Fr. Norman directs Hand of Help, an orphanage in Mexico for 170 children (a lot more children now). He also oversees a nursing home for 20 elderly people. Hand of Help (Mano de Ayuda) is a mission of mercy originally started by a monk from Pecos. It is now under the direction of Fr. Norman, who is a priest from the Pueblo, Colo., diocese. Fr. Norman and his hard-working staff are grateful for the labors of a band of twelve volunteers from the San Luis Valley in Colorado. This group came to Hand of Help twice and revamped the entire water system. A government secondary school has now been set up at Santa Maria, where the orphanage is located. This eliminates the need to bus the students over rough roads every day. (The school is now privately run).
Unfortunately there have been some setbacks too. The Mexican government no longer gives
tax deductions for donations. This means that companies that used to supply the orphanage with
milk, chiles, cereals, eggs and shoes no longer can do it. Inflation continues at 30% a year. Just
keeping all the children in shoes "is enough to make one scream out of mercy," says Fr. Norman.
In what seems like a conservative figure he estimates that it takes about $600 a day to keep their
three homes operating (now four homes). Doing all that Hand of Help does for 200 people for
$3.00 each day is a remarkable tribute to the dedication of Fr. Norman and the staff.
Nevertheless they do need to raise $600 a day just to survive. And that is why once each year we
remind our readers of this worthy mission and make an appeal for funds. If you are moved to
make a contribution, please send it to: Hand of Help, c/o Fr. C.A. Norman, Society of our Lady
of the Most Holy Trinity, P.O. Box 1406, Robstown, Texas, 78380.