Local News

Sept. 7, 2006

Longtime Catholic Charities leader retires after 28 years on the job

By Ambria Hammel
The Catholic Sun

Maureen Webster called it a privilege to be involved in people’s lives when they needed help the most.

She was so passionate about being there for people in the name of the Church that Webster found herself in tears last year. That’s when the first family Webster helped in 1978 returned to Catholic Charities Community Services to say “thank you.”

“It was such a gift,” she said, beginning to fight off tears. “I was so grateful that I was still here when they came back.”

Webster retired from the social service organization Aug. 31 after nearly 30 years of helping those in crisis start new lives.

She spoke like a proud parent as she recalled learning that one of the seven children in that family is now a doctor and another an accountant.

 “I think she was always looking for ways to help those on the margins of society,” said Paul Martodam, CEO of Catholic Charities. Webster found ways to help multiple groups of people.

Webster settled into Catholic Charities, then Catholic Social Service, as a casework supervisor in 1978. She oversaw the refugee and immigration services programs where she helped establish the unaccompanied refugee minors division of the program and resettled 500-700 people each year.

Catholic Charities helps refugees find a home, get an education and secure a job.

“They all come here trusting that someone is going to help them… and quickly become productive members of society,” Webster said.

The staff are able to adapt because they — many being refugees themselves — embrace diversity. The 32 languages the staff speaks collectively help them communicate with families arriving from places such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Despite the diversity, Webster recognizes a common core in the human spirit.

“We want peace, freedom, to see our families grow. We don’t want to live in fear,” she said. As Webster advanced in the agency, she had a hand in starting other programs at Catholic Charities, including counseling, foster care and group homes.

“She’s a wonderful role model. She’s a person of the highest integrity,” said Mary Menacker, who predates Webster at the organization.

Webster became regional director of the Phoenix area in 1993 and ultimately helped establish a program focused on deterring prostitution. She secured a $10,000 grant to bring DIGNITY, Developing Individual Growth and New Independence Through Yourself, from the jail where it started to the community.

The program continues to serve 700 people each year in some capacity.

The Phoenix regional service center served more than 44,000 people through 52 different programs last year. Still, Webster said the resources have not grown proportionately with the Valley.

“It seems over the years that people’s problems are much more complex. Life is just so fast and complicated,” she said.

Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN
Maureen Webster shares a laugh with Fr. Tom Zurcher during a retirement celebration held in her honor Aug. 30.