Make a donation to CRS Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services. Can't turn in your bowl? Give online!

To give by phone:
1-877-435-7277

Mail check to:
Diocese of Davenport
CRS - Rice Bowl Collection
Attn: Nancy Karn
780 W. Central Park Ave 
Davenport, IA 52804

Rice Bowl Grant Recipients History   

Rice Bowl Collection: Thank you to all the parishes that participated in the 2022 collectio. We were able to distribute $15,500 in local grants. 

Enrich your Lent with CRS Rice Bowl program
 

By Bill Doucette
For The Catholic Messenger

Many of us are familiar with the Rice Bowl program run by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) each Lent since 1975. Over the years, countless children have put coins into the small cardboard “rice bowl” to help those in need. Today, CRS Rice Bowl is a tradition for millions of Catholics who follow the three Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help those in need.  Read More...

 

Embark on a journey this Lenten season / Embarcate en una jornada espiritual este tiempo de Cuaresma

“Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8).

Dear friends in Christ,

In what spirit are we beginning our Lenten journey? What is our focus? Who is our focus? What questions are on our minds? Is it: What am I going to give up; how am I going to fast? Is it: To whom shall I give alms? Is it: How will I pray more? Or perhaps: What sins in my life do I need to pay attention to? How am I tempted? Where have I grown thirsty, blind, or even dead?

These aren’t bad questions. They can be quite helpful, important, even necessary. But, if we’re not careful, focusing only on the I — on the me — risks making Lent all about us. About what we are doing. And that’s a deadly spiritual trap. Rather, Lent is really about what Christ has done, is doing, and will do. Because, without Christ, we can do nothing.  Click here to read more...

With Lent comes the call of God to reflect on our lives and redirect them toward life in fullness. We are called to love our neighbor!

CRS Rice Bowl provides resources to bring Lenten spirituality to life for families, parishes and school communities while continuing to connect Catholics in our diocese with our global human family.

This year, journey with CRS to Honduras, the Philippines and Kenya to learn about the root causes of hunger, the impact of climate change and how families —with the support of faith communities like yours—are making sure they have nutritious food to thrive.

Through CRS Rice Bowl stories, videos and lesson plans, your community will learn about the global issue of hunger and malnutrition and we will discover how our faith calls us to serve and help those in need.

Parishes and Catholic Schools across the U.S. participate in the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl Lenten program.  Through prayer, fasting,  learning and giving, parishioners learn solidarity with families and individuals in other countries.  During Lent, Parishioners are asked to contribute to the CRS Rice Bowl collection.  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  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).

Photo by Catholic Relief Services
 

Thank you for participating in CRS Rice Bowl this Lent.  During the past few weeks, we traveled to Honduras, the Philippines, and Kenya.  We became companions and learned about their journeys this Lent with CRS Rice Bowl.  The prayers and devotions that your community has offered through this program are bringing new opportunities to our poorest and most vulnerable brothers and sisters in our own communities and around the world.

Please submit your Rice Bowl collections promptly to:

Diocese of Davenport
Rice Bowl Collection
Attn: Nancy Karn
780 West Central Park Avenue
Davenport Iowa, 52804-1901

If all possible please use Remittance form when submitting funds.  Don’t forget to write CRS Rice Bowl in the memo line of your check! 

We encourage all parishes to submit their funds as soon as they have them available.  With people working remotely we want to allow enough time for parishes and our Finance office to process all funds. The final deadline to submit all funds is May 31st. 

25% of the funds stay in the Diocese of Davenport to fund local programs to fight hunger.  If funds are not submitted in a timely manner it will affect the total grant distribution at the June meeting.  CRS receives 75% of funds to support CRS development project around the world.

• Jan. 13, 2023: Orders ship.

• February 22, 2023: Ash Wednesday

• April 9, 2023: Easter Sunday.

  CRS Rice Bowl Materials:  if your parish received 2022 Rice Bowl Materials your Lent 2023 order will automatically be updated with the number of materials your parish received last year,  orders will ship Jan. 13, 2023.  If you need additional materials Click here to place your order. 
  
  Countries featured this year are Honduras, the Philippines, and Kenya, and go to Stories of Hope to hear their journeys and learn how people are overcoming the causes of hunger and adapting to climate change. 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we enter our third pandemic Lent, many of us are exhausted. The ongoing threat of the pandemic, healthcare workers who are overburdened, and disruptions to parish and family life, work and school have taken a toll. And, on top of all of that, there is the deepening partisan hostility and political divisions in our country as well as in the Church. It is tempting to want to check out, circle the wagons, and care only for ourselves. Read more...