Members of laity in diocese honored for years of service to pro-life cause

METUCHEN — Two modern-day disciples of Jesus hailing from St. Matthias Parish, Somerset, were celebrated for their decades of pro-life efforts during the Jan. 22 Respect Life Mass and Pro-Vita Award ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi.

Bishop James F. Checchio, who presided at the Mass, bestowed on Fran Johnson and Frank McCann the diocesan recognition. He reminded the virtual and livestream worshipers that they, too, must take up the life-affirming mission to protect life from conception to natural death.

“Today is, sadly, the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision — Roe vs. Wade,” the bishop noted. “Since that time, we are told that more than 60 million abortions have taken place in our land. Certainly, 400,000 deaths from this pandemic is astonishing, but 60 million is really unimaginable.”

The sanctity of life at all stages was under threat in multiple directions, he continued, because legislation is under consideration to expand abortion up until the moment of birth while recent laws permitted assisted suicide. We are all made in God’s likeness, knit together in our mother’s womb, and share in God’s plan for creation with others, the bishop added.

“Recently the scourge of racism became apparent to us,” the bishop said, “and we are against racism for the same reason we are against abortion and assisted suicide — we are called to respect all life. We cannot pick or choose. There are always opportunities for us to show respect for life… Each time we do so we imitate God, and the image of God becomes clearer and clearer.”

Referring to this year’s Pro-Vita award recipients, Bishop Checchio said, “They have responded in extraordinary ways to make the image of God stronger in our diocese. It is up to each of us. The opportunities for us to choose life are boundless. Today, with God’s grace, we can recommit ourselves through our actions and words to share the love of God with others.”

Jennifer A. Ruggiero, secretary, Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life, explained the diocesan Respect Life Mass and Pro-Vita awards were instituted in 1998 for those who made an outstanding contribution to the pro-life cause.

Concelebrants including Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan vicar

general; Msgr. Robert J. Zamorski, rector of the Cathedral, and Father Abraham Orapankal, pastor of St. Matthias Parish, looked on as Ruggiero introduced the two newest Pro-Vita Award recipients.

“She is a faithful witness, and knows Jesus well,” Ruggiero said of award recipient Fran Johnson. A retired schoolteacher and religious education instructor, Johnson has served as an officer for the Somerset County Right to Life and has spoken on pro-life issues in area schools. In 1979, the married mother of five helped found the Pregnancy Aid and Information Center, Raritan Borough, and has served as the center’s director since last August.

Turning to the second award winner, Ruggiero said with a smile, “Frank is our numbers guy.” McCann is Chairman of the Somerset County Right to Life and treasurer of for New Jersey Right to Life, positions he has held over a decade, and is instrumental in organizing the annual Rally for Life in Trenton. McCann, a widowed father of two, also serves on the Critical Life Issues/Choices Matter Conference committee, aiding in discerning timely pro-life topics and speakers for the annual diocesan event.