PORTLAND, Maine — Parishes and schools in the Diocese of Portland combined to raise over $45,000 for the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl program during the 40 days of Lent in 2016.
The Rice Bowl event is a faith-in-action program that encourages Catholics to fill cardboard bowls with monetary donations, giving alms to those in need and honoring Jesus’ call to serve.
Over 50 Catholic parishes and schools in Maine participated in the 2016 program, contributing a total of $45,070. It marks the fourth straight year that total contributions have risen in the diocese, and a nearly $10,000 increase from 2013’s total of $35,842.
The top three contributing parishes in 2016 were Holy Spirit Parish (St. Martha Church, Kennebunk; St. Mary Church Wells) with $5,941; St. Paul the Apostle Parish (St. John Church, Bangor; St. Mary Church, Bangor; St. Joseph Church, Brewer; St. Teresa Church, Brewer; St. Matthew Church, Hampden; and St. Gabriel Church, Winterport) with $3,723; and Good Shepherd Parish (Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco; St. Joseph Church, Biddeford; St. Margaret Church, Old Orchard Beach; and St. Philip Church, Lyman) with $3,694.
In Aroostook County, St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton and St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent were among several statewide who eclipsed $1,000 in donations. Others included All Saints Parish in Brunswick, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Portland, Christ the King Parish in Skowhegan, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn, Parish of the Ascension of the Lord in Kittery, Parish of the Holy Eucharist in Yarmouth, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Calais, St. Michael Parish in Augusta and St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford. In addition, students and staff at St. Thomas School in Sanford contributed $485 to the Rice Bowl program.
“I’m amazed at the generosity and sacrifice on display in our diocese,” said Ruth Oakley, the director of Missions/CRS for the Diocese of Portland. “The continuing increase in donations represents a growing awareness and sensitivity towards those less fortunate around the world.”
According to Catholic Relief Services, 75 percent of the donations support CRS’ humanitarian relief programs in nearly 100 countries worldwide, while 25 percent of the proceeds are given to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in the donor’s community. Since 2011, the diocese has collected $237,475 for the program.
