In discussions with members of the Iraqi Board of Education, his knowledge of Arabic "enabled him to refute his opponents by referring them to their own law books.

"[2] On November 19, 1938, Pope Pius XI appointed Rice Titular Bishop of Rusicade and Vicar Apostolic of Belize (British Honduras).

The principal co-consecrators were Bishop Thomas O'Leary of Springfield in Massachusetts and Archbishop Francis Spellman of New York.

He promoted Gregorian chant, strove to develop good choirs at the cathedral, and encouraged the congregation to participate through singing, personally leading the children in hymn practice.

[2] It was also during Rice's term that the pioneering work of Marion M. Ganey, initiator of credit unions and cooperatives in Belize, the Fiji Islands, and South Pacific, began.