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CRS Website

Operation Rice Bowl Website

CRS of KC-SJ Facebook Page

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, they have expanded in size to reach more than 80 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.
The mission of CRS is to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Although their mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, their operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. Within the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering of the world.
The fundamental motivating force in all activities of CRS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice. They are committed to a set of Guiding Principles and hold themselves accountable to each other for them. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is administered by a board of bishops selected by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and is staffed by men and women committed to the Catholic church's apostolate of helping those in need. CRS maintains strict standards of efficiency, accountability and transparency. Last year, more than 94 percent of revenues they spent went directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas.

Locally, our diocese receives 25% of funds collected from the Operation Rice Bowl collection taken during Lent to help fund local food pantries and other outreach services in our diocese.  We also retain a reserve fund to be used in the event of a natural disaster within the boundaries of our diocese in order to provide immediate assistance of food and water to the affected community until CRS and other agencies arrive at the scene to provide more systemic support.

2011 CRS Stats

Congo Conflict Minerals Act (Sample personal letter)

Click here to learn about CRS in Egypt (Feb/March 2011)