Dear Friends in Christ,

As a former member of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Board of Directors, I am inviting every parish and school in our archdiocese to use CRS Rice Bowl for Lent 2015.

CRS Rice Bowl guides families on a Lenten journey of faith and solidarity, helps parents bring this important liturgical season to life for their children, and reinforces the faith formation of families in the home through activities and rituals in the parish and school community.

Through prayer, fasting, and sacrificial donations, Catholics in our Archdiocese can respond to the gospel call to serve our brothers and sisters in need around the world – while at the same time deepening their own faith.  In addition to what is used for CRS’ work around the world from the Rice Bowl contributions, 25 percent of what is collected goes to support emergency food and shelter assistance to the most poor and vulnerable locally.  Last year, we were able to distribute $21,000 to agencies that alleviate poverty and hunger in every deanery of the Archdiocese.

Please be sure to order a CRS Rice Bowl and Lenten Calendar for each family in your community. These materials are available in both English and Spanish and are free of charge. (Pre-ordered materials were shipped beginning on Jan. 2, 2015. However, you can order until Feb. 4 and still receive Rice Bowls by Ash Wednesday.)

To order your free materials today, call 1-800-222-0025 or visit crsricebowl.org/order. You may also visit crsricebowl.org to find additional resources, including:

• A new app that delivers prayers and resources directly to your mobile device
• Lenten devotions and prayers
• Reflections for adult faith-sharing communities and youth ministry groups
• Lesson plans, videos, and activity sheets for Catholic schools and religious educators
• Ideas for community gatherings and meatless Lenten meal events

If you would like a speaker who can tell the story of CRS’ good work around the world, please call Pam Long, our CRS Diocesan Director, at 937-224-3026 or [email protected].

Thank you for inviting families in your parish or school on a Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowl that will literally change lives.

Yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr

Archbishop of Cincinnati 

P.S. Please remember the CRS Collection will be held in our Archdiocese on April 18 and 19. This collection provides vital funds to help our Church agencies serve the poor around the world.