Rice Bowl reaches 50-year mark

The Lenten season is one of the most solemn times of the year, a time of preparation for Passion week and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this period, many serve a form of penance, which could include prayers, including the Rosary or fasting from something important in life.

Another aspect is almsgiving as an act of charity, including the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl program, directly assisting families in need across the world through proceeds from local Catholic Churches across the country.

CRS was founded in 1943 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops after a group of Catholic missionaries saw a need to help refugees and others displaced by the carnage of WWII.

“It was a response to help others because there was so much death and destruction,” said Sister Diane Koorie, with the Sisters of Mercy in Oklahoma City. “(Today) they are the overseas agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The domestic counterpart is Catholic Charities.” 

CRS now serves on five continents in more than 100 countries.

“They do both direct services and aid, such as providing food,” Sister Diane said. “They also do a lot of development work, like teaching sustainable farming practices.” 

The Rice Bowl program, within the CRS, celebrates 50 years in 2025. 

The Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, launched the Rice Bowl program in 1975 to fight world hunger, especially in drought-stricken areas of Africa. The diocese also worked with Protestant and Jewish leaders within the community. It became a national program in 1976 under CRS ahead of the 41st International Eucharistic Congress, held in Philadelphia that year. 

In 1976 it became a national program under the CRS and in 1977 the USCCB voted to make it an official program of the CRS.

They have raised $350 million since 1975, according to the CRS. The Rice Bowl program is the Lenten fundraiser for all CRS overseas services. 

The Rice Bowl is a cardboard bowl, placed on tables in homes as a collection place for coins and bills.

“Each archdiocese collects money for the Rice Bowls and sends it to the CRS,” said Deacon Bill Hough of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang.

Some of the funds are reserved for each archdiocese and diocese.

“Twenty-five percent of funds stay in the bowl, and the rest go the CRS for their programs and all the services that they provide,” Sister Diane said. 

There are many lessons that the Rice Bowls can provide, especially for younger generations.

“This is a very attractive way to teach about giving,” she said. 

Koorie and Hough are also leaders in building a state coalition to congressional leaders on the needs of the CRS, especially overseas. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Diocese of Tulsa are working closely together to make it truly a statewide initiative. Oklahoma is one of 25 states with a goal to create a better community through CRS. 

CRS advocates usually meet during April and August recesses with their congresspersons or their staffers to advocate for CRS.

“Usually we meet with the staffers, and usually we do it by Zoom because our advocates are throughout the state, and since we’re meeting with D.C. staffers, it’s not feasible to do it in person,” Sister Diane said. 

For more information, contact Deacon Bill Hough at [email protected] or Sister Diane Koorie at [email protected]. To place an order for Rice Bowl material, call 1 (800) 222-0025.

Everett Brazil, III is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.