As the world continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, including an increased number of those going hungry, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is asking Catholics to remember Matthew 25:40 as CRS Rice Bowl begins.
As the gospel tells us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This verse calls on Catholics to reach out and help those most in need.
“During the Lenten season so many Catholics around the world choose to make a sacrifice,” said Beth Martin, CRS’ director of campaign action and content. “Using CRS’ Rice Bowl materials, Catholics here in the United States have the ability to turn that sacrifice into a gift.
By giving something up, like that daily cup of coffee, and putting that money into the Rice Bowl donation box, Catholics can go a step above and beyond and look out for the least of our sisters and brothers.”
CRS Rice Bowl, the Lenten program that began in 1975, will begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. Each year, families from more than 14,000 communities across the country use nearly 4 million rice bowls for almsgiving, which they turn in at the end of Lent. These donations make a difference overseas and here in the United States, with 75 percent going to CRS programming in targeted countries and the remaining 25 percent staying in the Diocese of Charlotte. AS COVID-19 increases unemployment and hunger worldwide, those donations are lifesaving for communities overseas and here at home.
In response to the increase of world hunger caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CRS is working with partners to provide emergency food rations in more than 30 countries as well promoting COVID-19 prevention and awareness.
“The donations from CRS Rice Bowl allow families everywhere to overcome the hurdles placed in front of them,” Martin said. “And in the past year, there have been a lot. COVID-19 is increasing global hunger and malnutrition, and several natural disasters have left thousands without a home or without crops to feed their families and communities. Everyone everywhere has struggled.”
Each year, CRS Rice Bowl highlights communities from different countries around the world. This year, Rice Bowl participants are introduced to the people of Madagascar, El Salvador and Timor-Leste and how they are working hard to overcome the factors that can lead to hunger, including drought and flooding.
“The people of Madagascar, El Salvador and Timor-Leste are resourceful,” said Martin. “They use all of the tools available to them to fight against hunger and provide for themselves and their families. The donations from CRS Rice Bowl add to that toolbox. What Catholics give up for Lent can change lives.”
Resources available online
At www.crsricebowl.org: Catholic Relief Services has a lot of resources for you and your family this Lenten season. Besides the rice bowl kit that you can download online, find video “Stories of Hope” from people who have been aided by CRS, and meatless recipes from the countries featured by CRS this Lent. All materials are available in English and Spanish.
How to give and mini-grants information
If your parish or school participates in the CRS Rice Bowl campaign, giving guidelines are provided. You can also give directly to CRS Rice Bowl securely online at www.crsricebowl.org; by phone at 1-877-435-7277; or by mail to CRS Rice Bowl, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303.
Find info on CRS Rice Bowl $1,000 Mini Grants at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs.
Timor-Leste: Squash, Bean and Corn Stew 
(Batar Da’An)
1 large onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. fair trade olive oil
3 cups water
1 butternut squash, cut into small pieces
1 10-oz. bag frozen corn
1 15-oz. can red kidney beans, drained
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups cooked rice
Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until tender. Add water and squash, and increase heat until water is simmering. Add corn and kidney beans, reduce to medium heat, and cook stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes until squash is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice.
Makes 4 servings.
Madagascar: Greens with Rice
(Vary Amin’Anana)
2 tbsp. fair trade olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
3 cups packed collard greens or kale
1 cups rice
2 cups water
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in medium-sized pot. Add onion, tomato, garlic and ginger, and sauté until just tender. Add collard greens or kale, and stir 1 minute. Add rice, water, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on medium heat for 25 minutes or until water is absorbed.
Makes 4-5 servings.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Find more meatless recipes and the stories behind their cultures online at www.crsricebowl.org.
Pictured above: Paulino da Costa Ximenes, 53, pictured in Libagua village, Timor-Leste, with his wife Eliza da Costa Martins and their seven children: Leila da Costa Magno, 12, Sandra Salleta da Costa Magno, 7, Celcio da Costa Magno, 5, Celcia da Costa Magno, 3, Laurenfina da Costa Magno, 2, Luciano da Costa Magno, 2, and Cidalria da Costa Magno, 1. Eliza has been part of the CRS TOMAK nutrition project for over two years. Timor-Leste has the highest rate of child malnutrition in Asia with almost half of children under 5 stunted. Widespread poor growth is attributed to limited availability of nutritional foods and high child illness. In Timor-Leste, subsistence agriculture is the main livelihood strategy for most of the rural population. The country is food insecure, so household nutritional security is difficult to achieve. (Photo by Anny Djahova | Catholic Relief Services)
Livestream brings 7,000 students together for the first time for Catholic Schools Week Mass
CHARLOTTE — Thousands of Catholic students across the Diocese of Charlotte tuned in Monday from their classrooms to attend a special Mass with Bishop Peter Jugis, streamed live from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. The school system-wide livestream was a first for the diocese.
Fifth-graders from St. Patrick School next door to the cathedral were among the few attending the Mass in person. Wearing face coverings and sitting socially distanced in the pews, they represented their 7,000 peers at the diocese’s 19 schools watching on the diocese’s YouTube channel from their classrooms – made possible thanks to technology all of the schools have employed to seamlessly offer both in-person and remote learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You are part of an historic event. This is the first time this has ever happened in the history of our diocese,” Bishop Jugis told students. “We are coming together as one huge Catholic Schools family in the Diocese of Charlotte, all united as one in this Mass.”
In his homily, the bishop remarked on the significance of the livestreamed Mass – telling them that it’s about more than just fancy technology.
“At this Mass we are accomplishing something amazing: to bring together all of the Catholic schools of the diocese, virtually of course, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Mass keeps us united as one – even though we may be physically many miles apart.”
Each year National Catholic Schools Week celebrates the importance of a Catholic education, he noted.
“The great mission of a Catholic school education, my dear young people, is to lead you to meet Jesus Christ, the Savior, and to develop a lasting relationship with Jesus throughout your years of Catholic school education,” he said. “Because our faith is not something of the past, dead and gone. Our faith is a friendship with the Lord that is lived today. We know that we can meet and know the Savior today and have a living relationship with Him.”
“How do we do that? By being serious about your prayer (life), either when you are alone or in a group with others, and especially at Mass or even praying the holy rosary. Be serious about prayer, coming into Jesus’ presence,” he explained.
Learning about the Catholic faith and reading the Bible are additional ways students may come to know Jesus better, he encouraged students.
“For instance, in your religion class, be serious about that in order to develop that friendship with Jesus, growing deeper and deeper and deeper.
“After all, Jesus is the most important person ever to have lived, and ever will have lived in the history of the human race. Jesus is not dead but is alive, and (He) is the risen Savior (who) is close to you now.”
He also reminded the Catholic school community of the importance of the crucifix, where Jesus sacrificed His life for us.
“In every (Catholic) church you see a crucifix. The cross where Jesus offered His life for love of you, for your salvation,” he said. “Now, being Catholic schools, I am sure you see a crucifix hanging on the walls somewhere in your school – and maybe even right now in your classroom.
“I wonder how many of you also have a crucifix hanging on the wall in your home or maybe even on the wall in your bedroom, or a stand-up crucifix on your desk or dresser, to remind you just how much Jesus loves you, to remind you just how much Jesus loves you in offering His life for you?”
The bishop emphasized that it is important to take this relationship and friendship with Jesus seriously.
“Jesus says, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,’ and ‘You are my friends,’ He says, ‘if you do what I command you.’”
“Friends of Jesus, the living Savior. Your best friend” – that’s how we should think of Jesus in our own lives, Bishop Jugis told students.
He encouraged them to imitate the love of Jesus, as witnessed by the cross, when serving others out of a love for Christ.
“The crucifix reminds us to love just as Jesus has loved us,” he said.
Concelebrating the Feb. 1 Mass for National Catholic Schools Week were school chaplains Father John Putnam of St. Mark School and Christ the King High School in Huntersville; Father Joseph Matlak of Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte; and Father Noah Carter of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.
Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe and other school system officials also attended the Mass.
Catholic Schools are celebrating National Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 with activities and special daily themes celebrating parishes, communities, students and families, the nation, vocations, as well as faculty, staff and volunteers. Just like the Mass with Bishop Jugis, festivities look a little different this year with pandemic safety protocols in place.
Concluding his homily, Bishop Jugis commended the students, “What a tremendous force for good you all are in your local communities by faithfully living and practicing your faith. I am proud of every one of you. May you always stay close to the Lord.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Watch the Mass
View the archived Feb. 1 Catholic Schools Week Mass with Bishop Jugis online.