CRS Rice Bowl Week 2 : NICARAGUA

Focus: NICARAGUA - Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

  The Young Professionals through the leadership of Claire McPherson at Christ our Hope Catholic Church worked together and prepared 2 delicious soups for our Soup Supper in observance of the 2nd week of Lent. From set up, audio visual, food prep, cooking, serving, presentation, prayer,  networking and clean up - they worked in solidarity.

   This week, the CRS focuses on its amazing work in Niacaragua to empower Young Adults through the Youthbuild International Programs. After the 7 pm mass, attendees ( parishioners and residents of the Josephinum) were shown the video of Cesia ( see above video) and learned about the important work of CRS globally and locally. It was an evening full of joy and spirit.

   As we continue to celebrate this Lenten season, the significance of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving is what we try to achieve and SHARE with others. As Fr. Lucas reiterated this weekend in his Homily  through the words of Pope Francis: "Lent is the perfect time to "come HOME" and to PAUSE, SEE AND RETURN

 

  "Pope Francis invited everyone to live the 40 days of Lent as a time to “pause” from things which keep us from virtue and to return home to the loving and merciful embrace of God the Father.“Return without fear to those outstretched, eager arms of your Father, who is rich in mercy, who awaits you. Return without fear, for this is the favorable time to come home,” the Pope said Feb. 14.“[Lent] is the time for allowing one’s heart to be touched...” he continued, explaining how “persisting on the path of evil only gives rise to disappointment and sadness. True life is something quite distinct and our heart indeed knows this. God does not tire, nor will he tire, of holding out his hand.”

                                                      

HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM OUR SOUP SUPPER:

Matt stirring a vegan minestrone soup

attendees watching the presentation

lining up for the soup

CRS Ambassadors and Outreach Charr

Claire, Christine and Matt of kitchen duty

Crystal leading the Prayer

Catholic social teaching inspires and guides how we are to live and work in the world. In this principle, Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers, we remember that, Jesus spent years working as a carpenter. Work is important to help people fulfill their potential. And everyone must receive a fair wage to provide for themselves and their families.

Thanks to the Young Professionals, Essential Baking Company and the Christ Our Hope Community for your support.

by:

Cate Lichten

CRS Ambassador

 

The Sermon on the Mount

     My work commute routine has been precise as clockwork for the past year. I leave the house at 4:55 am and by the time I'm driving on the freeway, I am listening to the EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) radio mass at 5 am through the Sacred Heart Radio (Seattle) app on my phone. What a great way to start my day and an incentive for me as well to leave the house on time so I'm not late for work and mass. After all this time, I started recognizing the voices of the priests. I continue to cherish these mornings alone in Prayer and in celebration of the Eucharist with our Lord. By the time I arrive work, the sermon is normally finished.

    This week is the first week of Lent. All week, as a catholic I am reminded again of the Lenten trifecta: The Prayer, Fasting and almsgiving. I find this practice rewarding and renewing every year.

    I started reading the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew Ch. 5-7)  this week and the first sermon is
"The Beatitudes". It's one of my favorite parts of the Bible (together with 1st Corinthians 13). I really believe that if we try to read this everyday, we will be encouraged to live like Christ in every instant of our lives. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the chapter on "The Dignity of the Human Person", the beatitudes is dissected into an incredible detailed group of messages . Number 1717 states:  
    
   " The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ's disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints." 

  It simply fulfills the promise of the Kingdom of Heaven.

   What else can I live for but to fulfill the promise of God. Am I doing enough? It will not be enough if I have to think about that. All I can do is to try to live everyday like HIM. I know that HIS reward in heaven  will be greater than anything here on earth.

    Have a Blessed Lent: 

CRS Rice Bowl Week 1 : IRAQ

CRS Weekly Lenten Soup Suppers started at Christ Our Hope Catholic Church featuring the country of IRAQ. After the 7 pm mass on Feb 18th, the CRS Ambassadors presented the story of Majd, an Iraqi boy whose life was changed by one of the great works of the Catholic Relief Services.

The parish Communications Commission members prepared and served the soup and Claire McPherson ( commission chair ) had the opportunity to share to the community in attendance what the Commission's mission and vision are, followed by a CRS blessing prayer before soup was served.

During the supper, videos of " Who is my Neighbor", " Prayer", "Fasting" and "Almsgiving" were shown. It was a great evening of fellowship and mindfulness as we learn about the heartwarming and life changing works of the Catholic Relief Services.

In behalf of the CRS Ambassadors, the Outreach Commission and Father Paul Magnano - Thank You for your support and participation - especially to the Communications Commission

Here are some photos from the evening:

Dinner is served!

Preparing Chicken and Chickpeas soup

Communications Commission led by Claire McPherson

Cate Lichten

CRS Ambassador

Ethiopia: Care for God's Creation

CRS Rice Bowl's 5th Sunday of Lent featured 
the country of Ethiopia and

CRS wrote:
" Care for God's Creation

"Catholic social teaching inspires and guides how we are to live and work in the world. In this principle, Care for God's Creation, we remember that God created every plant, every mountaintop, every animal-everything. And God said that these things are good. We find God in these good things, and so we must take care of creation-both for ourselves and for all of our human family."

Encounter Dita...

    

  Amidst the current, historic drought in Ethiopia, 

more than 10 million people are struggling with hunger.

   Dita, her husband and their seven children depend on the money they earn selling crops from their small farm in Ethiopia. But frequent droughts often mean that families like Dita’s who depend on home-grown crops go hungry.
 But thanks to a CRS program that helps families prepare for crises like droughts, Dita was able to build a new house and open a small store. Instead of relying solely on what she can grow on her farm, she is able to sell items like pasta, shampoo and bananas.  She earns a steady $400 a month.
“Before, I had to get eggs from my neighbors. Now I have 15 hens,” she proclaims. Saving money and being able to borrow not only allowed her to buy hens but also a metal roof for her new house, a rarity for families in this part of Ethiopia.

“Now we have no problems with food,” she says. Unlike families across Ethiopia that struggle to find enough to eat, Dita says her children eat three times a day, thanks to her newfound business knowledge.


And what’s more, all her children are attending school. “When I was a child, there were no education opportunities,” she says. Then, with a shy but proud smile, she adds, “That’s a big difference.” "

Check out these CRS videos on Ethiopia...

THE LENTEN SOUP SUPPER  FOR 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT AT CHRIST OUR HOPE CATHOLIC CHURCH

started with an informational video about the amazing work of CRS global solidarity in Ethiopia and followed with a prayer led by our pastor Fr Paul leading the beautiful CRS Prayer.

Soups were donated by PAUL GUSMARINO ,MARC WAUTIER, WILL AND STEPHANIE COLLIER.

ESSENTIALS BAKING COMPANY donated the bread

AND THE COH CRS AMBASSADORS provided the fruits, served and cleaned. Another successful soup supper indeed. 

The parishioners were invited to join the CRS Ambassadors Retreat on April 29th and reminded to bring the CRS Rice Bowls back by Easter Sunday

Marc and Paul - the COH dynamic soup duo preparing for a cook-off

Essentials baking company

CRS placemats with Encounter Lent sheet

Paul prepping his delicious Ethiopian peanut and collard greens soup

Soup donated by Stephanie and Will

Cynthia - CRS Ambassador - the breadmaster

Fr Paul leading the  prayer

by:
Caterina Lichten
CRS Ambassador - COH
Seattle, WA