(7/24) Sister Martha Beaudoin, director of the Seton Center in Emmitsburg, has retired this past June after 11 years of service to the Seton Center. If you’ve ever been involved in volunteering at the Seton Center, you likely have seen or met Sister Martha providing service to those in need with passion and care.

Sister Martha started at the Seton Center as board chair in 2012. In 2015, she became not only board chair but also executive director, continuing the position until today. However, Sister Martha’s experience and involvement in social work extends beyond the Seton Center.

Since 1980, the director has been in social work, working with social charities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In fact, Sister Martha had never step foot in Maryland before working with the Seton Center, but her ministry experience has made her the perfect fit for its programs and service.

When asked what made her choose the Seton Center, Sister Martha admits that the sister who preceded her had only agreed to serve two years with the programs. Then, the center faced difficulties with attaining the right to build a new building. The center needed a new building, and at the time, Sister Martha needed to take the former director’s role.

In 2018, the Seton Center moved into a new building at 226 E Lincoln Ave, and in 2019, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a symposium at Mount St. Mary’s University. Here, Sister Martha and other staff discussed the program’s goal of "Bridges out of Poverty," which defined the center to not only help those in poverty, but also find ways to get them out of poverty. "Not only a hand-out, but a hand-up," Sister Martha described when discussing the center’s motto.

The different programs in the Seton Center are distinguished by their purposes and action. The Getting Ahead Program, in an interactive small-group format, allows participants to discover what’s best for them in efforts to build resources needed for a better life for individuals impacted by poverty. These participants will "graduate" into the Staying Ahead Program, which continues this safe and supportive environment through development of goals and leadership skills. "Over 45 people who participated saw a different direction in their lives and new goals for themselves," says Sister Martha. Frederick County was able to get funding from the state. Sister Martha hopes that these programs, which mainly happen in Frederick City, will find their ways to rural Frederick County, such as Thurmont. "Rural areas are often overlooked, as there are many needs in Frederick City," she stated. With involvement from the Seton Center, the county is more aware of their needs. These programs, for example, exhibit the Seton Center’s promise to commit to the longevity of transitioning individuals out of poverty and developing their lives.

Another program called DePaul Dental, ran by Sister Roberta Treppa, provides the resources needed for adults to improve their dental health and prevent serious illness. The Seton Center makes arrangements with different dentists to provide dental care for individuals, paid for by the center. Sister Martha notes how this program is especially helpful in developing the self-esteem of individuals struggling in poverty while also increasing the likelihood of getting jobs. This program, which educated people about dental health and even provides annual visits to the dentist, is especially beneficial in the community and supported by the Seton Center.

The center also has a Family Store, which offers a non-profit, high-quality thrift shop consisting of affordable new and pre-loved items. This store is a source of income for the Seton Center but also offers good quality items at reasonable prices for those impacted by poverty or experiencing financial issues. The store accepts cash or credit cards.

One of Sister Martha’s hopes for the program is to continue to address the transportation issue in rural Frederick County. While there is no regular transportation between Emmitsburg, Thurmont, and Frederick, the center is proposing a collaboration to provide more programs for people to use transportation, such as buses, to and from areas in the county. "This is now more of an impetus than ever," says Sister Martha, who remarks how COVID-19 has impacted the funding in Frederick County for this issue. This year, the Seton Center inaugurated a program for repairs for older cars to get help on a regular basis.

Also started this year are education sessions, sponsored by the Seton Center, open to anyone to learn about the services available to them and their community.

Sister Martha’s roles enable the staff and community to both look after and meet others’ needs. She engages in conversation with people in need and handles situations that come her way. During retirement, Sister Martha plans to use her background in social work to continue volunteering in her ministry.

Sister Martha notes how the Seton Center has been in existence for over 50 years and "has moved with the times and responded to needs of the times," a rather impressive feat. As the programs move forward, Sister Martha hopes that the center will continue the same way, looking after the needs of the community and inquiring how the center can collaborate with other agencies and "bring out the best in the community."

The Seton Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Deborah Bisenieks to the position of Executive Director, which began on June 12th.

Located in Northern Frederick County in our very own Emmitsburg, the Seton Center’s Outreach Office Hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To get involved with the center, volunteer opportunities include Outreach Office Reception, Family Store Sorting Room Assistants, Family Store Cashiers, Environmental Services, and Technology Coach. To stay informed, make a donation, or request assistance, visit their website at https://www.setoncenter.org.

Thank you to Sister Martha for her wonderful years of service and involvement to the Seton Center!