For each week of Lent, The Visitor is highlighting Catholic Relief Services’ work with a story and simple, meatless recipe from a country the agency serves. Place the money saved into your CRS Rice Bowl to feed our brothers and sisters in need around the world. At the end of Lent, individuals can give their money to their parish or send their donations directly to the St. Cloud Mission Office, 11 8th Ave. South, St. Cloud, MN 56301.
MADAGASCAR
March 13 – March 19
VAVIROA’S STORY
Vaviroa is a smart, hardworking woman with four children to feed. Though she had been raising her children alone for many years, their family was doing very well. They ate crops grown from Vaviroa’s family farm, and they even made money selling extra vegetables in nearby villages.
Then, in 2013, Cyclone Haruna hit, destroying most of northern Tulear, the part of Madagascar where Vaviroa and her children lived. Her fields flooded, and her crops died. With no way to feed her family, Vaviroa needed some help. She was already a great farmer — she just needed extra support to get back on her feet. And that extra support came in the form of seeds.
CRS’ seed fair program gives vouchers to farmers and their families so they can buy seeds, farm tools and livestock at local seed fairs. The goods they buy help them replant and rebuild their communities. The fairs also give farmers a chance to sell their crops in a safe place to people who need them. And these seed fairs help the environment by giving farmers the tools they need to care for God’s creation.
With the seeds she received at a CRS seed fair, Vaviroa has been able to replant her fields. Once again, her children are receiving the nutrients they need to grow and are able to attend school. Vaviroa is proud of all she’s accomplished, and she’s looking forward to the next planting season.
Rice Bowl recipe video series
The Visitor has produced a video series featuring local people preparing the CRS Rice Bowl recipes and offering Lenten reflections. The fifth in the series is School Sister of Notre Dame Bridget Waldorf, director of campus ministry at St. John’s Prep School in Collegeville, and campus ministry students Joe Schweiters and Anna Bender cooking the featured recipe from Madagascar.
Vary amin’anana Recipe Card (PDF)
The last video in the series is Father Mark Innocenti.
Pomodori con Riso Recipe Card (PDF)
Day-by-day reflections and activities for Lent
