40/40 – Lenten Activities: Operation Rice Bowl and Peace Pole

We continue our “festival” of lenten activities – ideas that catechists can use during these 40 days of Lent.

Peace Pole at St. Julian Eymard
Peace Pole at St. Julian Eymard
Operation Rice Bowl and Peace Pole
 
Yesterday, I posted about Operation Rice Bowl. No sooner had I done that then I received an email from a good friend, DRE Terry Bergmann, at St. Julian Eymard Parish in Elk Grove Village, IL, telling me about how she has implemented Operation Rice Bowl at her parish and sending along the Operation Rice Bowl lesson plan that she has developed for her catechists. Thanks so much Terry!
 
Within the ORB lesson plan, Terry describes a related activity involving a Peace Pole (see the picture above). Here’s how she describes it:
  • when a grade level has collected $100 (for ORB), a plastic shape of a child (from a collection of children around the world – about 20′ x 30″ – will be placed outside in the ground around the “Peace Pole.”
  • The “Peace Pole” project was begun (at St. Julian) in September of 2005.
  • Last year we created our first “Circle of Friends” around the pole throughout Lent.
  • This year our circle will reach beyond our Peace Garden Circle and symbolically extend peace that begins here at St. Julian Eymard.
  • Through prayer, fasting, learning, and giving, the students can make a difference in the world.

Indeed, Terry, they ARE making a difference in the world, as are YOU! Thanks!

About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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