Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl
In 2025, we celebrate 50 years of Rice Bowl!
CRS Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten program for families and faith communities in the United States who want to bring Lent to life. Are you ready to encounter Lent this year in your parish, school, or family?
Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in dioceses throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Donations made through CRS Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in more than 100 countries. 75% of your donations will go to help CRS in its work around the world while 25% will stay in our archdiocese, supporting global solidarity advocacy initiatives. CRS Rice Bowl is so much more than a simple tool for almsgiving — it is a way to connect with the worldwide Church. Visit the CRS Rice Bowl website to learn more.
Rice Bowl Resources
Pastor and Parish Resources
- Bulletin announcement templates, liturgical resources, and helpful planning tools
- Share this family resource page so parish families can practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving at home.
- Please place your order for CRS Rice Bowl materials for the 2025 Lenten season by calling 1-800-222-0025. Materials are available in both English and Spanish.
Schools
- Lesson plans, family communication tools, and other resources for 1-8 graders
- Family communications tools and activities for high school students
Activities and Engagement
- This year, CRS is focusing on telling “stories of hope” from three of the countries you’re your donations support: Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Nigeria.
- To find engaging activities related to featured stories that enhance the Rice Bowl experience, click here.
- Gather as a family for Friday dinners during Lent! Enjoy these popular meatless recipes from around the world.
- Rice Bowl Promotional Advertisement: Bilingual
- Activity Calendar: English | Rice Bowl Media Kit | Recursos en español
Rice Bowl Collection
Send all monetary offerings collected at the end of Lent for Rice Bowl to the Office of Missions. There are three ways for you, your parish, school, or other ministry to submit these tithes and offerings:
- Mail your tithe:
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
Office of Missions
PO Box 223394
Chantilly, VA 20153-3394
*Note that “CRS Rice Bowl” must be written on the memo line of checks. - Submit your tithe directly to CRS over the phone: 1-877-435-7277. If you choose this method, please be sure to note that the donation is coming from (parish, school, or other ministry endeavor) the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Submit tithes online via the website. If you choose this method, please be sure to note that the donation is coming from (parish, school, or other ministry endeavor) the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
Salt and Light Grant
As Christians we are called to be salt and light to the world – to live as a faith-filled and life-giving presence in our families, our communities, our country, and in the global community. For each of us, that means learning more about how our faith calls us to follow Christ in responding to the needs of our neighbors and to the challenges of our times.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is offering Salt and Light Grants (formerly Global Solidarity Grants) to assist our Catholic institutions and ministries in strengthening formation in Catholic social teaching. Learn more about the opportunity for small group learning and faith-sharing experiences focusing on Catholic social teaching by participating in the JustFaith Catholic series. The chosen parishes will create and facilitate small group experiences using the JustFaith Catholic series formational modules. The grant money will cover the cost of group registration fees.
For more information, contact Maeve Gilheney-Gallagher, Global Solidarity Coordinator.