Dear friends in Christ, God calls each of us to a loving relationship with Him. During Lent, we focus on turning away from sin and toward the Lord to grow in His love. The Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving help us to do this while others benefit from our sacrifice. As we use Catholic Relief Service’s Rice Bowl this year and approach the Catholic Relief Services collection itself, we are part of faith-in-action programs that invite us to reflect upon how we can actively respond in love to support our needy brothers and sisters worldwide. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn about how our brothers and sisters across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable, motivated by the Gospel of Christ to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and embody Catholic social and moral teaching. They promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. They serve Catholics in the United States as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world. As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, CRS works with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need. Your use of the familiar Rice Bowls and financial support of the collection for Catholic Relief Services makes a difference for so many around the globe. Please consider prayerfully how you can support Operation Rice Bowl and the CRS collection this year. To learn more about the Rice Bowls, please visit crsricebowl.org or crsplatodearroz.org. To learn more about the CRS collection and the people who benefit from it, please visit www.usccb.org/catholic-relief. With prayerful wishes for a truly fruitful Lent, I am, Your friend in Christ, Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield