“It is a good thing that the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus are not to be judged by human standards. When we think of the hardships so many in our world face, we might easily grow discouraged; but our God offers us hope, and wants all of us to work together to build a world of peace and justice.” (CRS Project Rice Bowl 2016)
Catholic Relief Service’s Rice Bowl 2016 has helped prepare our Lenten journey to peak during Holy Week with the experience of the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and Easter.
On Oahu’s leeward coast, 70 persons from seven parishes participated in a Pause, Ponder and Pray Day at the Hoa Aina o Makaha farm where Rice Bowl materials were woven into a retreat using recent writings of Pope Francis — “The Name of God is Mercy” and “Laudato Si’.”
At Chaminade University’s Mystical Rose Chapel, young and old gathered to hear how Lent can bring healing to families affected by incarceration with Rice Bowl’s “stories of hope” from around the world. Nearby at the University of Hawaii’s Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish, student volunteers have been cooking recipes from Rice Bowl countries for Lenten dinner discussions and prayer amid displays in their Gallery Walk highlighting the “stories of hope.”
These examples show how the Rice Bowl project has helped deepen our Lenten journey.
On the neighbor islands, children have been engaged with Rice Bowl activities in schools and religious education classes at Maria Lanikila Parish on Maui, St. Catherine on Kauai and St. Joseph on the Big Island.
On Molokai, Rice Bowl materials were shared with families at St. Damien Parish’s ohana nights. They learned how to plant family container gardens for fresh produce, while reflecting on how caring for their vegetable seedlings can connect to “stories of hope” about people like the woman from Madagascar named Vaviroa.
In 2013, a cyclone destroyed most of northern Madagascar where Vaviroa and her children live. With no way to feed her family, Vaviroa needed help. It came from the Catholic Relief Service’s seed fair program which gives vouchers to families to buy seeds, farm tools and livestock. The fairs also give farmers a safe place to sell their crops to people who need them. Vaviroa replanted her fields with CRS seeds and her children are now receiving the food they need to be healthy and grow.
For more about how Rice Bowl 2016 is helping our Lenten journey reconnect to our God of hope who calls us all to work for peace and justice, visit the diocesan webpage www.catholichawaii.org/2016ricebowl. And please remember to turn in your full Rice Bowls by the end of Holy Week to be connected in a special way to the “stories of hope” we have shared this Lent. Mahalo!
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
