Father Edward Town (right), parochial vicar at St. Monica Parish in South Philadelphia, stands with Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, during the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 19, 2024. The two shared the mission and impact of CRS with Congress participants. (Photo courtesy of Father Edward Town)

By Jay Sorgi • Posted March 13, 2026

The annual Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl initiative was part of Father Edward Town’s childhood, just as it has been for countless Catholics in Philadelphia and across America.

The parochial vicar at St. Monica Parish in South Philadelphia has now become one of Catholic Relief Services’ biggest champions in Philadelphia and across the United States.

As a CRS Global Fellow, he speaks and advocates for the organization’s mission of empowering the poor globally and locally, and helping to establish local chapters for CRS.

“I’m very grateful to continue my involvement with Catholic Relief Services,” Father Town said shortly after speaking about CRS to fifth graders in his area. He was ordained last year for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The focus for priests and deacons serving as global fellows is to speak “wherever people are willing to listen,” he said.

“But I think the most important part of speaking is presenting yourself as someone who genuinely cares, and that is as a resource to people who want to help. It’s not just a one-time interaction, but we’re building a coalition, we’re building relationships, and we’re really building up the body of Christ (for) a more just world.”

St. Monica Parish remains his prime responsibility, but this new calling to evangelize and motivate people to serve the needs of the world’s poor and vulnerable comes from a long history of supporting CRS.

“I previously was involved through the seminary partnership through CRS (and) led the (St. Charles Borromeo) seminary chapter for five or six years,” Father Town said. “I was so passionate about it because I really cared about it, I really believe in the organization.”

Father Town’s work with CRS has included advocacy for Catholic Relief Services on Capitol Hill.

“I was at the CRS national gathering in Washington, D.C. a couple summers ago, and to meet staff members of our representatives, our senators, to me was very powerful,” he said.

“I had a lot of friends who work on Capitol Hill. I studied political science and economics at Florida State University. I interned for a state senator who is now in Congress. To be in that environment with a collar on, really witnessing to my faith and recognizing that I’m privileged to be here to promote the greatest cause is such an incredible joy.”

He says that while there are many organizations that do great work, CRS and the Rice Bowl program, which was born in Pennsylvania, offers an opportunity for people to empower assistance for the neediest worldwide as well as here in Philadelphia with a trustworthy organization.

“CRS is unique in just the scope of what they do, but also in their expertise and their effectiveness, as well as the fact that they are the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic Church here in the United States,” he said.

About 25% of the money raised through CRS Rice Bowl stays here in the archdiocese, going to Nutritional Development Services as part of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, while about 75% goes to Catholic Relief Services and its international efforts.

Father Edward Town (right) stands with seminarian Paul Boyer at the world headquarters of Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 12, 2023. The two participated in a three-day national training as part of the CRS seminary partnership program. (Photo courtesy of Father Edward Town)

“CRS is doing incredible work 365 days a year in over 100 countries for a couple hundred million people,” Father Town said.

“What I love about the Rice Bowl is that we live in probably the wealthiest country in the world, so we have the ability to help the people in need in our country in our local community, as well as globally. It’s not an ‘either-or.’ There’s enough money.

“That’s especially important when it comes to funding international humanitarian aid. We’re not choosing to help people overseas at the expense of helping people in our own country. We’re choosing to follow the Gospel, which is to care for all the poor.”

Father Town points out how subsidiarity – acting effectively on a local level first – and solidarity with others in need form the core of Catholic social teaching.

“Yes, we want to help at the most local level, but it’s the solidarity that we’re all brothers and sisters in Christ, and the subsidiarity component is that these countries don’t have the wealth and the resources that we do.”

He said that the need to be involved in Catholic Relief Services has become more important than ever, due to a federal pause in $60 billion payments to USAID, a major source of funding for Catholic Relief Services.

“In the next five years, it’s estimated that 14 million people will die because of the draconian cuts to international foreign aid,” he said. “To most people, that would be unsettling, and I think people want to know that before it happens.”

Father Town believes CRS Rice Bowl is a major avenue for the Church to live her mission of compassion that knows no geography.

“We help other people because we’re Catholic,” he said. “We help other people because our faith knows no bounds, no border, no limit. That’s why we help people.”

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Learn how to participate in CRS Rice Bowl here, and contact Father Town at edwardtown@gmail.com to invite him to speak locally about CRS.