By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Micaela, a Chuukese migrant who has risen above a difficult existence on the Big Island, will be one of the faces of the 2017 Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl project in the United States. Because of her work, and that of others on the island, the Diocese of Honolulu has been picked to be next year’s example of CRS’s “faith in action” in the U.S.
Each year, the Lenten Rice Bowl program features CRS’s work in five foreign countries and one American diocese. Rice Bowl participants are encouraged to pray, fast and give alms while learning about the vulnerability and humanity of the poor and how CRS helps them gain a sustainable, productive life.
Seventy-five percent of the money CRS Rice Bowl collects each year supports its work abroad, while 25 percent stays in local U.S. dioceses to fund local efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty. Honolulu’s Office for Social Ministry oversees the use of local Rice Bowl funds.
This year, the Diocese of Honolulu’s collections helped fund the One Ohana Food and Housing for All program, and in particular the Ulu (breadfruit) Planting Project that Micaela helped lead. These programs assisted struggling Big Island communities in receiving healthy food and a renewed sense of dignity.
One Ohana: Food and Housing for All encouraged parishioners to transform parish pantries into sources of nutritious food for low income families and individuals.
“This project empowers parishioners to donate their time, talent and treasure to transform parish pantries into hubs of healthy nutritious food for the most vulnerable in our community,” said Father Robert Stark, diocesan director of the Office for Social Ministry.
Micaela stepped forward as a natural leader in the program. Despite big challenges in her own life — she is a breast cancer survivor who works night shifts at a local hospital to provide for her five kids, — Micaela has inspired her Chuukese community to visit the homebound, plant food for parish pantries and encounter those living in the margins.
The Chuukese are among the Micronesian migrants frequently maligned in Hawaii where they seek promised health care and often end up in public housing or homeless. Micaela’s story reveals how Micronesians in Hawaii struggle to empower their community not only to survive, but to thrive.
This culture of “encounter” — a pillar of Pope Francis’ papacy — will be the theme for CRS Rice Bowl 2017. Throughout the 40 days of Lent, participants will be invited to encounter God, encounter obstacles to spiritual growth, and encounter the struggles and joys of their neighbors.
Besides the Diocese of Honolulu, CRS Rice Bowl 2017 will feature stories of agriculture, education and community empowerment from five countries: India, Zambia, El Salvador, Mexico and Ethiopia.
This year in Hawaii, the Office for Social Ministry coordinated unprecedented statewide Rice Bowl participation through parishes, schools and diocesan departments.
The effort included diocesan employee training, stories in the Hawaii Catholic Herald, weekly public service announcements on TV and a diocesan Rice Bowl webpage.
Hundreds of Catholic middle school students participated though Rice Bowl computer applications and college students sponsored special events.
A record 30,000-plus cardboard collection “Rice Bowls” were distributed statewide.
