By Anne Healy Ayella • Posted October 29, 2026

1976 was a very special year for the City of Philadelphia as we celebrated the Bicentennial of our Nation. For me, it was special since I graduated from St. Joseph’s University and certainly for area Catholics and beyond, it was special as we welcomed tens of thousands of visitors to share in the joy of the Eucharist as we hosted the 41^st International Eucharistic Congress.

Among the notable guests were Archbishop Fulton Sheen, St. Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, Archbishop Dom Helder Camara, Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (the future St. Pope John Paul II).  All of these special guests have had their causes for canonization advanced since then.

In addition to the special visitors, the congress brought together individuals, families, priests, religious sisters, teachers and students from all over to celebrate the gift of the Eucharist and to help us make the connection between Jesus, the Bread of Life who nourishes us and our call to feed the hungers of the human family.

Father Arrupe, the superior general of the Jesuits at the time, emphasized the connection by stating “the celebration of the Eucharist is incomplete so long as there is hunger in the world.” His words remind us that true participation in the Eucharist calls for action against injustice, especially hunger.

The theme of the congress was “The Hungers of the Human Family.” Each day focused on a particular hunger, such as the Hunger for God; the Hunger for Bread; the Hunger for Freedom and Justice; the Hunger for the Spirit; the Hunger for Truth; the Hunger for Understanding; the Hunger for Peace and the Hunger for Jesus, the Bread of Life.

My involvement was primarily with the second day, which focused on the Hunger for Bread. Jesuit Father Edward Brady, director of the Faith Justice Institute at St. Joseph’s University, was the driving force behind that day. He challenged all of us involved to take action and to embrace the link between faith and action.

One of the key actions was Operation Rice Bowl, an effort that started in the Diocese of Allentown by Msgr. Bob Coll. Rice Bowl called Catholics to join in solidarity with the hungry by eating a simple meal one day a week during the Lenten season and donating the money saved to Rice Bowl.

What started small has grown into a national annual commitment by U.S. Catholics and has helped over 360 million people in need build healthier futures. In 1977, U.S. Catholic bishops voted to declare Rice Bowl an official program of Catholic Relief Services.

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in 1976, the call to make the profound connection between the Eucharist and feeding the hungry remains critical.

CRS Rice Bowl remains a lasting legacy that continues to challenge all of us to action and solidarity on behalf of the human family.

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Anne Healy Ayella is CRS Diocesan Director in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.