Archdiocese of Philadelphia to Kick Off 40th Anniversary of Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia marks the beginning of its 40th consecutive year participating in Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl, a nationwide Lenten faith-in-action program for families and faith communities. Administered by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Rice Bowl encourages participants to live in solidarity with the poor through prayer, fasting, and alms giving. Bishop John J. McIntyre will preside at this year’s kick-off event.

Thursday, February 12, 2015
1:00 p.m.
Saint Gabriel Parish Food Cupboard
2917 Dickinson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146

At the event, CRS Regional Director Maureen McCullough will share the components of CRS Rice Bowl which include prayer, fasting, learning, and giving. Bishop McIntyre will bless the bowls and conclude with a prayer.

Saint Gabriel students, along with religious sisters and volunteers of Saint Gabriel Food Cupboard, will be on hand to share stories about people touched by the program.

Parishioners in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia donated over $400,000 to CRS’ Rice Bowl during Lent 2014. Of that amount, $101,736 remained in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and helped the Office for Nutritional Development Services fight hunger in the region. The remainder was distributed to Catholic Relief Services to combat hunger and see to other basic human needs overseas.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

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Editor’s Note: For more information on CRS’s Rice Bowl please contact Anne H. Ayella, CRS Archdiocesan Director at 267-262-8901. For more information on Catholic Relief Services please visit http://www.crsricebowl.org/

Contact

Jhoselyn Martinez

Communications Specialist

215-587-3747