Catholics have ‘duty to protect’ all human life, Bishop says at Mass for Life

Before the standing-room-only congregation gathered in Trenton’s St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral for the first statewide Mass for Life Sept. 26, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., framed his homily around the words “Duty to Protect” when it comes to protecting all human life, especially “the child in their mother’s womb, the child in the mother’s arms and beyond.

“All human life, every human life, from conception to natural death, ours is a duty to protect,” Bishop O’Connell said to the standing room only congregation that numbered approximately 1,400. There were about 1,000 in the Cathedral, and another 400 who watched the livestream from the Cathedral parish hall.  As of Sept. 27, the diocesan Office of Communications reported that as of Sept. 27, 1,273 people had viewed the livestream of the Mass.

PHOTO GALLERY: First statewide Mass for Life

Catholics share duty to protect human life

“Today in Trenton, we in all the Dioceses of New Jersey affirm that ‘duty.’ One need not be a Catholic to express and believe it. One needs only to be a rational, honest human being. But one cannot, however, be a Catholic without that conviction rooted deep in our souls as a preeminent priority of our faith.”

Referencing the U.S. Bishops’ document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, Bishop O’Connell asserted that the threat of abortion remains “our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because the number of lives destroyed.”

“Remember these words. Preeminent priority — not the only priority but the preeminent, fundamental basis of all other priorities,” Bishop O’Connell said.

Abortion “directly attacks life itself — not some other less-significant aspect of reality, but life. [It] takes place within the sanctuary of the family — whether both parents contribute to the decision or not, they are still parents. Because of the number of lives destroyed, ultimately, death is the choice and outcome whatever the reasons given,” he said.

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New Jersey key state in fight against abortion

According to organizers, New Jersey is one of 14 states where large-scale Marches for Life have been held or are planned to be held since the Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. In previous years, the Mass for Life and Rally/March at the New Jersey State House was held near the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade. With a move to September and a wider invitation to all New Jersey pro-life advocates as well as Catholic parishes and schools across the state, organizers expected a greater turnout.

For the Sept. 26 Mass, livestreamed in both English and Spanish on youtube.com/trentondiocese, Bishop O’Connell joined his brother New Jersey bishops, including Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., of Newark who was principal celebrant. Other Bishops included Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan and Coadjutor Bishop Joseph A. Williams from the Camden Diocese; Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney from the Paterson Diocese, and Newark Auxiliary Bishops Manuel A. Cruz, Michael A. Saporito, Gregory J. Studerus, and Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B. Since Bishop James F. Checcio from the Metuchen Diocese, was not able to attend, his Diocese was represented by its vicar general, Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky.

Also concelebrating the Mass were about 65 priests from the various Diocese, including the Trenton Diocese’s vicar general, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio. Representatives from the five New Jersey dioceses participated in the Mass including as readers, altar servers, gift bearers and the music ministry.

Walking as a single people

In remarks at the beginning and end of Mass, Cardinal Tobin extended his thanks to all in attendance for their presence, “as witnesses to the Light that shines in darkness, a Light that the darkness can never overcome.”

Having come together for Mass, the Cardinal said that “what we just did goes by many names, one of them being the ancient ‘O esca viatorum,’ food for the wayfarers, food for the pilgrims, food for the people like us, people who walk together as a single people, following the same Lord, coming from God and returning to God.

“The beauty of a pilgrimage is not simply getting to wherever we were going to go. It’s what happens to us on the way. We’ve been nourished by food, the Body and Blood of Jesus. And we leave here as the Body of Christ, called to be light and salt and hope to this world,” the Cardinal said.

“Thank you for saying yes to him, and to his littlest brothers and sisters.”

Following the Mass, many of the congregants took part of the NJ March for Life held on the grounds of the State House annex, where they offered peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life. The Mass was organized by New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses, while the rally and march were organized by 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.

Attendees share meaningful experiences

Congregants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to come together and show their support for life through prayer.

Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of Pastoral Life and Mission, commented on the “wonderful witness” it was to have the bishops, priests, deacons and lay faithful from the five Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey praying together in a Mass for Life in the capital city.

“There was a real sense of solidarity and a willingness to persevere in prayer and action,” Ginther said, adding that “Bishop O’Connell also called out our ‘duty to protect’ life from conception to natural death and “ Cardinal Tobin reminded us that the Eucharist was ‘food for the journey.’

“We are in this together for as long as it takes for hearts and minds to embrace God’s gift of life,” Ginther said.

Youth step up for human life at pro-life rally

Colleen White, director of admissions at Villa Victoria Academy, West Trenton, said she believes it’s important for pro-lifers to “show up and show our representatives from New Jersey that this is an important issue — maybe the most important issue — and that there are people who want to preserve the sanctity of life.”

“It’s just an important visual representation of Catholics in our state, and that we have a voice . We’re voters,” she said.

Looking at the contingent of students she accompanied to the Mass, White said the youth “are our future leaders, so we need to instill in them that this is something we need to pay attention to, and we need to make sure they realize this issue’s importance — so, to bring them to Masses like this, to bring them to the Rally, to take them to Rosaries for Life — these are all things that as parents and educators we need to be doing.”

PHOTO GALLERY: First statewide Mass for Life

PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 March for Life

Students feel it is important to speak up

Wearing bright yellow T-shirts and taking up several pews in the Cathedral, the students and moderators from the Celebrate Life Club at Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, made their presence known at the Mass for Life.

“It’s a really important cause, and we wanted to help out with the March,” said Marie Conway, senior. High schoolers must speak out so “you get younger voices and younger people’s opinions.” The pro-life young voice in society right now “is quieter, especially in school, where your classmates have different opinions.”

Riley Carr, also a senior, said she wanted to attend so she could learn more about the right to life. Additionally, she wanted to hear more opinions.

“I think it’s cool to see what everyone else has to say about it, and not just my school’s perspective,” Carr said.

Senior Marianna Samuel said she believes the presence of young people at a respect life event “makes a statement” about what they believe and “especially in a state that supports pro-choice.”

Lois Currie of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, said her passion for the respect life movement was fueled when her grandson was born premature at seven months. “I could hold him in my hand,” she said. “And now he’s 19 years old and he’s big and tall and healthy.

“When I look at him, I’m reminded that he wasn’t just a fetus,” Currie said. “He is a viable child of God.”

Catholics urged to continue advocating for human life

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell recounted that “two years ago and 65 million abortions later, the Supreme Court at long last overturned its tragic Roe v. Wade.

“Sadly, that reversal has not ended abortion in our country. It simply passed the buck to the states. Here in New Jersey, we have on the books the most permissive abortion laws in our nation, with still more anticipated. The fight is in our hands,” the Bishop said.

However, Bishop O’Connell offered encouragement to the congregation. He said there is no doubt that “our presence marching on the front lines, our persistence, our raised voices, our prayers have made a difference as Roe v. Wade fades into one of the saddest chapters of American history.

“Now is not the time for us to fade with it, to sit back, to diminish our presence and persistence, to lower our voices, to weaken our witness, to minimize the consistency of our prayers,” he said.

“Today, as we share the greatest of all prayers, the Eucharist, let us ask the Lord Jesus who gave his life for all of us, born and unborn, to give us the grace to fulfill our ‘duty to protect’ — protect the innocent, most vulnerable child in the womb throughout their life; to love and support and encourage their mothers and fathers to let them live; to walk with mothers and fathers, to work with renewed strength to build a culture of life and a civilization of love.”

By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor and Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor for TrentonMonitor.com

Featured Image: A student from Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey holds a pro-life sign at the 2024 N.J. March for Life. (Mike Ehrmann photo/courtesy of The Monitor)