“Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.” —Pope Francis
This week, a student gave up two “monster tacos” at a local fast food chain because she knew her sacrifice, through Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, would finance one month of schooling for a child in a developing country.
Did you know that the money given to CRS Rice Bowl during the Lenten season makes a difference in the lives of more than one hundred million people?
Every year, the CRS Rice Bowl program provides wonderful stories of hope from individuals across the globe, plus prayerful reflections, lessons and activities including simple recipes for Lent from the countries featured.
During Lent, parishes and schools all over the United States and throughout the Diocese of Honolulu participate in CRS Rice Bowl, a faith-in-action program that helps families experience Lenten spirituality by living in solidarity with people in need around the world.
Here are three simple ways to bring Lent to life in your home.
Place your CRS Rice Bowl (available at your parish, Catholic school or Office for Social Ministry) in a prominent place in your home and use it to collect your Lenten sacrifices (e.g. money saved by giving up a fast food meal)
Go to www.crsricebowl.org and read the Lenten calendar reflections each day as a family.
Visit www.crsricebowl.org to find videos and family activities, or take Lent “outside the bowl” and download the CRS Rice Bowl app to your mobile device.
The Rice Bowl app offers an innovative way of measuring the things we give up during this important season of giving, something that could be done with your entire family or class. Using the app, you can view video stories of hope and have access to great ideas and tools to enhance your spiritual growth through fasting, prayer and works of mercy.
The Office for Social Ministry can assist you with the CRS Rice Bowl. Please call us at 203-6738, ext. 738, and let Roselyn Fautanu our CRS coordinator know how we can help you do something to transform your Lent into a journey of change that makes a difference in your life and the lives of others.
Mahalo!
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry