VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Just days before the first anniversary of his election, Pope Benedict XVI will preside over a full schedule of Holy Week and Easter liturgies at the Vatican and in Rome. The pope will celebrate his 79th birthday on Easter, April 16, and will mark the first anniversary of his election April 19.

Publishing the Holy Week and Easter schedule April 4, the Vatican also said U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, would lead the April 11 celebration of a reconciliation rite followed by individual confession and absolution in St. Peter's Basilica.

In late December, when the Vatican first included the service among the list of Holy Week activities, it did so under the heading "celebrations presided over by the Holy Father." But Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, assistant director of the Vatican press office, said April 4 that the pope never planned to preside at the reconciliation service; it was simply listed on the December calendar as one of the major Vatican liturgies planned for the spring.

USCCB president urges national effort for federal marriage amendment
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged his fellow bishops in a letter to get involved in the effort for a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

"Today there is a growing sense shared by many people, including a wide range of religious leaders, that a marriage protection amendment is the only federal-level action that ultimately will protect and preserve the institution of marriage," Bishop Skylstad said in his letter, dated March 27 and made public April 3. "Timely and focused efforts are needed to help the Catholic faithful form their conscience on such an important matter."

Bishop Skylstad said the Knights of Columbus have started a national postcard campaign to back a federal marriage amendment. The Knights are distributing the postcards through their state, district and local councils through May, and have offered to extend the campaign to each diocese and parish in the country. The Senate is expected to consider a constitutional amendment on marriage in June.

Schwarzenegger recommends no parole for Theresa Cruz
SACRAMENTO --- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has chosen to recommend that Theresa Cruz not be paroled citing, in part, her original offense and conviction of conspiracy to commit the murder of her son's father.

Cruz has served more than 15 years in prison and was found suitable for parole by the Board of Prison Terms in November. Her victim and her original trial judge also support her parole. Her case now returns to the Parole Board for an En Banc hearing April 11, during which the board could decide to uphold their decision to grant Cruz parole.

"She is someone who has really worked hard at rehabilitation," San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala told The Tidings in March. Cruz has facilitated numerous 12-step recovery groups while in prison at California Institute for Women in Corona. She has maintained contact with her four children who visit her regularly and has a job and a home in which to live upon her release. The California Coalition for Women Prisoners is urging those who support the release of Theresa Cruz to call the Parole Board at (916) 322-9845 or fax (916) 324-6966.

Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land announced
VATICAN CITY (VIS) --- In a letter sent to bishops throughout the world, Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, invites ecclesial communities to support the Christians who live in the Holy Land, especially by means of the annual Good Friday collection.

"The Land of the Lord," the letter reads, "continues to be the scene of a conflict that has lasted for decades and deprives Catholic communities and institutions of the adequate means to maintain and promote religious, humanitarian and cultural activities. This distressing situation leads to poverty and unemployment, with serious consequences for families and for the entire population. It also increases the disturbing phenomenon of the constant exodus of Christians, especially young couples for whom there is no prospect of a safe and dignified future.

"However, the presence of Christians in the Holy Land is more necessary than ever for the peaceful future of the area, as it is also for the good of the whole universal Church, which ought to find in the Holy Places living communities that profess the Gospel faith."