Rice Bowl is a Lenten almsgiving program of Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian relief agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For the 51st consecutive year, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will kick-off its participation in Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl, a nationwide Lenten program providing people of all ages with ways to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
10:30 a.m.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center (Auditorium)
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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, will preside over this year’s Rice Bowl kick-off and blessing of the cardboard Rice Bowl containers.
He will be joined by Ms. Anne H. Ayella, CRS Diocesan Director, who will offer remarks on Rice Bowl’s impact globally.
Mrs. Paola Herrera, Executive Director of the Community Center at Visitation (CCV), will offer remarks regarding Rice Bowl’s impact locally on hunger relief efforts. 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. Mrs. Herrera will be joined by Ms. Lizanne Hagedorn, Executive Director of Nutritional Development Services, a CCoP ministry which provides food to children and those in need across the Greater Philadelphia region and benefits in part from Rice Bowl contributions.
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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/.
For more information and Rice Bowl resources, please visit catholicchurchofphila.org/crsricebowl/.
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Contact:
Katie Rogers
Media and Events Specialist for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia
215-587-3747 (office)