For more than 30 years, S. Carol Wirtz has lived and ministered at the U.S.-Mexico border. Since 2003, she has served at Proyecto Santo Niño in Anapra, Mexico, a center founded by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati for children with special needs and their families. Today, the center welcomes children ranging from infancy to young adulthood, providing therapy, education, and, most importantly, a sense of belonging. On any given day, 15 to 20 children gather there with their mothers and siblings, forming a close-knit community.
“The ministry is not just about therapy, although they do receive excellent therapy,” S. Carol explains. “Our main focus is building community with the mothers and children. You can’t just work with a child without working with the whole family.” Over the years, Santo Niño has become a place of support, camaraderie, and empowerment, where mothers find encouragement as they learn to care for their children.
In 2003, S. Carol, who has a background in elementary and special education, discovered a TED Talk by Anat Baniel, the creator of NeuroMovement® Education. The method is rooted in the science of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and adapt. Recognizing its potential for children with neurological disorders, she pursued a three-year certification program in California, with the support of the Sisters of Charity. In 2018, she became certified in the Anat Baniel Method of NeuroMovement® for special needs children.
“NeuroMovement® helps children organize their thoughts and movement, whether their challenges are physical, cognitive, or both,” S. Carol explains. “The method provides information to the brain through movement, helping it make new connections.”
At the center, S. Carol provides movement lessons for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, epilepsy, Down Syndrome, and autism. She also coordinates additional services, including speech, language, physical, and occupational therapies. “Connecting with the kids is miraculous,” she shares. “It gives me deep joy. I’m in the presence of love.”
The combination of movement therapy and Montessori education has led to remarkable transformations. A little girl born with a paralyzed arm can now lift and use it normally. A 9-year-old boy, once dismissed from public school as “stupid,” now thrives in math and plays chess. A girl with Down Syndrome has learned to read, while a once severely autistic boy eagerly anticipates the Sisters’ arrival each day.
Beyond the therapy and education, love remains the heart of Santo Niño. S. Carol often reflects on the Biblical call to “remember the anawim” (the poor). In prayer, she once felt a deep assurance: “You are loved, you are seen.” Now, she carries these words into her ministry, looking into the eyes of the children at Santo Niño and ensuring they, too, know this truth. “They are loved; they are seen,” she affirms. And through her work, she makes sure they feel it.
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