Lent 2014
Agenda
 Prayer
 What is CRS Rice Bowl?
 Important Dates
 2014 materials: What’s NEW and AWESOME?
 Print Materials, Website, Mobile App
 Simple Message: Lenten Fasting can provide Life-saving Aid
 Keys to Success: implementing CRS Rice Bowl in a parish
 Questions/Discussion
Prayer
Prayer for Educators of Justice and Peace
Good and gracious God, Teacher of all peoples,
Bless and guide those of us who seek to educate others
about your good news of justice and peace.
Questions and Discussion
Guide us in our work as we reach out to shape hearts and
minds.
Walk with us as we deal with complex issues, help us to
find the right words and actions to communicate your
love for all members of the global family.
Prayer
Support us as we promote critical reflections on local, national, and
international issues. Renew our commitment, so we can spark courage
and empower others to confront injustice.
Allow our vision of a better world to transform spirits. Help us to
nurture the skills that will bring this vision to reality.
Remind us how blessed we are to have this call to proclaim justice and
peace and to be able to respond even in small ways.
Give us patience and perseverance in our work. Grace us with
fellowship and community. Help us to remember that you are our rest
and refreshment.
Amen.
-by Jane Deren, from Living God’s Justice: Blessings and Prayers, 2006
What is CRS Rice Bowl?
† CRS’ Lenten faith formation
program: prayer, fasting, giving
† Connects Catholics in the United
States with our brothers and
sisters around the world
† Brings Lent to life for faith
communities and families in the
home
Photo by Philip Laubner/CRS
Lent 2014: Important Dates
• January 8, 2014 → CRS
Rice Bowl materials
shipment begins (new and
additional orders accepted
January through April)
• March 5, 2014 → Ash
Wednesday
• April 20, 2014 → Easter
Sunday
2014 Materials: Rice Bowl
† The Lenten Prayer
o PRAY together as a family
† “I Promise…”
o Commit to FAST to help
those around the world
† Symbolic Gift Amounts
o Find out what your
ALMSGIVING is doing for
the world’s poorest
2014 Lenten Calendar
As you journey through the weeks of Lent…
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Learn about the 2014 Featured Countries
Reflect on the importance of Catholic social teaching principles
Encounter Christ through the Stations of the Cross
Read passages from Scripture
Prepare a Simple Meal with your family on Fridays
Hear Thoughts from Pope Francis
Give to your Rice Bowl through fun and engaging activities
Lenten Calendar
Countries Featured in 2014
Kenya
Developing Employment Opportunities
† Sacredness and Dignity of the Human
Person
Guatemala
Childhood Education
† Rights and Responsibilities
Philippines
Emergency Response and Rebuilding
† Option for the Poor
Malawi
Agricultural Development
† Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
Haiti
Mother and Child Healthcare
† Social Nature of Humanity
Santa Fe, NM
Local 25 percent
† Global Solidarity
Parishes and Parish Ministries
 Coordinator’s Guide
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Blessing of Rice Bowls
Prayer Intentions
Homily Notes
Stations of the Cross
End of Lent Offertory Procession
Engaging Parish Ministries
 Small Faith-Sharing Groups
 Youth Ministry & Relig Ed
 Whole Community Catechesis
 And more!
 Bi-lingual (English and Spanish)
 Online at crsricebowl.org/parish
 Sign up here to receive more resources and
tips for parishes from CRS Rice Bowl
throughout Lent
Religious Ed, Catholic Schools
 Educators’ Guide
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Blessing of RBs Prayer Service
Letter to families
Lesson Plans Grades 1-12
Activity Worksheets
End of Lent Prayer Service
“Catholicism & the World” Quiz
Catholic Identity: Examples from the
Saints
 And more!
 Available in English or Spanish
 Online: crsricebowl.org/schools
 Sign up here to receive more resources
and tips for educators throughout Lent
CRS Rice Bowl:
Spotlight on Religious Education
† 10-Minute Lesson Plans mean even the busiest
classrooms have time for Lenten reflection
† Blessing of the Rice Bowls & End of Lent
Prayer Service resources offer students the
opportunity to ritualize CRS Rice Bowl
† Our Catholic Identity: Examples from the
Saints allow students the chance to learn how holy
men and women have served the poorest and most
vulnerable
Additional Materials
 Poster (English or
Spanish)
 Display (Bi-lingual)
 DVD (Bi-lingual)
 Videos from Kenya,
Guatemala, Philippines,
Malawi, Haiti
 Family using CRS Rice
Bowl for faith formation
in the home
Order Print Materials
 Materials available in
English and Spanish
 Materials free of charge
 Order at 1-800-222-0025
or crsricebowl.org/order
 Materials shipped
January 8, 2014
Website
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Coordinators Pages
 Parishes
 Blessing of Rice Bowls, Engaging Parish Ministries,
Lenten Devotions, Collection tips
 Educators
 Communicate with families, Lesson Plans, Classroom
Activities
 Available in English and Spanish
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Main website
 Simplified, easier to navigate
 Prayers, recipes, family activities
 Available in English and Spanish
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“CRS Rice Bowl’s Global Kitchen”
 5 cooking shows, featuring Fr. Leo Patalinghug from
Grace Before Meals, available online February 2014
 3-minute videos highlight each of the meatless recipes
 Recipe cards (shown at left) available at crsricebowl.org
CRS has a Mobile App?
† CRS Rice Bowl mobile app (available for
iPhone and Android)
† Daily reflections sent directly to your phone
† Track your Lenten sacrifices and fill up your
“Virtual Rice Bowl”
† Free download available January 2014 in
iTunes and Google Play Store
CRS Rice Bowl App
Daily Reflections delivered to your phone
CRS Rice Bowl App
Make a Lenten Goal and track your sacrifices
CRS Rice Bowl App
Meatless Recipes and Stories from people helped by CRS Rice Bowl
Simple Message
Lent is a time for us to get
back on track in our
personal faith journeys, and
an opportunity to make a
difference in the lives of
others.
Rice Bowl connects familybased sacrificial fasting with
almsgiving
Sacrifices Make a Difference
“If just 50 families in each parish committed to daily
prayer, weekly fasting (Friday simple meal) and
Lenten sacrifices of just $1 a day for 40 days, we
would make a big impact on global hunger.”
 $1 a day x 40 days of Lent
 What $40 can do:
 Feed a family for 8 weeks
 Immunizations for 120 newborns
 Provide 400 families with clean water
How are contributions used?
† 75% of all donations support CRS’ programs around the world
o Agriculture projects help farmers improve harvests
o Mother and child health projects offer health and nutrition services
o Water projects bring potable water to communities
o Microfinance projects provide better incomes
o Education projects provide opportunities for a better future
† 25% of all donations fight hunger and poverty in your diocese
o Food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and more!
Rice Bowl Success
† Talk to parish leadership about how CRS Rice Bowl
supports Lenten faith formation
o Prayer, fasting, almsgiving & learning!
† Enlist support from Pastor
o Pulpit announcements are powerful!
† Integrate CRS Rice Bowl into parish life
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Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Parish-wide simple meals and catechesis
Reminders during Lent (bulletins, homilies, etc.)
Parishioner involvement in Rice Bowl collection
See CRSRiceBowl.org/Parish for online-only resources to help
with Rice Bowl in parish ministries.
Rice Bowl Success
• Ensure that every family gets a Rice Bowl
• Host a Speaker at Mass or event: How you can make a
difference with CRS!
– Interested in hosting a CRS Staff or Global Fellow as a
speaker? Visit globalfellows.crs.org to invite a speaker!
– Ask a parishioner who has traveled to the developing world
to talk about his or her experience.
• Follow up with clear collection plan at end of Lent
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Look for a Collection mailing from CRS with tips, ideas,
poster and envelope to help you!
Questions?
Thank You!