CRS AMBASSADOR'S CORNER

2nd Week of Lent

posted 2/25/21

PRAYER  FASTING  ALMSGIVING  LEARN

 

BETTER MEALS IN MADAGASCAR

 

In Madagascar, half of all children are undernourished. That means 50% of kids won’t grow to reach their full potential. But communities are changing this by focusing on improving health and nutrition. What role has food played in your life? How can you help those who lack access to enough nutritious food. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.

 

 

CRS IN MADAGASCAR

Renowned  the world over for its biodiversity and generous and resilient people, Madagascar is nonetheless one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 50% of all households can be classified as food insecure, and 90% of the country’s population lives on less than $2 a day. GDP per capita is $420, and the country ranks 154 out of 187 in the 2015 Human Development Index.

Despite this, Madagascar is one of the most fertile countries and is ripe for strategic investment in the agriculture sector. 

CRS Madagascar works in close partnership with local organizations with which we share a vision. Strengthening the capacity of these partners is fundamental to the programs in all regions where we work. We place special emphasis on working with the social agencies of the local Catholic Church because of our mutual commitment to promoting justice and integral human development.

CRS Madagascar has also formed several Cross Sector Engagement (CSE) partnerships with multinational and local corporations, international non-profits and universities. 

Madagascar is also one of the ten countries most exposed to the effects of global warming.

 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MADAGASCAR

 

DID YOU KNOW:

 

That Madagascar’s name derived from an error in transcribing Marco Polo’s notes that  referred to the island as “Mogadishu”, confusing it with the Somali port that still exists?

 

That it was formerly known as The Malagasy Republic?

 

That the two official languages are Malagasy and French?

 

That a traditional and popular sport in Madagascar is zebu cattle wrestling?  

CRS AMBASSADOR'S CORNER

HUNGER IN OUR WORLD

(Posted 2/18/2021)

Jesus told us that whatever we did for one of these least brothers of his we did for him. Reflect on the challenge of global hunger— it is a reality for millions of our sisters and brothers. What will you do to support the hungry in our community and around the world? Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.

CRS AMBASSADOR'S CORNER

A Lenten  Invitation

(Posted February 11 2021)

 

CRS Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten faith-in-action program. It offers opportunities for your family to engage daily with the spiritual pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And it’s an opportunity for our parish to come together as a community and practice the works of mercy with our neighbors and our brothers and sisters around the world.


During the 40 days of Lent, we will encounter the stories of communities in Madagascar, El Salvador and Timor-Leste where CRS is at work. We’ll be invited to eat simple, meatless meals from these countries. Through the stories, we’ll learn about the principles of Catholic social teaching—and ways we can put them into action during Lent and beyond.


We will reflect on how we are called to recognize the suffering Christ in the most vulnerable members of our global human family. We will see how our prayers, fasting and almsgiving can provide for those worldwide who are most in need, especially those who are hungry and lack proper nutrition.


This is an exciting opportunity for all of us  to take this journey with our parish community, and to connect the prayer and reflections of each of our families to our global community of faith. If you do not have the chance to pick up a rice bowl from church, this is a wonderful opportunity to choose a bowl or basket  and designate it as your (or your family’s) rice bowl.


Please check the parish website each week for stories and videos that focus on the three countries that have been selected for our attention this year’s CRS Rice Bowl Program.

 

Peace and Blessings,

Ramonda Huff

CRS Parish Ambassador

CRS AMBASSADOR'S CORNER

2021 RICE BOWL
(Posted February 4)

Ash Wednesday is fast approaching. As many people keep saying, it has

been, and continues to be a challenging and difficult time this past year,

more so for some than others in the United States.

Our sisters and brothers who live in developing countries are enduring

incredible hardships. Until 2020 the global hunger rate was slowly and

steadily declining. It is now on the increase. Some of this is due to the

pandemic, but these developing nations are now having to contend with

with climate change which is bringing either floods or drought which

contributes to loss of crops. During the weeks in Lent you will hear the

personal stories from families in three of these countries and what CRS is

doing to help these families adapt to the new climate conditions.

CRS  AMBASSADOR'S CORNER

                  2021 RICE BOWL                     

Your Prayers and Contributions at Work


Walk a mile in her shoes. Lilian Mainza of Zambia has 4 children. She takes the baby to a CRS wellness clinic for children under five years old. She says, "I am so happy for the knowledge I have received; it is not only my child that will benefit but the community I live in." Visit www.crs.org for more information and to find out how you can help. Thanks for your support!


          "Poverty calls us to sow hope ... 

           Poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus, in that child who is hungry, in the one who

           is sick, in those unjust social structures.”

 ~ Pope Francis


2020 Rice Bowl Thank You


 It is known that the Holy Disciples Community is a generous community when asked to give to those in need. That is during normal times. Lent 2020 was not normal. It was difficult in so many ways, emotionally and economically, and continues to be as we enter 2021. Because of these challenges - including the lockdown - it seemed that our Rice Bowl collection would be significantly reduced. NOT SO! 

          Instead, Our HD Community contributed a little over $6,700.00 to the CRS Rice Bowl collection, making it close to the highest collection we have ever had for Rice Bowl! 

         Once again the HD Community answered the call of their sisters and brothers in need with love and generosity.


Thank you, blessings and peace,

CRS Parish Ambassador

Ramonda Huff