Along with prayer and fasting, almsgiving is a central discipline of Lent. Operation Rice Bowl offers us the opportunity not only to engage in this Lenten discipline but carry out our parish mission of serving others. Through Operation Rice Bowl, we can help communities around the world affected by hunger and poverty. On the tables at the doors of the church, we have Rice Bowls. Your almsgiving will make a difference for families trying to not only escape poverty and but thrive in our world.
The key intention for the Rice Bowls is that we give up something during Lent, perhaps a cup of coffee, a dinner out or some other sacrifice. For a child it might be giving up a new game or some candy. The intent is that we give up these things and put the money we would have spent on ourselves into the Rice Bowl. This is what is meant by almsgiving.
These donations go to Catholic Relief Services to help communities in Honduras, the Philippines, Kenya and other countries overcome hunger, malnutrition, poverty and the impacts of climate change. Please consider taking a Rice Bowl home and engaging in the discipline. The Rice Bowls will be collected at the end of Lent.
Let us not forget the Cornerstone Retreats which will take place this Lent. Let’s pray for the women who will be on the Women’s Cornerstone Retreat beginning the evening of Friday, March 10 and ending on Saturday evening, March 11. The Men’s Cornerstone Retreat begins on the evening of Friday, March 24 and finishes Saturday evening, March 25. There are still openings on the retreats; so please consider giving yourself a gift of a spiritual retreat with other members of our parish community.
God Bless you all during this Lenten Season.
Msgr. Tom