Lent is rich in rituals and sights. There are ashes formed into a
cross on a penitent’s forehead. Deep purple colors adorn vestments. There is
frequent recitation of the Stations of the Cross.
Another fixture of Lent is the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blessed CRS Rice Bowls for diocesan schools at the
Ash Wednesday Mass at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington Feb. 14.
The CRS Rice Bowl program is in its fifth decade. The theme this
year is “Share the Journey.” CRS Rice Bowl donations are distributed locally
and worldwide to combat hunger. It started as an ecumenical effort in the
Diocese of Allentown, Pa., in 1975.
During his homily, Bishop Burbidge reflected on the words St.
Teresa of Kolkata used in answering a reporter’s question of ‘What has to
change?’ “She looked back to the reporter and she answered in three words — ‘you
and I.’ She’s right. We have to change. And that is the special invitation of
Lent. In our faith, we call it conversion, a radical transformation of the way
we live at every level, a willingness to acknowledge the sin we have in our
lives (that) we have to acknowledge so we can walk in the light.”
Following the distribution of communion, Bishop Burbidge blessed
the Rice Bowls.
“God of all people, You are the source of every blessing. May we
be mindful of Your presence now and beg You to bless these CRS Rice Bowls to
inspire us this Lent as we pray, fast and give alms,” said Bishop Burbidge. “May
they be instruments of encounter bringing us closer to you our God, and to our
neighbors both near and far.”
The school presented Bishop Burbidge with a spiritual bouquet before
the end of Mass.
“In honor of the school’s 60th anniversary, students, parents,
alumni, faculty and staff committed to 60 hours of service in the community to
mark this occasion,” said Mary Jane Spurlock, director of communications for
O’Connell.
The blessing of the CRS Rice Bowls ties in with the CRS Global
High School program that the high schools began participating in this semester.
“What a beautiful thing that Bishop Burbidge is blessing the
efforts of our high schools to become global high schools and to help our next
generation of Catholics to encounter the poor overseas and in our backyard,”
said Carla Walsh, diocesan program coordinator for CRS and the Catholic
Campaign for Human Development.
