Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., has shared a statement of Archbishop José Gómez, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is being observed this year Jan. 20.

The message begins:

“As our nation prepares to commemorate the life and witness of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are grateful for his courageous stand in solidarity with all who suffer injustice and his witness of love and nonviolence in the struggle for social change. But we are once again painfully aware that we are still far off from his dream for America, the ‘beloved community’ for which he gave his life.”

St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Parish, Trenton, will mark the 47th anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion by welcoming the faithful from around the region for a Respect Life Mass Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m. The Mass, celebrated by Msgr. Joseph Roldan, Cathedral rector, will precede the Rally for Life set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Statehouse Annex on West State Street. The Mass will conclude in time for participants to walk to the Statehouse, which is less than a mile from the Cathedral. For more information, call 609-396-5624.

Masses are also scheduled in some local parishes around the March for Life, which is set for Jan. 24 in Washington.  Check with your local parish website for further information.

Stay connected to TrentonMonitor.com through next week for ongoing reporting on the local and national observances of the Roe v. Wade anniversary. For more information on bus departures from the Diocese, go to dioceseoftrenton.org/MARCH-FOR-LIFE