Parishes and Catholic Schools across the U.S. participate in the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Lenten program, Operation Rice Bowl.  Through prayer, learning, fasting and giving, parishioners learn solidarity with families and individuals in other countries.  During Lent, Parishioners are asked to contribute to Operation Rice Bowl.  These funds further the work of CRS internationally, and support of organizations locally for programs that compliment CRS objectives such as feeding the hungry.  The first 25% of the total collection is retained by the Diocese for use as grants to such local organizations.  The other 75% assists CRS to address causes of global poverty and hunger.

The Bishop appoint a Diocesan Board to allocate the Operation Rice Bowl funds retained for local use.  The Board is composed of clergy, religious, and laypeople from around the Diocese, and is chaired by the Diocesan Director for CRS, and is the same Board and Director for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

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Thank you from CRS:

Catholic Relief Services send out thank you notes to parishes and schools with a poster that can be hung in your parish. This will be your first opportunity to update your orders for the 2013 Operation Rice Bowl collection.

2012 Operation Rice Bowl:

Operation Rice Bowl Collection: Please submit all Operation Rice Bowl funds to the Finance Office by May 31, 2012.  The 25% local share grants will be decided on June 28 and we would like to have a full accounting of the 2012 Operation Rice Bowl campaign.  Please be sure to clearly mark that the funds are for Operation Rice Bowl. If you have any questions please contact Kathy McCoy at 563-355-6347.

2012 Operation Rice Bowl letter to parishes and pastors.

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General Criteria for Grant Applications:

Links to more information.