro-life story, Bishop Sweeney recognized his Catholic high school principal, Msgr. Philip Reilly, who Bishop Sweeney described as a “true pro-life champion.” A leader of several respect life movements, Msgr. Reilly had invited people, including the young Kevin, a college sophomore at the time, to gather lawfully on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic and spend time in prayer.
The “sidewalk counselors” ministered to the “moms and dads” – the pregnant women and the fathers who were intending to abort their child -- by offering them medical and other forms of support and “inviting them to say ‘Yes’ to the gift of life that God had given them,” Bishop Sweeney related.
He remembered that Msgr. Reilly encouraged prayer for any pregnant woman entering the clinic and the child she carried. The Bishop recalled Msgr. Reilly’s saying that “our prayer might be the only experience of human love that the [unborn] child may have on this earth, if he or she is aborted.”
“Msgr. Reilly always reminded us to never condemn or judge the mom because only God knew what was happening in her heart,” Bishop Sweeney said.
The experience, the Bishop said, “helped me to learn what Jesus means when he says, ‘Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me” (Mt. 18: 3-4).
Putting beliefs into action
Following the Mass, many of the congregants took part in the NJ Rally and March for Life held on the campus of the State House annex, where they offered peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life. The rally and march were organized by the New Jersey Right to Life and National March for Life, a national organization that promotes the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion – uniting, educating and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.
The experience of coming together and showing support for life in a prayerful manner was appreciated by those who helped to coordinate the event as well as those who were seated in the pews.
Father Andres Serna, parochial vicar of St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, attended the Mass for Life for the second time simply because “life is important.”
“We can’t only be inside the church but outside – in the public square,” Father Serna said. “We need to act and speak with respect while always, always telling the truth.”
Regardless of one’s faith, Father Serna said, people “just have to know what is true, what is beautiful, what is holy and what is the right thing to do – to defend life from the first moment of conception.”
Father William Lago, pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, emphasized his belief in the sanctity of all human life and that, “as faithful citizens, we have to let our voice be heard in the capital. We must be advocates for life.”
What resonated most with Father Lago about the day’s Mass, “was the call to respond with love, never with anger or judgementalism,” he said.
Heni Scharibone of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, was drawn to the Mass because he believes “that everyone has a right to life,” while Jane Latini of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said she wanted “to be united with others who cherish the gift of life.”
Members and moderators of the Celebrate Life Club in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, were seated near the front of the Cathedral and wore bright yellow t-shirts bearing the name of their club.
Senior Josie Vernon felt that the call to pray for and love both mother and child as they enter an abortion clinic is “an important message for us to know and one we should share.”
Natalya, a sophomore in Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, attended the Mass with classmates. She shared that “it’s important for young people to stand up for our beliefs. There’s a rhetoric we see on social media that abortion is okay, so we need to stand up for what we believe in.”
The showing of support for life was strong during the second Rally for Life held on the grounds of the NJ Statehouse Annex. Mike Ehrmann photo
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UPDATED Sept. 27, 2025
As the hosting bishop and principal celebrant of New Jersey’s second annual Mass for Life, the Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., stood before the more than 1,000 people gathered in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, and welcomed them to the capital city to pray for the sanctity of human life.
Bishop O’Connell’s remarks on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops officially opened the Sept. 25 Mass, which drew clergy, religious and lay faithful from throughout New Jersey. Beyond those attending, another 3,400 households watched the livestream of the Mass in either English or Spanish.
2025 Rally for Life/March for Life
“Let us offer to the Lord our heartfelt prayers that our country may turn to the Lord, that we might support the cause for life from conception until natural death,” Bishop O’Connell said.
In every respect, the Mass reflected the unity of the Catholic faithful across the five New Jersey dioceses in defense of human life. Joining Bishop O’Connell at the altar were Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese and Bishop Joseph A. Williams from the Camden Diocese. Representing Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., were Auxiliary Bishop Michael A. Saporito, Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, and Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.
More than 40 priests from the five dioceses concelebrated, and faithful from across the state participated in the Mass as readers, altar servers and gift bearers.
Delivering his homily in both English and Spanish, Bishop Sweeney asked the members of the congregation to reflect on how they came to be there at the Mass for Life. He observed, “We are here because God is love and we believe that life is a gift from our loving God, who forms each of us in the womb of our mother and has created us male and female in God’s own image and likeness.”
Bishop Sweeney continued, “We are also here because we believe that our laws should change so that life would be protected and respected from the moment of conception.”
Recalling his own pro-life story, Bishop Sweeney recognized his Catholic high school principal, Msgr. Philip Reilly, who Bishop Sweeney described as a “true pro-life champion.” A leader of several respect life movements, Msgr. Reilly had invited people, including the young Kevin, a college sophomore at the time, to gather lawfully on the sidewalk outside an abortion clinic and spend time in prayer.
The “sidewalk counselors” ministered to the “moms and dads” – the pregnant women and the fathers who were intending to abort their child -- by offering them medical and other forms of support and “inviting them to say ‘Yes’ to the gift of life that God had given them,” Bishop Sweeney related.
He remembered that Msgr. Reilly encouraged prayer for any pregnant woman entering the clinic and the child she carried. The Bishop recalled Msgr. Reilly’s saying that “our prayer might be the only experience of human love that the [unborn] child may have on this earth, if he or she is aborted.”
“Msgr. Reilly always reminded us to never condemn or judge the mom because only God knew what was happening in her heart,” Bishop Sweeney said.
The experience, the Bishop said, “helped me to learn what Jesus means when he says, ‘Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me” (Mt. 18: 3-4).
Putting beliefs into action
Following the Mass, many of the congregants took part in the NJ Rally and March for Life held on the campus of the State House annex, where they offered peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life. The rally and march were organized by the New Jersey Right to Life and National March for Life, a national organization that promotes the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion – uniting, educating and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.
The experience of coming together and showing support for life in a prayerful manner was appreciated by those who helped to coordinate the event as well as those who were seated in the pews.
Father Andres Serna, parochial vicar of St. Dorothea Parish, Eatontown, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, attended the Mass for Life for the second time simply because “life is important.”
“We can’t only be inside the church but outside – in the public square,” Father Serna said. “We need to act and speak with respect while always, always telling the truth.”
Regardless of one’s faith, Father Serna said, people “just have to know what is true, what is beautiful, what is holy and what is the right thing to do – to defend life from the first moment of conception.”
Father William Lago, pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, emphasized his belief in the sanctity of all human life and that, “as faithful citizens, we have to let our voice be heard in the capital. We must be advocates for life.”
What resonated most with Father Lago about the day’s Mass, “was the call to respond with love, never with anger or judgementalism,” he said.
Heni Scharibone of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, was drawn to the Mass because he believes “that everyone has a right to life,” while Jane Latini of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, said she wanted “to be united with others who cherish the gift of life.”
Members and moderators of the Celebrate Life Club in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, were seated near the front of the Cathedral and wore bright yellow t-shirts bearing the name of their club.
Senior Josie Vernon felt that the call to pray for and love both mother and child as they enter an abortion clinic is “an important message for us to know and one we should share.”
Natalya, a sophomore in Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, attended the Mass with classmates. She shared that “it’s important for young people to stand up for our beliefs. There’s a rhetoric we see on social media that abortion is okay, so we need to stand up for what we believe in.”
The showing of support for life was strong during the second Rally for Life held on the grounds of the NJ Statehouse Annex. Mike Ehrmann photo