Lent 2014

1. Lent 2014

2. Agenda • Prayer • What is CRS Rice Bowl? • Important Dates • 2014 materials: What’sNEWandAWESOME? • 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

3. 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

4. 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 God’s Justice: Blessings and Prayers, 2006

5. 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

6. 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

7. 2014 Materials: Rice Bowl • The Lenten Prayer • PRAY together as a family • “I Promise…” • Commit to FAST to help those around the world • Symbolic Gift Amounts • Find out what your ALMSGIVING is doing for the world’s poorest

8. 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

9. Lenten Calendar

10. 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

11. Parishes and Parish Ministries • Coordinator’s 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/parish • Sign up here to receive more resources and tips for parishes from CRS Rice Bowl throughout Lent

12. 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/schools • Sign up here to receive more resources and tips for educators throughout Lent

13. CRS Rice Bowl: Spotlight on Religious Education • 10-Minute Lesson Plansmean even the busiest classrooms have time for Lenten reflection • Blessing of the Rice Bowls & End of Lent Prayer Serviceresources offer students the opportunity to ritualize CRS Rice Bowl • Our Catholic Identity: Examples from the Saintsallow students the chance to learn how holy men and women have served the poorest and most vulnerable

14. 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

15. Order Print Materials • Materials available in English and Spanish • Materials free of charge • Order at 1-800-222-0025 or crsricebowl.org/order • Materials shipped January 8, 2014

16. 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 Bowl’s Global Kitchen” • 5 cooking shows, featuring Fr. Leo Patalinghug from Grace Before Meals, available online February 2014 • 3-minute videos highlight each of the meatless recipes • Recipe cards (shown at left) available at crsricebowl.org

17. 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

18. CRS Rice Bowl App Daily Reflections delivered to your phone

19. CRS Rice Bowl App Make a Lenten Goal and track your sacrifices

20. CRS Rice Bowl App Meatless Recipes and Stories from people helped by CRS Rice Bowl

21. 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

22. 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

23. How are contributions used? • 75%of all donations support CRS’ programs around the world • Agriculture projects help farmers improve harvests • Mother and child health projects offer health and nutrition services • Water projects bring potable water to communities • Microfinance projects provide better incomes • Education projects provide opportunities for a better future • 25%of all donations fight hunger and poverty in your diocese • Food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and more!

24. Rice Bowl Success • Talk to parish leadership about howCRS Rice Bowl supports Lenten faith formation • Prayer, fasting, almsgiving & learning! • Enlist support from Pastor • Pulpit announcements are powerful! • Integrate CRS Rice Bowl into parish life • Religious Education & Youth Ministry • Parish-wide simple meals and catechesis • Reminders during Lent (bulletins, homilies, etc.) • Parishioner involvement in Rice Bowl collection • See CRSRiceBowl.org/Parish for online-only resources to help with Rice Bowl in parish ministries.

25. Rice Bowl Success • Ensurethat 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! • 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!

26. Questions? Thank You!