ASH WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

Wendnesday - February 22

8:30AM, 3:00PM, 7:00PM

From our Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell [excertp of letter read at Mass last week--full text copies near exits]

Dear Borthers and Sisters

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Januray 20 that almost all employers, including Catholic hospitals, Catholic colleges and Catholic institutions, will, be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those "services" in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

An therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdomrul and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also ask you to visit usccb.org/conscience to learn more about this severe assult on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation to reverse the Administration's decision. You are in my prayers; please keep me in yours.

Our parish "evangelization" project - Read a good Catholic Good:

We encourage every parish household to wown a copy of the excellent book by national Catholic evangelist and author, Matthew Kelly, "Rediscovering Catholicism." Our bulk order of 500 boois was purchased at the ubelievable price of $2 plus s/h per book so that we can have wide parish distribution. While your donations help us defray the overal costs, we are happy to give books waway, partucularly to inactive Catholic households as this book, if read has soe powerful motivating message to insprie one, with hte grace of God, to rediscober or discober and pracitice once again theri faith. The books are available in teh chruch whether or not a donation is made. The suggested donation can be less but that amount covers the cost of your book and another that can just five as a figt to another to help "rediscover" the richness of their faith.