TRENTON, N.J. (OSV News) -- Before the standing-room-only congregation gathered in Trenton's St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral for the first statewide Mass for Life, Bishop David M. O'Connell 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 told the congregation. About 1,000 filled the cathedral for the Sept. 26 Mass, and several hundred more watched it via livestream, in English and Spanish, from the cathedral parish hall.

"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," he said. "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," the Trenton bishop 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.

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, Bishop O'Connell joined his brother New Jersey bishops, including Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, who was principal celebrant. Other concelebrants included Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan and Coadjutor Bishop Joseph A. Williams of Camden, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of Paterson, and Newark Auxiliary Bishops Manuel A. Cruz, Michael A. Saporito, Gregory J. Studerus and Elias R. Lorenzo.

Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen was not able to attend due to a scheduling conflict, so his diocese was represented by its vicar general, Father Jonathan S. Toborowsky.

Also concelebrating the Mass were about 65 priests from the various dioceses, 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.

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 in 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 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.

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

Terry Ginther, Trenton's diocesan chancellor and executive director of the Office 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. "We are in this together for as long as it takes for hearts and minds to embrace God's gift of life."

Colleen White, director of admissions at Villa Victoria Academy in 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 told The Monitor, Trenton's diocesan news outlet.

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."

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 in 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."

Lois Currie of Sacred Heart Parish in 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."

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.

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," he said.

"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," Bishop O'Connell said.

"Today, as we share the greatest of all prayers, the Eucharist," he continued, "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."

After the Mass, the rally and march for life drew hundreds of pro-life supporters to the Trenton Statehouse annex. Speakers included state legislators, health care workers, National and New Jersey March for Life representatives, abortion survivors and faith leaders.

"Your presence here is a testament to the strength of the pro-life movement. You are all bright shining lights of joy and hope here today," NJ Right to Life director Marie Tasy told the crowd.

She pointed to the work of some 50 pregnancy resource centers in New Jersey, and a recent report showing they served more than 23,000 men, women and youth in 2022, and provided services valued at more than $3 million.

"They did it all without receiving state or federal funding," Tasy said. "These centers give them the true choice, and because of the services they provide, thousands of children are alive today, and thousands of women have been spared the pain and grief of abortion."

- - - EmmaLee Italia is contributing editor and Mary Stadnyk is associate editor at The Monitor, the news outlet of the Diocese of Trenton.