Diocese of Metuchen to present Pro-Vita Awards

The Diocese of Metuchen will honor two pro-life advocates with the 2009 Pro-Vita awards at its Annual Respect Life Mass to be held on January 18, 12 noon at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen. The recipients include Dr. Ana Gomez and Eugene Baker.

Established as a prayer service celebrated in conjunction with the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the Respect Life Mass today celebrates life from the womb to the tomb. "Both of this year's Pro-Vita honorees are outstanding individuals who have made a major impact on society through their work to promote the sanctity of all human life." noted Jennifer Ruggiero, director of the diocesan Office of Respect for Life.

A family doctor at Kaleidoscope Medical Associates and medical director of two area nursing homes, “Dr. Gomez is well known for her work on behalf of the unborn as well as her compassionate care for the elderly and terminally ill,” Ruggiero said.

Dr. Gomez serves as the volunteer medical director of Life Choices, Inc., a pregnancy help center located in Phillipsburg, NJ. Under her direction, Life Choices developed its ultrasound program which has helped to save the lives of hundreds of unborn children. Offering on-call help for Life Choices' patients, Dr. Gomez has given many women the support they need to choose life and avoid the heartache of abortion.

Dr. Gomez also provides free cancer screenings for women without insurance and general health care for those without insurance in Life Choices' Women's Health Center.

Baker has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1957 and has served as the organizations’ state Respect Life Director since 1998. At the State Level, he has also been a diligent and active member of the Religious and Civil Rights Committee keeping abreast of current and pending legislation in a variety of areas including stem cell research and same-sex marriage. “Eugene exemplifies the Knights’ ideals of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism in a manner attained by few other men,” Ruggiero said.

As Respect Life Director, Baker has worked quietly behind the scenes organizing bus trips and logistics for pro-life events throughout the state. He organized phone call and letter writing campaigns to legislators to alert them of the need to promote family friendly legislation, and to reject pro-abortion agendas and embryonic stem cell research.

Life Choices Center honored Baker for his lifetime achievements with the Faithful Servant Award.

In addition to his pro-life efforts on the Knights of Columbus state level, Baker has served as a parish pro-life representative and as an active member of his parish’s St. Vincent DePaul Society, caring for the poor throughout the year and delivering food baskets to the needy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

All are invited to the Pro-Vita Mass and reception which will follow in the Cathedral Community Room. For more information call the diocesan Respect Life Office at 732-562-1990, ext. 1629.