Camden – Urging all gathered “to continue the mission of the Lord … in the defense of human life from conception to natural death,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan celebrated a Mass for the Protection of All Human Life on Jan. 24 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
The Mass came the same day as the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of thousands made their voices heard through prayer, action, and solidarity to make known the dignity of all.
PHOTO GALLERY: Mass for the Protection of All Human Life
VIDEO: Bishop Sullivan’s homily
Referencing the liturgy’s reading of the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus called the Apostles to follow Him, Bishop Sullivan noted that “like the twelve, we have a mission to preach the Gospel, the Gospel of life, and to drive out demons such as the evil of abortion on demand.”
Abortion, he continued, “is the slaughter of the innocent. … It is not an apple or a grapefruit that grows in the womb of a pregnant woman. It is a human being, and no one has the right to destroy a human being. Each human person is endowed with immeasurable dignity from the moment of conception. Abortion violates that dignity.”
“We pray to God the Creator, who alone has the power to impart the breath of life, who formed us in our mother’s wombs, that every human life be safeguarded.”
Roe v. Wade, which in 1973 provided a constitutional right to abortion in the United States, was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, leaving the decision up to each individual state.
As such, Bishop Sullivan reminded all that it is important to let New Jersey’s lawmakers know of the importance to protect the dignity of every human being. He reflected on the Mass and march for life last September in Trenton, which brought together New Jersey’s dioceses and Catholic bishops. He asked those in the pews to mark their calendars for this year’s gathering on Sept. 25.
“It would be good for us to show up with large numbers of our faithful,” Bishop Sullivan said.
One of those in the pews, Adriana Cantillano from Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, hopes to be a light in the darkness in support of life, she said.
“Life is everything,” she said, adding that she wanted to attend the day’s Mass not only to pray for every child, born and unborn, but for pregnant mothers questioning whether to carry their babies to full term.
“I would say to [the mothers]: trust Him. God always finds a way.”
At the close of the liturgy, Bishop acknowledged the baby diapers and wipes placed in front of the altar, “a great expression of charity” from generous donors, he said, that will go to the local Guadalupe Family Services, and its work in serving the people of Camden.
Lourdes Sherby, a Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parishioner and social worker at Guadalupe Family Services, was grateful for the liturgy, and the petitions and stewardship of the congregation, in defending and protecting life.
“We’re honoring each individual and supporting families.” she said. “Each of us here can affect change.”
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