Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Another high-tech way to pay for parking? Fort Worth joins cities such as San Antonio and Austin that will have solar-powered pay stations being installed. This week, about 80 pay stations will be installed downtown. The Fort Worth City Council last month approved an $882,000 contract with Parkeon, with an option for 30 more units.

The pay stations are meant to handle about 600 high-volume parking spaces and can be paid for by debit or credit cards as well as coins. The devices print a receipt in sticker form that should be placed on the passenger side of the windshield. Parking ambassadors have been hired to help people adjust to the new machines and figure out where they're supposed to put their receipts.

Peter Elliott, Fort Worth Parking Manager, said. "It was very important for us to get as many people as possible into this area to come and do their business or entertainment needs. One of the issues was, you had to pay by coin and have a pocket full of coins."

Some citizens downtown were a little confused by the new system, while others said they would still pay with change.Some downtown visitors NBC 5 talked to Monday were confused by the new system, while others said they would still pay with change.

"I don't think I want to use a credit card, I'll just bring coins and put coins in," said Chante Prox. "It's new but I think I can get adjusted to it."

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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.