This year, Rice Bowl will officially begin on Ash Wednesday, February 26th, and conclude on Holy Thursday, April 9th.
This morning, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia kicked off its 45th annual Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl initiative, the nationwide Lenten program that gives people of all ages a way to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
The kickoff took place at Our Lady of Hope Parish’s food pantry in the Church of the Holy Child located in the City of Philadelphia’s Logan neighborhood.
Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, who oversees the Secretariat for Catholic Human Services as part of his administrative and pastoral responsibilities, presided over the blessing. In addition, Ms. Anne H. Ayella, CRS Diocesan Director; Ms. Maureen McCullough Esq., CRS Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Director; Ms. Ella Guimond, CRS Relationship Manager; Mr. James Amato, Secretary for Catholic Human Services; Ms. Lizanne Hagedorn, Executive Director of Nutritional Development Services; Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, Pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, and Ms. Bernice Oakman, Food Cupboard Coordinator at Our Lady of Hope Parish were all in attendance.
Ms. Anne H. Ayella, CRS Diocesan Director said, “CRS Rice Bowl is such a special Lenten tradition with roots right here in our own area. Combining all the pillars of Lent, it helps all of us to put our faith in action throughout our Lenten journey.”
In 2019, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia raised $394,000 through Rice Bowl. Approximately seventy-five percent of the funds, or $295,500, supported CRS’ humanitarian response and development programs in nearly 100 countries where CRS operates. Twenty-five percent of the funds, approximately $98,500, went to Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS) supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts at 50 local food cupboards and soup kitchens.
In addition to Rice Bowl, this year the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will also participate in a CRS Global Solidarity Week (GSW) which will run March 22-28. The theme, “From Elementary Schools to Retirement Communities- Unifying People from Philadelphia with our Global Neighbors” illustrates how we are all united in solidarity as brothers and sisters, wherever we may be. GSW will conclude with the annual Cultural Heritage Mass on Saturday, March 28th at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
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Editor’s Note: Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic Community in the United States. It is dedicated to improving the lives of poor and vulnerable families through humanitarian programs and services. For more information on CRS’ Rice Bowl please visit http://www.crsricebowl.org/.