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Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country and works under the auspices of the U.S.C.C.B. Catholic Charities coordinates the Parish Rice Bowl Collection and staffs an ad hoc committee which advises the diocese on the distribution of local funds, which are a percentage of the overall collection. A soup lunch for the Diocesan staff housed in the Pastoral Center has become a yearly tradition to raise awareness of global poverty.
Contact: Ken Bresnan
Parish Outreach Liaison
515-237-5089
Local groups awarded grants through Operation Rice Bowl
Seventeen organizations located within the 23 counties of the Diocese of Des Moines received grants totaling $9,600 from Operation Rice Bowl to support their work to help the needy.
Operation Rice Bowl provides an opportunity for individuals and families to make a positive difference in the lives of people around the world who struggle with hunger and poverty. It provides Catholics with an opportunity to live out the central themes of Lent by praying with their families and faith communities, fasting in solidarity with those who don't have enough food, learning about the joys and challenges in the lives of our brothers and sister around the world and giving sacrificial contributions to assist the poor.
To read more, click here.
NEW- Global Advocacy Team (GAT)
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is assisting with the formation of a new team of Catholic advocates in the Diocese of Des Moines whose mission is to "serve as a grassroots collective Catholic voice for the poor and vulnerable overseas, promoting smart and effective policies that address the root causes of conflict, hunger and disease. Motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life around the world.”
The team meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30PM at the Catholic Pastoral Center in downtown Des Moines. Contact Ken Bresnan at 515-237-5089 for more information.
Resources:
www.usccb.org/globalpoverty or www.crs.org/globalpoverty
http://crs.org
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