• Home
• >
• News & Events
• >
• News Articles
• >
• 2020
• >
• April
• >
• 4/6 CRS resources for Holy Week
• >

News Articles

CRS Resources for Holy Week

April 6, 2020

HOW CRS RICE BOWL CAN HELP US JOURNEY WITH JESUS THROUGH HOLY WEEK TOGETHER

“Here we cry, and we suffer. All of us. We can only get out of this situation together, as a whole humanity. For this reason, we have to look at each other with a sense of solidarity and act accordingly.” Pope Francis

As we begin Holy Week, we mourn the tragic, heroic sacrifice of so many because of the deadly coronavirus and miss not spending these sacred days in our churches with our faith communities. But we can still keep these days holy in our homes with loved ones and in solidarity as a “whole humanity.”

During this week, the CRS Rice Bowl materials can help us journey as one human family with Christ from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his final meal with his closest friends and ultimately to his death on the cross and then to the resurrection of Easter Sunday.

This final week of Lent is a time to reflect on those words of St. Paul to the Philippians. “Jesus emptied himself for us.” How might we empty ourselves for others? Our Lenten prayers, fasting and acts of mercy have prepared us to wrestle with this question. Some simple Rice Bowl Holy week suggestions for observing Holy Week in your home include:

• Holy Thursday—Tune in to a live-streamed Adoration or set up an intentional space in your home—maybe with a cross or other religious items—to spend time with our Lord. Re-enact Jesus Eucharistic act of service--washing of the Apostles’ feet with your family.
• Good Friday—Spend time in prayer and silence. Pray the rosary or Stations of the Cross using CRS Rice Bowl Stations of the Cross video series together as a family. https://www.crsricebowl.org/stations-of-the-cross
• Holy Saturday—Traditionally a day of waiting, reflect on your waiting in uncertainty during this pandemic, as Jesus’ family and friends waited in uncertainty and fear before the Resurrection. Prepare to turn in your Lenten Rice Bowl by reflecting on how your prayer, fasting and acts of mercy have made you more aware that we are one human family in this journey together.

As we walk with Jesus through Holy Week during this pandemic, we call to mind the countless men, women and children who today carry heavy crosses: crosses of being and caring for victims of  COVID19, crosses of hunger and homelessness, crosses of being a migrant or refugee, crosses of a lack of resources or security. With these sisters and brothers of One ‘Ohana, we witness to Jesus and encounter Christ who continues to walk that long road thru Calvary to the victory of Easter.

We need to always remember that Lent and Holy Week prepare for Easter; the fast turns into a feast. Our loving God wins the day. As we journey through the passion of Holy Week to celebrate Easter joy, it is our kuleana as members of God’s human ‘Ohana to share that solidarity, hope, joy, peace and aloha with everyone, near and far.

Mahalo for sharing this Lenten journey together,
Your friends at CRS and the Office for Social Ministry