This year, Rice Bowl will officially begin on Ash Wednesday, March 2 and conclude on Holy Saturday, April 16.
This morning at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia kicked off its 47th 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.
Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, presided over this year’s blessing of the cardboard Rice Bowl containers.
In addition to the blessing, Ms. Anne H. Ayella, CRS Diocesan Director; Ms. Lizanne Hagedorn, Executive Director of Nutritional Development Services (NDS), an agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia which benefits in part from Rice Bowl contributions; and Ms. Lola DeCarlo-Coles, administrator of Catholic Social Services’ Southwest Philadelphia Family Service Center whose food cupboard is supported by NDS, illustrated how Rice Bowl reaches those in need locally and globally.
“Rice Bowl has always been so much more than a collection. It’s really a faith-formation program during Lent that helps us get to know our global brothers and sisters and make a difference where we can,” said Anne Ayella.
In 2021, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s collection was up nearly 65% with over $360,000 raised through Rice Bowl. Approximately seventy-five percent of the funds, or $271,254.00, supported CRS’ humanitarian response and development programs in nearly 100 countries where CRS operates. The remaining twenty-five percent of the funds, or $90,418.00 went to NDS supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts locally through its network of 50 food cupboards throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
“Last year, NDS’ Community Food Program used the local funds to purchase and distribute over 153,000 pounds of food to stock food cupboard shelves across the Philadelphia area,” said Lizanne Hagedorn.
For additional information and resources for CRS Rice Bowl, please visit https://archphila.org/crsricebowl/.
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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/.