St. Stephens Church in Kearny honored four chaplains Monday who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

One of them, Father John Washington, last served as an associate pastor at the Kearny church. He and three other chaplains gave up their lifejackets to save soldiers from a sinking boat after it was attacked by a German submarine on Feb. 3, 1943.

The three other chaplains were a Methodist minister, a Dutch Reformed minister and a rabbi.

Father Joe Mancini called the “act of unconditional love and sacrifice” something that can be shown in everyday life.