Family project helps others

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

Lent will begin on Feb. 25 - Ash Wednesday - so it's not too early to start planning. One excellent Lenten family activity is Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services.

Last year, it raised about $8 million for development projects - one-quarter of which was used in the diocese in which it was raised with the rest going to international projects.

During Lent, Operation Rice Bowl participants pledge to pray, fast in solidarity with those who hunger, learn about the global community and the challenges of poverty overseas, and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.

On Fridays, families are encouraged to prepare a simple meal and donate the money saved to Operation Rice Bowl. Recipes for simple meals, as well as personal stories from Pakistan, Burundi, Honduras, East Timor, Gambia and the U.S. are in program materials.

Materials also include a home calendar, community and parish guide, educator's guide and a small cardboard box for depositing donations. The guides tell how to integrate Operation Rice Bowl into the liturgy, parish and community activities, and schools and religious education programs.

More information on Operation Rice Bowl is available from your parish or on the Web at: www.catholicrelief.org/orb.