Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The major food provider for Chicago Public Schools, Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, has marked Earth Day 2012 by serving a menu that contains fish, fruits, and vegetables. The special menu included: Asian baked fish with lo mein noodles, a blend of locally grown peas and carrots and Michigan apples.

CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - "In our planning to celebrate Earth Day 2012, we wanted to make sure that we offered students choices that are directly linked to improving the health of our planet, " said Katie Nowak, Regional Dietitian for Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality. "This is a perfect time to promote increased consumptions of fruits, vegetables and grains. Plant based foods require substantially less energy, land and water to produce, which is a great way to contribute to a more sustainable food supply."

Earth Day, now in its 42nd year, is celebrated every year on April 22nd around the world. This year's theme was "Mobilize the Earth." A collaboration of more than 22,000 partners in 192 different countries, more than one billion people participate in Earth Day events each year, according to the Earth Day Network.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.