Operation Rice Bowl Brings Opportunity for Global Awareness and Action for the Poor

Catholic Relief Services
Saturday, 1 March 2003

Millions of Catholics will begin participating this month in Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) annual Lenten program entitled Operation Rice Bowl, now in its 28th year. In this year when the severity of international crises continues to heighten, American Catholics, through their participation in the program, will put their faith into action and walk in solidarity with their neighbors in need around the world.

"We are in a time of great need for spiritual connectedness, for compassion, for understanding and for resources to assist the poor," said Joan Neal, CRS Deputy Executive Director for U.S. Operations. "Operation Rice Bowl offers a great opportunity for Catholics in the United States to respond in a meaningful way."

Approximately 12 million Catholic parishioners, students and teachers will use the Operation Rice Bowl materials as a guide to pray, fast, learn and give.

The materials offer daily prayers, such as for Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS; topics for discussion and lessons for Catholic schoolchildren such as how people in Brazil use cisterns to collect their water supply; and recipes of simple meals such as Indian Dal soup to prepare during a day of fasting. All of the proposed activities create awareness of life in the developing world and raise awareness of the prospects for improving livelihoods of the poor. Participants are also encouraged to make financial contributions that support CRS programs overseas and local programs in their own communities to help those in need.

Since CRS' Operation Rice Bowl program was adopted nationally in 1976, it has grown to include more than 14,000 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.

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