"On January 20, 2012, it was announced that the Obama administration has refused to rescind its requirement that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans by 2013, without regard for religious belief or conscience." – Bishop Leonard Blair, (1/20/2012)

On February 10, President Obama announced an 'accommodation' to the mandate that requires nearly all employers – no matter what their religion or conscience—to cover and pay for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs in their health care plans. The 'accommodation' on the part of the President was in response to increasing objections from many quarters, principally Catholic, but also non-Catholic and even non-religious, and from members of his own party." – Bishop Leonard Blair (2/14/12)

On Sunday, February 26, at the 10:00 Mass we celebrate the Rite of Sending. We are blessed that 10 people in our midst have been chosen by God to celebrate the sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Christ the King Parish will send these 10 people to Rosary Cathedral to meet with Bishop Blair for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. They will then enter the 3^rd Phase of the RCIA: The Period of Illumination and Purification.

During the 40 days of Lent they will prepare themselves to take on the sacred responsibilities of the Baptized. Those Candidates who have already been baptized will join with us in the Catholic Community as we renew our own commitment to God in baptism so many years ago. These 10 people ask for your prayers as they prepare:

Our Catechumen who will now be called the ELECT: Colleen Bennett and Robin Ferrari.

Our Candidates: Dennis D’Amico, Kara Kasubski, Rob Ryan, Ann Cox, Dan Blalock, Debra Gehring, Krista Marquis, and Chris Boes.

Christ the King School Open House
Sunday, March 4
11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

At Christ the King School, your child's education is a lifelong lesson filled with excellent academics, Christian values, and Catholic formation.

Pre-K through Grade Eight with Extended Day Care Program available.

Christ the King School will make a world of
difference in your child's life.

• 95% of Christ the King Graduates attend Catholic high schools
• State-of-art technology
• Numerous athletic programs
• Abundant extra-curricular opportunities

For more information, call 419-475-0909, or visit the school website.

The three ancient practices of Lent get to the heart of what it truly means to be Christian and take this holy season seriously.

Prayer — Is God at the center of my life? Is God getting my quality time or am I simply fitting Him in where I can? In prayer am I doing more talking than listening? What can I do throughout these forty days to take my prayer life just a step deeper and closer to God?

Fasting — Do I treat the good things in life as gifts from God and gifts to be used responsibly and in moderation? Is the way I am eating and drinking contributing to good health or making it harder to live healthily? Am I looking for love in all the wrong places? Am I spending too much time on the internet — in a virtual world — at the cost of the real relationships and responsibilities in my real world? Fasting teaches us that moderation is healthy, and it will help us find balance in all areas of our lives.

Almsgiving — How do I share my time, talent, and treasure for the good of other people? As a priest friend once said, "Sometimes it is easier to write a check or make a donation than to give up some of our time." Jesus teaches us that the measure of our love for God is the measure of our love for others – especially the others that we don't really like.