Bishop's Schedule: Bishop Robert C. Morlino Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008 2:00 p.m. -- Attend Priest Fellowship Day, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008 5:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Mass marking the 150th Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier School, Cross Plains Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008 11:00 a.m. -- Preside and Preach at Stational Mass, St. Patrick Church, Madison 3:00 p.m. -- Preside and Preach at Rite of Election/Call to Continuing Conversion, St. Albert the Great Church, Sun Prairie Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 10:30 a.m. -- Speak at Staff Catechesis, preside and preach at Mass, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison 6:30 p.m. -- Speak at Diocesan Catechetical Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 1:30 p.m. -- Speak at Diocesan Catechetical Meeting, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison

Under the Gospel Book + Bishop Robert C. Morlino There is no column by Bishop Robert C. Morlino this week.

(printable version)

Dear Friends of Christ,

As we begin the holy season of Lent, I encourage you to participate in Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl. This Lenten program is a tangible service for Catholics in the United States to connect with our brothers and sisters overseas.

I am particularly mindful of the plight of our sister diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga. The people there have suffered a severe drought that destroyed many of their crops. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, floods came, destroying homes and killing livestock. It is when we have a connection with others who are suffering that we find it easy to give. But even without our many years of solidarity with our sister diocese, we need to be aware of the needs of others who have so much less.

Through the 30-year history of Operation Rice Bowl, we have been drawn together to celebrate the desert experience of Lent. We pray, both as individuals and with our families, including our world family. We fast in solidarity with those who are hungry and we give meaning to that fasting as we give sacrificially to help those in need. Finally, Operation Rice Bowl calls us to learn about our neighbors overseas. The CRS Web page at www.crs.org takes you on a world tour of the good that comes of our giving. Together we provide clean water, new jobs, schooling, better agricultural practices, health care, and nutritious food. Simple gifts indeed, but life-changing!

Across the nation, nearly $6 million is raised through dropping nickels, dimes, and quarters into our symbolic rice bowls. Within our diocese, I'm proud of your generous giving, which not only enables us to support international efforts, but supplied more than 10 tons of food to our own diocesan neighbors, through the Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry.

So I ask you to deepen your Lenten journey through prayer, fasting, giving, and learning that we who have so much can make a great difference to others.

Thank you for your unfailing generosity to those in need!

Praise be Jesus Christ!

Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison