Operation Rice Bowl Materials Help Participants To "Pray, Fast, Learn and Give"

Catholic Relief Services
Wednesday, 23 January 2002

Operation Rice Bowl, Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Lenten program, offers new materials designed to help Catholics enhance their Lenten experience through prayer, fasting, learning and giving. A new video offers perspectives from Operation Rice Bowl participants and discusses the call to solidarity The program, now in its 27th year, begins on February 13, Ash Wednesday.

By highlighting the four components of Operation Rice Bowl: "pray, fast, learn and give," this year's materials help individuals and faith communities to connect with those in the developing world.

"Participation in Operation Rice Bowl can go a long way toward helping individuals, families and faith communities to live in solidarity," said Ken Hackett, Executive Director of Catholic Relief Services. "The program has been consistently successful in funding development projects - projects that help those in need to help themselves. At the same time, Operation Rice Bowl builds connections between U.S. Catholics and the poor overseas - both spiritually and educationally."

The Operation Rice Bowl program packet includes a rice bowl and participation guide. The bowl, itself a symbol of both hunger and hope for the developing world, allows Catholics to participate in an active response to the call of the poor. The Community and Parish Guide is designed to assist parishes and other faith communities to plan activities for raising awareness of the poor in the developing world.

The Educator's Guide helps Catholic school teachers and catechists integrate stories, scripture and activities to help students use Lent as a time for learning about the developing world. Participants may also take virtual tours and learn about projects funded by Operation Rice Bowl contributions on CRS' website.

Since CRS' Operation Rice Bowl program was adopted nationally in 1976, it has grown to include more than 14,200 participating parishes, schools and other faith communities. Three quarters of the funds raised support CRS development projects in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The remaining 25 percent remains in the dioceses and is used for local poverty and hunger alleviation projects.

Catholic Relief Services is the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Founded in 1943, the agency provides assistance to people in more than 80 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org