Lent is a time to be reflective and prayerful.
Operation Rice Bowl connects us with our Eucharistic call to share ourselves with others, and offers the opportunity to participate in the Lenten tradition of prayer, fasting and almsgiving while learning more about the social mission of the church. Hence, Operation Rice Bowl is the official Lenten program for Catholic Relief Services. Each Lent, parishes, schools and other faith communities participate in Operation Rice Bowl to learn more about the work of CRS-Operation Rice Bowl and put their faith into action.
As a Lenten solidarity program, Operation Rice Bowl calls Catholics to reach out to assist our brothers and sisters around the world through the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving while learning about lives overseas.
Prayer: Using the Operation Rice Bowl materials, participants pray and reflect upon the realities, challenges, and gifts of our neighbors around the world who are poor and vulnerable.
Fasting: Operation Rice Bowl’s recipes for simple meals and fasting suggestions help participants use this traditional Lenten practice to express solidarity with their brothers and sisters who do not have enough food.
Learning: Through educational resources and activities incorporating Catholic Relief Services’ work overseas, Operation Rice Bowl participants learn about lives of people they may never meet.
Giving: Participants put faith into action by giving of their time and resources in a thoughtful manner. Since the program began in 1975, Operation Rice Bowl has raised millions of dollars to assist our brothers and sisters in need all around the world.
The fundamental motivating force of Catholic Relief Services is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That motivation compels the agency to alleviate human suffering, to foster justice and charity, and to enhance the development of people around the world. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance on the basis of need, not creed, race, or ethnicity. This year, join more than 15,400 groups in the United States participating in Operation Rice Bowl and foster solidarity between your community and those who struggle with hunger and poverty around the world.
Operation Rice Bowl provides a tangible opportunity to put faith into action and help people in communities around the world and here in the United States. Your prayers, sacrifices, and generous donations support Catholic Relief Services’ food security projects overseas as well as local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in our diocese. Catholic Relief Services’ food security projects include:
Agriculture projects to help farmers improve crop yields and increase food security in communities.
Water projects to bring clean water to communities.
Microfinance projects to encourage the growth of small businesses.
Mother and child health projects to provide basic health and nutrition services.
Education projects to provide resources and training
HIV/AIDS projects to support the local Catholic Church in communities around the world in addressing the many needs of people affected by this disease.
As we continue our Operation Rice Bowl journey, let us remembered in prayer that as a community of faith, we have the obligation to reach out to those most in need. The Gospel specifically calls us to take action on behalf of the most vulnerable of society. Annually, Operation Rice Bowl raises close to $6 million for Catholic Relief Services’ development projects and an estimated $2 million is retained by the dioceses in the United States.
To learn more, visit the Operation Rice Bowl website at: www.crs.org/orb
