Operation Rice Bowl

Students at Our Lady of Fatima School and public school students in the Catechism program will be receiving cardboard “Rice Bowls” to use during Lent as we participate in Operation Rice Bowl.

Students are encouraged to deposit money in their Rice Bowl throughout the Lenten season as almsgiving, a penitential sacrifice and also a means to help the less fortunate. The money they deposit could be a portion of their allowance, or money they have earned from special projects and activities such as recycling aluminum cans.

Rice bowls will also be available in the church and parish office for other parishioners who would like to participate. The Rice Bowls will be collected during Holy Week. 75% of our Rice Bowl donations go to support the programs of Catholic Relief Services throughout the world, and 25% of our Rice Bowl donations support local projects to alleviate hunger and poverty here in our own Archdiocese.

Please Turn in CRS Rice Bowls

If you used a Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl as a means of almsgiving during Lent, please return your Rice Bowl to the church or parish office. It would be greatly appreciated if you would convert your cash donations in the Rice Bowl to a single check made payable to Our Lady of Fatima. Your donation will be credited to your annual contributions statement. The parish will write a check to the Archdiocese for the amount of CRS Rice Bowl donations received, and the Archdiocese will combine the donations of the parishes of the Archdiocese and send a check to Catholic Relief Services. Thank you for your participation.

Prayer to Begin Rice Bowl

God of mercy, You call us to recognize you in our sisters and brothers and to care for those most in need - for whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me. This Lent, ignite your love in us so that through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving we may support all who experience hunger in body, heart and spirit. May these CRS Rice Bowls be instruments of encounter, bringing us closer to you - our God - and to our neighbors both near and far. May our Lenten journey help us to see our role in caring for the most vulnerable - particularly those experiencing hunger, poverty and obstacles to thrive. Through these 40 days, may we deepen our faith in you and our love for one another, as we await with joyful anticipation the great celebration of Easter.
Amen