Wednesday, February 24, 2010 By David Eck ARCHDIOCESE — Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion celebrations Feb. 21 marked the start of final preparations for 1,049 people who are planning to join the church at Easter. The celebrations were held in Dayton and Cincinnati.

Thursday, February 25, 2010 By Michael Daley Recently, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s semi-official newspaper, had a congratulatory article celebrating the Simpsons 20th anniversary. Yes, I mean the show about the beer-guzzling, nuclear plant working, incompetent, overweight and vulgar resident of Springfield, Homer Simpson.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 By Terrance Callan Second Sunday of Lent: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28-36 We are often misled by the things we hear and see. When we observe someone’s behavior, we may completely misunderstand the motive for it. Full understanding requires more than simply watching someone. …

Friday, February 19, 2010 ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY — The Lay Pastoral Ministry Program of the Athenaeum of Ohio is presenting two information meetings at the main campus, 6616 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, for anyone interested in discovering the opportunities the program offers.

Friday, February 19, 2010 DAYTON DEANERY — A senior official with Catholic Relief Services will discuss how agriculture and the environment figure in emergency response to natural disasters during a conference Saturday, Feb. 27.

Friday, February 19, 2010 ARCHDIOCESE — The Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Knights of Columbus held its biennial Salute to Religious Vocations dinner Feb. 4 in the undercroft at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

Thursday, February, 18, 2010 ST. MARTIN DEANERY — As part of an ongoing effort to link local agricultural producers with consumers, the Catholic Rural Life Conference and the OK River Valley Chapter of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) held the third annual Buy Local Foods Seminar on Jan. …

Thursday, February 18, 2010 ARCHDIOCESE — Local parishes have collected more than $1,144,248 for Haitian relief, and area schools and parishes are continuing to do their part to help in the earthquake recovery effort.

Thursday, February 18, 2010 By Father Earl Fernandes In 1982  my father came home from work one day with a brand new car for my mom. It was a maroon Ford Fairmont. We children were jumping up and down with excitement as we saw it for the first time through …

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 ST. FRANCIS DE SALES DEANERY— Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cincinnati was one of the first parishes to start a yearly collection to aid Cincinnati’s Mercy Franciscan at St. John with its food collection. In 2009 there were 14 parishes helping, and IHM parishioner Ed …