
Talking Points for Pastors and Staff
• This collection supports CRS Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the U.S. bishops.
• It invites parishioners to live out the Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in a concrete way.
• Donations support hunger relief, clean water and critical assistance for people in need in more than 130 countries worldwide.
• Twenty-five percent of all contributions remain in the local diocese, supporting hunger and poverty alleviation efforts close to home.
• CRS Rice Bowl connects our local church to the global church through faith-filled stories and real-world impact.
• Every gift — large or small — helps transform lives during the Lenten season.
Parish Leader Checklist – Suggestions
√ Pew announcements during Lent
√ Parish bulletin text
√ Parish social media posts
√ Display poster or Rice Bowl table
√ Include the collection in parish email newsletters