Lent 2014

Agenda Prayer What is CRS Rice Bowl? Important Dates 2014 materials: Whats 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. 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. Questions and Discussion

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 Gods 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 worlds poorest

2014 Lenten Calendar As you journey through the weeks of Lent… 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 Coordinators Guide 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/parishcrsricebowl.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 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/schoolscrsricebowl.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 or crsricebowl.org/order Materials shipped January 8, 2014

Website 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 Main website Simplified, easier to navigate Prayers, recipes, family activities Available in English and Spanish CRS Rice Bowls Global Kitchen 5 cooking shows, featuring Fr. Leo Patalinghug from Grace Before Meals, available online February 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 connect family- based 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

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! How are contributions used?

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 o Religious Education & Youth Ministry o Parish-wide simple meals and catechesis o Reminders during Lent (bulletins, homilies, etc.) o Parishioner involvement in Rice Bowl collection o See CRSRiceBowl.org/Parish for online-only resources to help with Rice Bowl in parish ministries.CRSRiceBowl.org/Parish

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!globalfellows.crs.org – 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 Look for a Collection mailing from CRS with tips, ideas, poster and envelope to help you!

Questions? Thank You!