Almsgiving

We give alms with a spirit of generosity to our brothers and sisters in need, honoring Jesus’ call to serve our neighbors. This Lent, through our sacrifices, we can empower and transform the lives of our brothers and sisters in need.

Lent is giving so that others might flourish.

Order CRS Rice Bowl Materials

CRS Rice Bowl is a Lenten faith formation program that invites Catholics to “live in solidarity with our poorest and most vulnerable brothers and sisters through the three Lenten pillars of praying, fasting, and almsgiving.” To order free CRS Rice Bowl materials for your parish, school, or family, and to find ideas to bring CRS Rice Bowl to life in your community, visit www.crsricebowl.org, call 1-800-222-0025, or contact Bevin Kennedy at either 603-663-0136 or bkennedy@rcbm.org.

Thank You!

CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten faith-in-action program of Catholic Relief Services. Last year, you fasted and prayed, living in solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable. And thanks to your generosity, the Diocese of Manchester raised nearly $75,000 for CRS Rice Bowl. 75% of these gifts support CRS programs around the world, and 25% remains here in NH for direct support for local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts, as well as for efforts to advocate for solutions to injustice.

Parish and School Grants Available through CRS Rice Bowl

Each year during Lent, the Diocese of Manchester participates in the CRS Rice Bowl program as a way to encounter Jesus through others, especially through the most vulnerable in our world. 25% of the funds raised through the CRS Rice Bowl program remain here in New Hampshire for hunger and poverty alleviation efforts, including a grant program to support parish and school ministry organizations.

Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis ranging from $250 to $4,000. Parish and school ministry organizations and educational programs may apply by completing the Diocesan Rice Bowl application. While grants are awarded on a rolling basis, applications typically will be reviewed and grants generally available at the end of the calendar year once all funds from the annual CRS Rice Bowl program have been received.

Parishes and schools may apply for Diocesan Rice Bowl grants to support such programs as a food pantry, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, or other ministry, program, or project intended to alleviate hunger and/or poverty in New Hampshire. Grants cannot support certain types of requests such as donations to fund a particular individual or family, research projects, capital gifts, endowment funds, deficit spending, debt liquidation, or multi-year grants.

Resources

Find information for parishes and educators to learn about using Rice Bowl resources creatively during Lent in classroom, family, and whole community settings.