Operation Rice Bowl: The Face of Christ in Our World

While the United States is one of the world's wealthiest countries, poverty here is very real. According to Catholic Charities USA, 37.3 million people in the United States were living below the official poverty level of $20,614 for a family of four in 2007. That's more people than the combined populations of Iowa, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Oregon, Kentucky, Lousiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, New Hampshire and Idaho. To be poor in the United States is to have children who go to bed hungry. It's to do without medical treatment or dental care or counseling because there is no insurance. It's to live in substandard housing or no house at all and to face exposures to toxins in one's water and paint and soil. It's to fear for safety and live near conflict. And often, it is to be invisible. But Jesus came to make what is unseen, seen. This kind of vision is one of the greatest gifts of Easter.

Lenten Observance of prayer, fasting, learning and giving:

Pray
What a strange day is Palm Sunday? It begins with palm fronds and praises and church processions hailing the King of Glory. It winds up with the passion—in which we who waved palms call out "crucify him," as our part of the narrative from Luke. Who are we in these stories? Are we the weeping women? The hiding disciples? The ones crying out for the death sentence?

As we walk into Holy Week, we'll step even more deeply into these stories. Let them resonate with the stories around you. Each day in your prayer, recall one of the people whose story you learned this Lent through Operation Rice Bowl: Renang Moleko, the AIDS orphan tending his garden in Lesotho; Victoria Velasquez, learning sustainable agriculture in Bolivia; girls in Afghanistan receiving an education for the first time at community-run schools; Maria Asuncion Cuadra, running her fresh drink stand in Nicaragua; Ato Teklu Hadgu, helping to make his village in Ethiopia resilient during drought. Hold them up in prayer, for their struggle and for their Easter hope to rise from poverty into a new life.

Fast
Fasting is built into Holy Week. Each day we are challenged to abstain from our regular schedule and to find time for rituals that awaken all the senses to the sacrifice of our incarnate God. The taste of bread and wine, the sound of a crack in the night, the feel of lips touching a cross, the smell of smoke from the burning brazier, the sight of flickering candles and the press of darkness—all await us. By setting aside some of our appetites this Lent, we have tried to become more aware of that which often lies hidden beyond our hungers: the very presence of God. As the Triduum gives way to Easter joy, how will you keep your senses tuned to the God of the poor?

Learn
At 94, Norm is a regular guest at Faith Café, a restaurant that serves the homeless and hungry in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. "The food is so good and the people so kind that I come back every week," says Norm, who has been visiting the café since it opened in 2005. He is among 80 to 100 guests who gather there every Sunday night to be seated at brightly colored tables with handmade placemats and vases of flowers. Volunteers take their orders and serve their meals. Guests are invited to take canned goods and produce from local gardens home with them. The Faith Café, which is partially funded with Operation Rice Bowl contributions, is a place where Norm is treated with respect.
"The volunteers who serve the meals know that I don't like dressing on my salad, and they know which cookies are my favorite," he says. "I have two special women that I call my angels. They like to listen to my stories and they treat me like a king."
Paying attention. Listening to stories. Treating a man in poverty like a king. This is what is meant by the call to uphold the dignity and equality of the human person.

Give
As Easter nears, it's time to drop the last few contributions into the Rice Bowl, total up the amount and send it in to your parish or school. Remember that 75 percent of your contribution will be used to fund hunger programs throughout the world, while 25 percent of the money will stay in your home diocese to serve the poor there. But the giving need not stop with Easter. After emptying your Rice Bowl, why not continue to drop change in it throughout the year? Let it be a constant reminder that the poor are with us always, as contributing members of our communities, as brothers as sisters to us, as the face of Christ in the world.

CRS Fair Trade Chocolates for your Easter Basket

It Tastes Good to Do Good

Whether you’re a fan of milk, dark, mint, toffee, nuts or another favorite chocolate flavor, you’ll find what you’re looking for from Catholic Relief Services partners. Fair Trade isn’t only about paying a fair price to producers; it’s also about honoring the care they put into their crops by producing high quality products. So let that chocolate melt in your mouth and savor the flavor of the fine results of their hard work! Get those Easter baskets ready!

Support CRS Fair Trade when you place your order with Divine Chocolate or Equal Exchange and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the CRS Fair Trade Fund.

President of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston discusses devastation in Haiti

Tiziana Dearing, President of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Boston, appeared on This is the Day to give an update on the situation in Haiti. Ms. Dearing spoke of the ways that five million dollar commitment made by Catholic Relief Services would be raised. First people have donated online at CRS.org and over three million dollars has been raised. Secondly, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have authorized a special collection in all Catholic parishes for the upcoming weekend.

As of today, CRS is increasing its original $5 funding commitment and is planning an emergency response with an expectation of raising $25 million from its generous supporters for its relief effort.

Most, but not all, CRS staff already based in Haiti have been accounted for. Those serving fear more building collapses, are sleeping and working outdoors while marshaling relief supplies for delivery to Haiti's earthquake survivors.

Tiziana visited Haiti just six weeks ago and fears for the safety of her colleagues and the people of Haiti who extended such warm hospitality. She shared that Boston has the 3rd largest population of Haitians in the US and Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese has set up counseling resources for those mourning loved ones and those who are still trying to locate family and friends in Haiti. Visit http://www.ccab.org/help-haiti.html to learn more.

Watch Tiziana Dearing appearance on This is the Day:

Nationwide Catholic Response To Haiti Earthquake Will be Discussed on CatholicTV Talk Show

On Friday, January 15th, support for victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti will be discussed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Tiziana Dearing, President of Catholic Charities in Boston will appear on the show to discuss the response to the earthquake. This response includes a $5 million commitment by Catholic Relief Services and a nationwide effort to raise funds for victims via a special collection at Catholic parishes.

This episode of “This is the Day” will air online at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV at 10:30AM ET.

Mrs. Dearing will discuss the call to parishes across the nation for a second collection at Masses during the weekend of January 16 and 17, 2010.

This call originated from a letter from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. The two wrote a letter to bishops asking them to “encourage your pastors to take up a second collection for the people and Church of Haiti this weekend, January 16 and 17, 2010.”

The letter went on to say: “Catholic Relief Services is already mounting a major emergency response to this severe disaster and has committed an initial $5 million to fund relief efforts which are likely to go on for some time. Your help and the help of the Catholic people of the United States are urgently needed.”

In addition, Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston announced that Catholic Charities Boston is actively engaged in working with the local Haitian community to assist families locally who have loved ones impacted by the earthquake. Additional information may be found at www.CCAB.org

Across the United States prayers and collections are being offered in support of those who have died and those who are waiting to hear from loved ones.
On Friday, the 15th , Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist for Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, to remember those who lost their lives or are suffering in any way due to the earthquake in Haiti at 6:30PM. Mass will be celebrated in English and Haitian Creole

Bishops Mourn Devastation in Haiti, Urge Special Collection January 16-17

Give Generously to Support the Church's Relief Efforts in Haiti this Weekend, January 16-17, in Your Parish

The Church mourns the terrible suffering of the people of Haiti, and parishes across the country are urged to take up a special collection the weekend of January 16-17 for the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. bishops and Catholic Relief Service (CRS) in Haiti, according to a January 13 letter to Catholic bishops of the United States from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop Dolan, chair of CRS board, said the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti "destroyed countless homes, churches, seminaries, schools, and other buildings and has left millions without the most basic necessities of life. Our faith compels us to pray for and reach out to our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering."

President of Catholic Relief Services and Bishop Richard Malone To Be Featured on "This is the Day"

On Friday, April 17th, Ken Hackett, President of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will be featured on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Also featured will be Bishop Richard Malone from Portland, Maine.

As President of CRS, Ken Hackett oversees operations in more than 100 countries, with a global staff of nearly 5,000. Despite a large number of dedicated employees, CRS puts 93% of donated money into programs and spends only 7% of donations on administration, fundraising, and awareness.

Ken Hackett graduated from Boston College in 1968. Upon graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to serve in Ghana. Mr. Hackett joined CRS in 1972, starting his career in Sierra Leone. Mr. Hackett has led CRS since 1993. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from several colleges. In 2004, Mr. Hackett was named a Knight Commander of the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great, one of the highest Papal honors.

Also featured on “This is the Day” will be Bishop Richard Malone. Bishop Malone is the Bishop of the Diocese of Portland, Maine. He earned a Doctorate in Theology (Th.D.) at Boston University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge in 1990. He has been the Boston archdiocesan liaison with the local Jewish community; and has lectured nationally on Catholic education. He has worked in education for years and will discuss faith formation for adolescents on the show.

These guests can be seen on Friday, April 17th live at 10:30AM (rebroadcast at 8PM). The show will also be streamed live at http://www.catholictv.com/ and will be available on the site’s archives starting Friday night.

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Catholic Relief Services serving in Italy

Catholic Relief Services is the official international agency for our universal Church to serve those in need . Currently, Caritas responders are on the scene in Italy helping the thousands of people who are injured and now homeless. Please pray for these emergency response workers and those who have died.

CatholicTV is honored to have aired several interviews with members of CRS who serve in the US and abroad. We offer our prayers and support to this excellent humanitarian agency during this difficult time.