Catholic Relief Services
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Catholic Relief Services is the official international relief and development agency of the US Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the archdiocese to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.


Operation Rice Bowl 2010

Each year, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to pray with our families and faith communities; fast in solidarity with those who hunger; learn more about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas; and give sacrificial contributions to those in need.

Your participation in Operation Rice Bowl ensures that Catholic Relief Services can continue to provide assistance to those in need in more than 100 countries. Seventy-five percent of your gifts will go to CRS to help farmers in Bolivia receive training to improve crop yields, children in Afghanistan gain more opportunities for quality education, communities in Ethiopia access reliable water sources even during times of drought, and fund many other vital projects. Twenty-five percent of your gifts remain in your diocese to support local hunger and poverty alleviation efforts.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Schools and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia participated in Operation Rice Bowl in a variety of ways. Thank you to all of the sites that embraced Operation Rice Bowl through prayer, fasting, and giving this year!

You can learn more about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's participation in Operation Rice Bowl in the latest CRS Newsletter.

To find out how CRS Philadelphia reached out to supprt relief efforts in Haiti, check out the CRS Philadelphia Helping Haiti page.

Host a Fair Trade Event

Through Catholic Relief Services you can offer an easy way to get your parishioners involved in Catholic Social Teaching just by being consciencous consumers. CRS offers consignment shopping where your parish can order unique, beautiful fairly traded items to sell after Mass or at a special event. It is NOT ANOTHER FUNDRAISER - it is an opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts that give twice - once to the recipient and once to the third world artisan who otherwise would not be able to support themselves or their family.

At its heart, Fair Trade is about building respectful, enduring relationships. We at CRS believe that Fair Trade embodies a comprehensive set of criteria, including, at minimum, the following commitments:

  • Paying a fair wage in the local context
  • Offering employees opportunities for advancement
  • Providing equal employment opportunities for all people,particularly the most disadvantaged
  • Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices
  • Being open to public accountability
  • Building long-term trade relationships
  • Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context
  • Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible

    • To find out how you can get involved by scheduling a Fair Trade sale, contact Joanne Kratz at jckratz@comcast.net.


    To find out more about Catholic Relief Services in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, contact Anne Ayella- Diocesan Director:

    aayella@ndsarch.org

    111 South 38th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19104

    (215) 895-3470 x717


    CRS Regional Office:
    Maureen McCullough
    CRS Northeast Regional Director
    5 Radnor Corporate Center
    100 Matsonford Road
    Radnor, PA 19087

    (610) 293-4669