Operation Rice Bowl is a great way to observe Lent for whole family

Each Lent, nearly 13,000 faith communities across the U.S. participate in Operation Rice Bowl to demonstrate solidarity with the poor around the world.

Sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, 75 percent of Operation Rice Bowl donations go to help fund increased food security around the world. Twenty-five percent support hunger and poverty alleviation in the USA.

At the Operation Rice Bowl website (http://orb.crs.org), you can find a calendar of daily activities, prayers, reflections, stories from people around the world, and tasty recipes from many countries.

Operation Rice Bowl Prayer

We lift our prayers to you, God of Love, on behalf of our brothers and sisters in need. As we learn about their struggles, our almsgiving comes to their aid; our fasting unites us in their hunger. You call us to be disciples for all nations. Bless us this Lenten season. Amen.

Catholic Bishops Announces National Migration Week, January 2-8, 2011

Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced "Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice" as the theme for National Migration Week celebrated the first week of January (2-8, 2011).

Learn more at their website: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw/index.shtml

They have a spiritual Rosary for world unity, brochures, and bulletin inserts for parishes.

When I went through the "JustFaith" program a few years ago, I learned that the vast majority of migrants would have preferred to remain home, just like you or I. Only really tough conditions can drive people out of their homes, e.g. devastatingly bad economy, political oppression (real torture and death), environmental catastrophe.

My own great, great grandparents on all sides of my family are migrants to America. They came from England, Scotland, France and Germany. Many were fleeing the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. What about your family?

The Catholic Social Teaching of "Solidarity" talks about us being responsible for one another globally: "We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict. "

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity or I Am My Brother's Keeper

Why should we walk for life? Give the gift of English language skills? Give microloans to invest in tiny businesses in developing countries?

To live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To act out our faith. To live our discipleship.

Actions of charity and justice have a deep spiritual dimension.

Matthew 25 is very compelling: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, New American Bible)

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops summarize the Catholic Social Teaching of Solidarity like this:

"We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict."

-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml

Malaria No More: Together We Can Beat Malaria

Looking for a way to make a difference in the world? How about buying a mosquito net? They cost about $10 each, and they protect children, especially in Africa. What a great "stocking stuffer" to give for Christmas!

For more information, visit: http://www.malarianomore.org/

Helping our brothers and sisters around the world is a way to express the Catholic Social Teaching of "Solidarity". We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.”1 The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict. -- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml