Operation Rice Bowl

For many families, Lent is a special time of prayer and reflection. While we pray for our loved ones and those closest to us, we should also reflect on so many of our brothers and sisters in the developing world who struggle every day to provide enough food for their families.

When we were children, most of us knew little about what was going on outside of our community. There wasn’t CNN or Twitter or any other way for us to get instant information about what was happening out in the world. Our main exposure to poverty and hunger was participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF on Halloween and donating part of our allowance to Operation Rice Bowl during Lent. Today, we understand that it is nearly impossible to shelter our young people from the injustices in the world, nor do we want to. Instead, we educate ourselves and our families about social justice.

Solidarity is one of the seven tenets of Catholic Social Teaching. This tenet says that we are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. As Jesus’ disciples, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, and we have a responsibility to care for them.

Operation Rice Bowl, a Catholic Relief Services program, began in 1975 in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, as a response to the drought in Africa. Each Lent for the past thirty-five years, thousands of faith communities across the United States have participated in Operation Rice Bowl. Symbolic cardboard "rice bowls," which will be distributed today in the lobby and at the west entrance, are used as the focal point of prayer, fasting, and learning – and to help people in poverty around the world. Participants make a small sacrifice every week, putting the change into the rice bowls. That money goes to support the CRS mission to fight global hunger and poverty. Seventy-five percent of Operation Rice Bowl donations help fund development programs designed to increase food security around the world. Twenty-five percent of the donations support food pantries and soup kitchens within New Mexico.

So…why a “rice bowl?” Because rice is the most important food crop of the developing world and the staple food of more than three billion people, or more than half of the world’s population.

Operation Rice Bowl includes a wonderful Lenten calendar that provides information about communities being helped and opportunities for the entire family. Make this Lent a truly holy time by giving back to God in gratitude for the salvation we are offered through the sacrifice of Jesus.