- Operation Rice Bowl Challenge Grants
- Helping our sisters and brothers in Haiti through Catholic Relief Services
- Holding the Earth Lightly Conference
Operation Rice Bowl (ORB) is the official Lenten program of CRS.
Rice Bowls remind us of families sitting at tables all around the globe.
All across the Archdiocese rice bowls appeared on tables, not for serving food, but to help Catholics observe Lent. There are 75 parishes, schools and a university participating in Operation Rice Bowl throughout the Archdiocese. CRS officials report the global food crisis and the worldwide financial downturn are impacting people in every developing country, as well as people here in the United States . Many families in developing countries are spending 75 percent of their income on food, leaving little else for other necessities. The rice bowl and its included Home Calendar Guide offer daily spiritual reflections during Lent along with a snapshot of people assisted by Operation Rice Bowl.
Operation Rice Bowl also benefits the people in our Archdiocese
Twenty-five percent of the Operation Rice Bowl gifts remain in the archdiocese and support local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts. In the past small grants have been given to The Other Place in Dayton, Interfaith Hospitality Network in Greater Cincinnati and in Springfield, the Caring Kitchen in Urbana, Catholic Social Services in Dayton, St. Vincent de Paul Society and the St. Vincent Stores.
Your parish's participation in Operation Rice Bowl could help Social Justice efforts
For the third year in a row the Catholic Social Action Office encourages archdiocesan participants in Operation Rice Bowl to submit an application for a grant of up to $500. One grant is given for the best new participating parish or school and a second grant is for the most improved previous participant. The grants are designed to help further the social justice work in parishes or schools.
For more information about Operation Rice Bowl call Pam Long, Diocesan Director for Catholic Relief Services, at 937-224-3026.
2010 ORB Challenge Grant Winners
Congratulations to the 2010 ORB Challenge Grant winners!.
- St. Cecilia for its first efforts as a parish new to the Operation Rice Bowl Program.
- St. Julie Billiart, Hamilton, for expanded efforts in Operation Rice Bowl
- Holy Trinity, Coldwater, for expanded efforts in Operation Rice Bowl
- St.Columban, Loveland, for expanded efforts in Operation Rice Bowl
The Operation Rice Bowl Challenge Grants are designed to encourage parishes in either their first-time efforts or in their continuing efforts to enhance how they use the ORB Program throughout the parish.
Through Operation Rice Bowl parishes:
- Receive useful tools to help participants observe the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
- Incorporate or integrate Catholic Social Teaching into Lenten practices.
- Help participants understand other cultures around the world as well as the issues of poverty, injustice and peace.
- Assist participants in learning about the works of CRS and putting their faith into action.
- Find that participation in Operation Rice Bowl makes a concrete difference in the lives of those living in poverty both globally and locally.
Thank you for your generous response to the people of Haiti following the earthquake in January.
To keep updated about the Church's relief efforts, please visit Catholic Relief Services and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops websites at www.crs.org and www.usccb.org.
To learn more about CRS’ work in Haiti, visit http://crs.org/haiti/projects.cfm
CRS has also prepared resources for Catholic educators and youth ministers, which you can access at http://education.crs.org/ Thank you for keeping the people of Haiti in your ongoing prayers.
Download PowerPoint Presentations from the 2010 Annual Archdiocesan Catholic Relief Services’ Conference
- Dr. Shaun Ferris keynote presentation, CRS Environment and Agricultural Strategy
- Haiti presentation made by Katy Ryan of the Catholic Relief Services Midwest Regional Office.
- Sr. Paula Gonzalez's presentation on Co-Creating a Sustainable Future.
Gifts that you buy for your family can also give the gift of a better life for families around the globe. Shop the Fair Trade Sale
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
- Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Location: Bergamo, 4400 Shakertown Road, Beavercreek.
- Co-sponsored by: Weavers of Justice, the Catholic Social Action Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Bergamo and CRS Fair Trade
You’ll enjoy...
- the performing talents of four groups at this year’s show - a Mexicano Dance Troupe, a Caribbean Dance Group, Rwandan Dancers and Burundian Singers.
- Entertainment from around the world.
- Handcrafted goods from artists in more than 20 developing nations, including jewelry, clothing, toys, home décor, gourmet food and ornaments.
- Local artists from around the world who have resettled in the Dayton area also will have their hand-created items for purchase.
- An Evening of Solidarity and Reflection will help focus us in prayer on our connection with artisans all around the globe on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Bergamo, 4400 Shakertown Road
- We will begin with many symbols of bread, a food present on tables around the world. A refugee family will share what has been on their table as they flee their homeland. We’ll end with a few moments focused on the upcoming sale Dec. 5.
The Catholics Confront Global Poverty Initiative, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, is inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 World Day of Peace Message: Fight Poverty to Build Peace. Our Holy Father declares: "Effective means to redress the marginalization of the world's poor through globalization will only be found if people everywhere feel personally outraged by the injustices in the world and by the concomitant violations of human rights." To learn more about the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative download the flyers:
Learn about CRS' Fair Trade Program. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops supports Fair Trade programs through which disadvantaged artisans, farmers and farmworkers receive fair compensation for the goods they produce.
Join CRS' Legislative Network and advocate for issues that will help our sisters and brothers around the world.
For resources on human trafficking and immigration visit our resource page....
About Catholic Relief Services
CRS is the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 99 countries. CRS aids the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential.
CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.