From Deacon John Gomez...

Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Campaign

Each Lent, CRS Rice Bowl is a staple on the table of Catholic families here and across the United States who put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. But what exactly is CRS Rice Bowl?

CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Beginning in 1975 in parishes in Allentown, Pennsylvania, nearly 13,000 Catholic parishes and schools across the U.S. participated in 2022. Since its inception, CRS Rice Bowl has raised more than $320 million. Of that, $80 million went to programs combatting hunger and poverty in local U.S. diocese while $240 million went to CRS programs in more than 100 countries in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia.

The simple cardboard box for collecting Lenten alms is the most visible part of the Rice Bowl, but the Lenten calendar that is included contains activities, reflections, stories of hope, and simple meatless recipes for Fridays during Lent. This year, the CRS Rice Bowl Stories of Hope take us to Honduras, Kenya and the Philippines as examples of the communities overcoming the causes of hunger and adapting to climate change. CRS is motivated by the example of Jesus Christ to assist the poor and suffering on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.

On Holy Thursday, when you return your CRS Rice Bowl to church, you will be part of a powerful movement to transform the world so all members of our human family can live in dignity and reach their God-given potential. This is your moment—are you ready to make a difference?

Please keep Fr. Jim and our parishioners who are visiting our Sister Parish in Guatemala in your prayers this weekend. They will return mid-week and we are looking forward to hearing about the time spent with the people of Our Lord of Esquipulas.