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Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Jackson Patti spends time daily at the prayer space his parents have tailored for Operation Rice Bowl this Lent. (Courtesy Jeana Patti)

Homebound, Operation CRS Rice Bowl nonetheless raises awareness of hunger


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Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Lent, Local News, News

Jackson Patti, a 7-year-old second-grader at Joppaview Elementary in White Marsh, didn’t want to complain. But when the activity for Operation Rice Bowl was to fast from complaining, that was hard. 

“I always complain about everything,” he said.

Every day, he and his parents, Jeana and Sean Patti, parishioners of St. Matthew in Northwood, take part in the lessons and activities associated with the traditional Lenten program sponsored by Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services to raise awareness about hunger around the world and funds to alleviate it.

“It really does make you think,” Jeana Patti said, noting that her son was quick to point out when she slipped and complained.

Central to Operation Rice Bowl is the cardboard box for collecting Lenten alms. Jackson decided he wanted to collect $89 for the people CRS helps.

“I just want them to have food,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair to have to live in the streets or in the dirt.”

This is the second year the Patti family tried Operation Rice Bowl, although Jeana  Patti said confusion after the pandemic shut down schools and religious education in the middle of Lent 2020 made it hard to keep up with the activities.

This year, they’re all in. The Pattis expanded the prayer space they set up in the fall for their faith formation activities. After moving it to a place in the kitchen where they had more room, Jackson added his Operation Rice Bowl box, along with his Bible, a candle and a prayer chain with links for those for whom they are praying.

Jackson and his parents read the lessons and prayers, and talk about their day at dinner time.

One day they added a quarter to the Rice Bowl bank for every African country they could name. Another day, Jackson had to put in 50 cents to eat a snack.

“The whole family gave 50 cents that day,” Jeana Patti added.

St. Matthew is part of the North East Catholic Community (NECC) in Baltimore City, along with Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Anthony of Padua, Most Precious Blood and Shrine of the Little Flower parishes.

In a normal Lent, Jackson and the other religious education students in the NECC  would gather for Lenten prayer and a meditation before splitting off for classes, according to Dorris Van Gaal, its director of faith formation. That would include Operation Rice Bowl activities.

Because students continue to study at home, Van Gaal provides weekly activity packets to teach the Lenten activities of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Parents stop by her home every week to pick up a packet that has included lessons, Bible readings, prayers, art supplies and the cardboard bank for Operation Rice Bowl.

At parents’ request, Van Gaal fashioned lessons designed for the whole family, rather than grade-specific activities. No Zoom or computer is needed.

“I do my best. God does the rest,” she quipped.

Thirty-five children in 22 NECC families are enrolled in Operation Rice Bowl this year, according to Van Gall. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, 37 parishes are participating in the CRS initiative this year. 

Operation Rice Bowl began more than 40 years ago, as a parish Lenten program in Allentown, Pa., to help African people suffering from hunger, according to CRSricebowl.com. That first effort has since become Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl.

To date, the cause has generated more than $250 million in donations. Of that, $62.5 million went to local diocesan programs in the United States with the remainder going to CRS programs overseas. More than 100 countries around the world benefit from the funds collected, according to Brittany Wichtendahl, a CRS spokeswoman.

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore encouraged participation in a letter to parishes of the archdiocese.

“Together we can respond to Christ’s call to help those in need and ensure everyone reaches his or her God-given human potential,” he wrote.

For more information, visit support.crs.org.

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