CHARLOTTE — The 2021 CRS Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. CRS Rice Bowl provides Catholics across the United States with the opportunity to assist the global human family through daily prayer, weekly fasting and almsgiving.
Participating parishes and schools should receive CRS Rice Bowl items this month. CRS will automatically send parishes and schools the amount of materials sent last year if the parish or school did not respond to a CRS notice to update their order information. A parish or school that wants to confirm its upcoming CRS Rice Bowl shipment or order additional items can call the CRS toll-free number at 1-800-222-0025.
Parishes and schools that wish to participate for the first time can also call CRS toll-free at 1-800-222-0025 or go to www.crsricebowl.org or www.crsplatodearroz.org to place an order for the number of Rice Bowl items desired.
First-time or additional CRS Rice Bowl materials ordered by Jan. 25 should arrive in parishes and schools in time for distribution prior to the start of CRS Rice Bowl on Ash Wednesday. Participating parishes and schools will provide direction on regarding how Rice Bowl boxes are being distributed.
— Joseph Purello
CHARLOTTE — Deacon Lon Phillips has received faculties and been assigned as a permanent deacon at St. Matthew Parish, effective Jan. 6, Bishop Peter Jugis has announced.
Now retired, Deacon Phillips and his wife Janis recently relocated to Charlotte to be closer to their children.
A Milwaukee native, Deacon Phillips said “God called me home to His Church” when he was 40. As a Catholic convert, he became involved in liturgical ministry and found himself in awe of the Mass and a possible vocation.
One Palm Sunday, about 15 years after he became Catholic, a friend asked, “Have you ever considered the diaconate?” Deacon Phillips shared with this friend his inner thoughts and discernment of the diaconate. He entered diaconate formation in 2004 and was ordained on Sept. 6, 2008, for the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito.
He was first assigned to his home parish, Ascension Parish in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was also employed as director of parish operations. His ministerial responsibilities at the parish focused on serving at the altar, conducting preparation classes for baptisms and weddings, facilitating and assisting with RCIA classes, and training liturgical ministers. Also, at the diocesan level,
Deacon Phillips formed a team and taught faith formation and training at the School of Christian Formation and conducted workshops for liturgical ministers.
— Deacon John Martino