This year, Rice Bowl will officially begin on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and conclude on Holy Saturday, April 4.
This morning at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia kicked off the 51st annual observance of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl initiative. Rice Bowl is a nationwide Lenten program providing people of all ages with a way to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, the Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia who oversees the work of charitable ministries throughout the Catholic Church of Philadelphia as part of his pastoral and administrative responsibilities, 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; and Mrs. Paola Herrera, Executive Director of the Community Center at Visitation (CCV), delivered remarks. A ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia (CCoP), CCV is a community organization that provides a safe place for the children and youth of Kensington to build meaningful connections and access resources to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
“For over fifty years, the generosity of people to CRS Rice Bowl has made a real impact on those in need. As a result of severe cutbacks in programs that assist the hungry, the need is even greater than ever this year,” said Ms. Ayella.
In 2025, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s raised $393,306.70 through Rice Bowl, an increase of 11% from 2024. Approximately seventy-five percent of those funds, or $294,980.05, supported CRS’ humanitarian response and development programs in nearly 100 countries where it operates. The remaining twenty-five percent of the funds, or $98,326.70, went to CCoP’s Nutritional Development Services supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts through its network of 50 food cupboards throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
“As the Community Center of Visitation, we are incredibly grateful for the support we receive through CRS Rice Bowl each Lent. Thanks to NDS, these Lenten contributions turn into food on our pantry shelves and provide hope for the families who rely on us week after week,” said Mrs. Herrera.
For additional information and resources for CRS Rice Bowl, please visit catholicchurchofphila.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/.
Attached is a photo from today’s blessing of (left to right) Ms. Lizanne Hagedorn, Executive Director of Nutritional Development Services; Mrs. Paola Herrera, Executive Director of the Community Center at Visitation; Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia; Ms. Anne H. Ayella, CRS Diocesan Director; Ms. Donna Romero, Community Resource Director of Nutritional Development Services; and Reverend Edward Town, CRS Global Fellow.
For pictures or video from today’s event for publication purposes, please contact the Office for Communications at [email protected].
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Contact:
Katie Rogers
Media and Events Specialist for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia
215-587-3747 (office)