Meet New Jersey’s 1st Baby Of 2025

NEPTUNE, NJ — The new year is here and new life has come with it.

At exactly midnight on Jan. 1, Jersey Shore University Medical Center welcomed New Jersey's first baby of 2025.

Cataleya Lopez, weighing 6 pounds and 12 ounces, was born to Julissa and Manfer Lopez. Cataleya is the fourth child born at Jersey Shore University Hospital to the Lopez Family and the state's first baby of the year.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to deliver the world-class healthcare we are recognized for to Baby Girl Lopez, and the other children born in our network hospitals today, and to the many babies that will be born throughout 2025,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health.

“A special thank you to our team members for their continued commitment to providing outstanding and compassionate care,” Garrett continued. “Congratulations to all the families, and a happy and healthy new year to all!”

Alongside Baby Girl Lopez, Hackensack Meridian also welcomed the first children born at their Central Jersey hospitals.

At Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center, Supal and Hinal Patel of Parlin welcomed their baby boy at 1:56 a.m. Baby Boy Patel weighed 7 pounds and 0.8 ounces.

A few hours later, Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center welcomed Baby Isabella at 4:55 a.m. Baby Isabella was born to Yeraldin Mercedes Castillo de Mendez of Perth Amboy and weighed 7 pounds and 12.6 ounces.