Hundreds from Diocese of Metuchen to participate in March for Life

METUCHEN – Pro-life advocates from the Diocese of Metuchen are expected to travel to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18 to participate in the 46th annual March for Life.

Approximately 600 pilgrims will travel by bus – from ten parishes, the Catholic Center at Rutgers University and the several Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Metuchen – to attend the march.

Bishop James F. Checchio will be among the participants in the world’s largest annual human rights demonstration. While in the nation’s capital, he also will attend the opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Youth Rally and Mass for Life at Capital One Arena.

In speaking of his experience from last year’s March for Life, Bishop Checchio said he was impressed and inspired by the number and diversity of youth in attendance.

“Perhaps it is the development of technologies such as 3-D ultrasound, which shows the beautiful reality of human life growing in the womb, that has contributed to the shifting opinions and attitudes regarding life,” Checchio said. “Whatever the reason, the March for Life, with its youthful presence, has become a symbol of hope for an abortion-free America.”

The March for Life was first held in Washington, D.C., in 1974, a year after the Roe v. Wade court decision legalized abortion.

The march, which will continue regardless of rain, snow or a government shutdown, will begin at approximately 1 p.m. near the Washington Monument on Constitution Ave. and end in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jennifer Ruggiero, director of the diocesan Office of Human Life and Dignity, who helped coordinate the bus trips, said the theme of this year’s march is “Unique from Day One: Pro-Life is Pro-Science.”

“Science agrees with the pro-life message – each of us is a unique gift from God from the moment of our conception,” Ruggiero said. “For example, DNA is present at fertilization and no fingerprint on earth, past, present, or future, is the same. We know, too, a baby’s heart beats at just six weeks and we can distinctly observe it ourselves with ultrasound technology.”

The national March for Life will precede local and statewide pro-life events. 

On Jan. 20, Bishop James F. Checchio will celebrate the annual Diocesan Respect Life Mass and Pro-Vita Awards at noon at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, 548 Main St., Metuchen. At that time, he will present the 2019 Pro-Vita Award, which recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding individuals who have had a major impact on the pro-life movement at the local, state and/or national level. All are welcome to attend.

This year’s honorees are Patricia Daly, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception, Annandale; Carolyn Glodek, a parishioner at St. John Vianney, Colonia; and William Tevald, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception, Annandale.

For those who wish to advocate for the pro-life movement on the state level, the Diocese of Metuchen’s Office of Human Life and Dignity will sponsor a bus to the Rally for Life, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Statehouse Annex in Trenton. To reserve a seat on the bus, please email amarshall@diometuchen.org or call 732-562-1990 exts. 1546 or 1629. 

To learn more about pro-life efforts in the Diocese of Metuchen, visit https://diometuchen.org/human-life-and-dignity.