St John’s participates in the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl project. Rice Bowl provides opportunities for Lenten prayer, fasting and alms giving. CRS does provide direct assistance, including  disaster relief and food and medical services. But one of the most brilliant aspects of CRS is its commitment to local capacity-building. CRS workers are local people. They help communities by advising ways to improve sanitation, access to clean water, and effective local farming and business development, including the support of micro financing.