Total revenues raised for its relief services were about $945 million last year.
The first was a relief service to allow farming families the opportunity to have a holiday away from the farm.
In the following years more relief services were organized.
In his 37 years in the field, the number of countries served by the relief service grew from 12 to 73.
Catholic Relief Services is certainly not the only charity to get off to a slow start.
An official said the smell from bodies was so strong in some places that relief services and the search for the dead had been hindered.
He was director of Catholic Relief Services from 1982 to 1987.
He became the first executive director of Catholic Relief Services in 1943.
Catholic Relief Services: the beginning years ; for the life of the world.
South Florida residents affected by the storm can call (800) 342-3557 or (800) 682-3362 for information about relief services.