Hongkham Phengsaphone, a mother of six, with three of her sons and her husband in Laos. She became a mentor in her community and helped ensure that children have a warm meal. (Benny Manser / Catholic Relief Services)
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the annual CRS Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services. CRS is the official relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
CRS Rice Bowl began during preparation for the 1975 World Eucharistic Congress in the United States, when Catholics in Pennsylvania prayed, fasted and gave alms to help people suffering from famine in the Sahel region of Africa.
In the 50 years since, generations of Catholics in parishes and schools across the United States have come together each Lent with one common goal: to eliminate global hunger.
Over the decades, CRS Rice Bowl has shared “Stories of Hope” about how our sisters and brothers are engaged in activities that break the cycle of hunger and build health and resilience.
The stories are about people such as Hongkham Phengsaphone in Laos.
CRS met Hongkham a decade ago when she was volunteering as a cook at her children’s school, which provided free lunches for students. Her family was receiving monthly food rations through a CRS program after her husband fell seriously ill and they had to sell their farm.
Over the next eight years, Hongkham became a mentor in her community — sharing knowledge and fostering a network of cooks who now rotate duties and make sure the children always have a warm meal to look forward to.
Four of her six sons grew up on school meals, and they stand noticeably taller. Her husband’s health also improved, and he now works as a carpenter with two of their sons.
Today our world faces a food crisis like never before. Our prayers and almsgiving are as important as ever. When COVID-19 spread across the world, hunger was already deepening. Other problems have contributed to the current food crisis, like conflict and wars, climate change and the rising cost of food.
Now, millions of people are living without access to the food they need to live a healthy life. This is dangerous, especially for children who need the right nutrition to grow.
Over the 40 days of Lent, CRS Rice Bowl will help people in all the U.S. dioceses, including here in Hawaii, meet families in Nigeria, Guatemala and Bangladesh who don’t have enough to eat. In this holy season of Lent, we will share these inspiring Stories of Hope.
Let us respond as one human family as we pray together: “Jesus, Bread of Life, as we encounter you in the Eucharist this Lent, nourish us with your love, unite us in communion with our sisters and brothers, showing us how we are connected. Transform our hearts, that we may be moved to share bread for life with our global family and work for a world where all can thrive. Amen.” For more information, go to www.crsricebowl.org.
