New Jersey bishop leads faithful in monthly pro-life procession culminating with prayer outside Planned Parenthood

Catholics from the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, this month boldly witnessed to the sanctity of life with a procession through Morristown, a town about 45 minutes from New York City, and prayer for an end to abortion outside of a Planned Parenthood facility. 

According to diocesan publication The Beacon, Bishop Kevin Sweeney of Paterson led the June 6 procession down Speedwell Avenue through the town of about 20,000 people after celebrating Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. The Beacon reports that faithful held signs with pro-life messages in English and Spanish. One sign stated, “Jesus protects and saves the unborn.” 

“Participants reasserted their commitment to the dignity of all human life, from birth to natural death,” The Beacon adds, noting they prayed the Rosary for an end to abortion. 

The faithful concluded the morning by returning to the church and praying before the Blessed Sacrament. 

The faithful of the diocese regularly witness to the sanctity of life through this prayerful procession. According to The Beacon, Bishop Sweeney has held the Mass and Procession for Life on the first Saturday of every month since September 2025 

In a Facebook post after the June event, St. Margaret’s described the gathering as a celebration of “the sacred gift of life at every stage” and added that the Mass “was a powerful reminder of our call to uphold the dignity of every human person.” 

The church noted that participants prayed for the unborn, mothers, families, those with illnesses, the elderly, and everyone who is “in need of God's love and protection.”

“Thank you to everyone who participated in this meaningful day of prayer, unity, and hope,” the church stated. “Together, we continue to build a culture that cherishes and defends life from conception to natural death.”