A nice article from the Arizona Daily Wildcat on a grad student considering the Dominican order and priesthood -- Welcome to the ’hood … the Priesthood. Offhand he sounds pretty well balanced. I'm sure he'd appreciate your prayers for his vocation.

Ya gotta admire their pluck. The pastor at Tucson Community Church, a "non-denominational" church here in Tucson, is running a series of ads on the radio (maybe TV, too) talking about the importance of saving sex for marriage and how sex outside of marriage is wrong, etc. If only other churches were so bold!

Whoa! The Diocese of Tucson announces Bishop Moreno's retirement. I just saw him last Sunday at the Rite of Election. Bishop Kicanas is now the 6th Bishop of Tucson and has written a brief pastoral letter.

Bishop Moreno's episcopacy was marked by high points -- including celebrating the diocesan centennial in 1997 -- and low points -- revelations of priestly abuse and misconduct, including alleged molesters who were moved around in parishes. Still, I believe that he meant well and made honest mistakes. He is, from my estimation from having met him several times, a good and holy man. His health has not been good for several years, so his retirement isn't a shock, but it is a surprise. I wish him well and hope that with rest he may find some comfort in his illness.

Update: This from the Arizona Daily Star:

During Friday's service, Moreno spoke of two additional health problems that contributed to his decision to resign. Moreno was informed by doctors late last year that he is in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease and has prostate cancer. He was told that neither condition is life-threatening at this time, but he's been in treatment and is prayerfully optimistic.

It hasn't gotten much press, but CNN reports U.S., Russia nuke treaty ratified. This is really pretty amazing. "The pact calls on both nations to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals to 1,700 to 2,200 deployed warheads by 2012 -- down from about 6,000 for the United States and 5,500 for Russia."

It's a bit annoying for people to keep calling Bush a war-monger when he has been able to reduce the threat of nuclear war in a way that his predecessors only dreamed of.

Tucson's most eligible bachelor is getting hitched! Apparently his bride-to-be was asking Who's Lute? It's really nice to see Lute has found a bride after the loss of his wife two years ago. Also check out Star columnist Greg Hansen on UA's Pac-10 championships.

In other UA athletics news, former football coach Dick Tomey will be an assistant coach for the 49ers. Despite the cloud around him when he left, Tomey is UA's winningest (is that really a word?) coach.

The next time someone talks to you about world overpopulaton, have 'em look at this article at New Scientist. The disturbing quote is "fertility rates will be below replacement levels in three-quarters of the world by 2050".

Music for Mass
Gordon Zaft, cantor; Marlo Nottingham, pianist
Ash Wednesday, Cycle B

Gathering Song: Amazing Grace
Responsorial Psalm: Create In Me (OCP Psalm 51)
Gospel Acclamation: Lenten Gospel Acclamation (OCP, w/verse)
Preparation of the Gifts: Hosea (OCP)
Holy,Holy: recited
Memorial Acclamation: recited
Great Amen: recited
Our Father: recited
Lamb of God: recited
Communion: Turn to Me (OCP)

Slashdot has a good discussion on how pricing is changing. It's a really cool article.

Karl has a good post on Lenten fast and abstinence.

I've been pondering what to give up for Lent. In past years I've given up such things as french fries (more than once, boy was that hard!), caffeinated soda pop, all soda pop, and last year (or maybe the year before) I gave up sleeping late, and dragged my sorry butt to 8 a.m. Mass every day (M-F). In thinking about my life, I'm thinking this year I'm going to give up frivolous spending -- that is, books, CDs, DVDs, videos, and computer stuff. Although Lent is only 6 weeks this is probably a good start for me on simplifying my life a bit. As it is I have huge numbers of books in my "to be read" pile, and DVDs I've bought and never watched. And of course I have way too much computer stuff.

Thanks to Mark Shea for this link to Rod Dreher on Europe & War. Whether you agree with him or not, I think he definitely expresses the way a lot of people in America feel right now.

I came across a quote today that's attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted"

I'm curious about the context of this quote. Offhand it doesn't seem like the kind of thing I would expect a Baptist minister (or any Christian preacher, really) to say.

In case you hadn't noticed, today is 3/3/3 (or, if you prefer, 03/03/03).

Eeep! the Washington Times claims that Terrorists planned to attack Pearl Harbor!

Here's a really nice article from the Arizona Daily Star on the Cistercian nuns of Santa Rita Abbey -- The simple way. Also check out the Santa Rita Abbey homepage. Yes, everyone has a homepage these days.

Music for the Rite of Election
Diocese of Tucson Diocesan Chorale

Call to Worship: The Summons (John Bell)
Entrance Hymn: O Love of God/Amor de Dios (Bob Hurd)
Responsorial Psalm: Blessed are We (Jeanne Cotter)
Gospel Acclamation: Praise To You (Jennifer Anstey)
Calling of the Catechumens: Who Calls You By Name (David Haas)
Procession of the Books of the Elect: Instrumental Thy Perfect Love (John Ritter)
Song after the Act of Election: We Are Called (David Haas)
Procession of Baptismal Symbols: Instrumental The Voice of God (Jaime Cortez)
Calling of the Candidates: Called, Chosen (Claude Haynes)
Song after the Act of Recognition: You Are Mine (David Haas)
Intercessions: Tuhan dengar doa Kami (Jesse Manibusan, Misa del Mundo)
Recessional: Take The Word Of God With You (Christopher Walker)

Our diocese's Rite of Election takes place in two parts, today and next Sunday, in order to accommodate all the catechumens and candidates and their sponsors, family, etc. We have a total of approximately 400 candidates and catechumens this year for the diocese.

For those that missed it, the UA men's basketball team is once again Pac-10 champs. Go Cats! Bear Down!

Okay, this is even more amusing. I blogged the other day about Page 2's hottest female athletes. Well, Arizona's Jennie Finch won hands-down, so now Page 2 is having a Jennie Finch vs. Anna Kournikova showdown. I'm torn between loyalty to my alma mater and my longstanding obsession with AK. Eeeep! :-) So far Jennie is winning with 61% of the vote!

Check out cartoonist's Tributes to Mr. Rogers.

Apparently Battlestar Galactica will be returning to television! The Sci-Fi channel will be showing this update to the classic TV series. I'd be really jazzed except that I don't have cable.... *sigh*