A 40 day journey of reflection, prayer, fasting and almsgiving, Lent, for many Christian denominations, is a special time before the Easter Triduum.

Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016, and ends on Holy Thursday, March 24, 2016.

In observance of this Lenten season, the Bishop Blanchet community is participating in the Rice Bowl faith in action works.

The CRS Rice Bowls are paper bowls that many staff members, Blanchet families and communities around the globe put their spare change into in order to raise money to help those less fortunate in and around our community.

“The Rice Bowls are a great way to bring the community together,” said senior Meg Cory. “I love seeing my fellow classmates give to those in need, even in simple ways like giving pocket change.”

The money that Bishop Blanchet raises, as well as other communities that are participating in Operation Rice Bowl, goes to Catholic Relief Services.

The mission of Catholic Relief Services is to provide aid to those that are vulnerable and in need overseas as well as serving Catholics in the United States.

CRS gives 25% of all money earned to communities in need.

Apart from giving money to the Rice Bowls, the organization also gives those participating the opportunity to make meat-free meals from recipes that are prepared in third-world countries.

The idea behind the meat-free recipes is to reflect on fasting during Lent and the simplicity behind meals and life in impoverished countries and communities.

This allows us to raise awareness of how other people live and value the things within our lives and our community that many other people are not fortunate enough to have.

By not eating meat and contributing to the Rice Bowl, we remind ourselves how differently people live around our world and how we can help and support others even in the simplest ways.

“I think anytime we can be charitable it helps,” said Tara Suchland, Campus Ministry Director. “Everyone giving a couple of cents in this community adds up to a whole lot.”

As the Lenten season progresses on, we as people of faith are called to action to help our brothers and sisters around the world, not just during Lent, but throughout the entire year.