It’s time for lent! And that also means it’s time for CRS’s rice bowl!

But what *is* CRS? 

CRS stands for “Catholic Relief Services.” It was originally founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Over 75 years, they’ve expanded their services to help all sorts of people in poverty or other tight positions. They now reach more than 130 million people and 100 countries on five continents. 

In their words, they work through “the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.” Through their operation, they try to encourage Catholics in the United States to live in their faith and unite with the impoverished people of the world.

Rice Bowl, specifically, is one of their more well-known events (and it’s the one we do here!).

“Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in dioceses throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lenten alms donated through CRS Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in more than 100 different countries each year. Twenty-five percent of donations to CRS Rice Bowl stay in the local diocese, supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts.” Says their website, crsricebowl.org.

Along with the Rice Bowl, CRS promotes other ways to help people in need. A year has passed since the Russo-Ukrainian war began, and CRS has been using their financial support to aid Ukrainian refugees.

The CRS motto is “putting our faith into action to help the world’s poorest create lasting change.”

Join CRS in prayer by donating to the Rice Bowl!