Catholic Charities Boston and the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston Join Together to Preserve Programs and Expand Services

SOUTH BOSTON, MA – In an effort to preserve the programs provided by the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston, Catholic Charities Boston (CCAB) has announced it will absorb its portfolio and continue to operate for staff and students.

The Notre Dame Education Center, founded in 1992 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, requested that Catholic Charities take over its programs and has transferred its property at 202 Old Colony Avenue to CCAB. Notre Dame Education Center (NDEC) staff members will now be employed by CCAB.

Catholic Charities plans to seamlessly continue the programming and rely on community input to determine potential future offerings that could be provided to meet the needs in South Boston. The nearby Labouré Center offers childcare, adult education classes, counseling, as well as refugee and immigrant services.

“Catholic Charities is proud of our work and long history in the South Boston community. We are glad to be able to help preserve the programming at the Notre Dame Education Center,” said Larry Mayes, Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations at Catholic Charities Boston. “We will continue to work with our South Boston neighbors to make sure the most-needed services and programs exist into the future.”

‘“As chair of Notre Dame Education Center for the past 25 years, I and the Board of Directors would like to thank the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, the staff and faculty and our developers who helped us secure such a beautiful facility at Old Colony Avenue,” said Charlie Shediac, Chair of the Board at NDEC. “We appreciate the commitment of Catholic Charities, and the Board feels comfortable that CCAB will continue our mission in its absorption of our property, students, grants, and staff. We also want to thank the community and donors for their support over the years for our mission.”

The Notre Dame Education Center currently provides alternative education programs for youth, including the (HiSET) program, which allows students who left high school prior to graduation to receive the recognized credentials necessary for college entrance, trade school enrollment, military enlistment, or employment.

“I am happy to see the preservation of this education program stay within the South Boston community and for it to be continued with a great organization,” said Senator Nick Collins. “We are thankful to the Labouré Center and Catholic Charities Boston for taking on the portfolio of this program, in addition to all the work they already do.”

Currently, CCAB operates an array of adult education and workforce development programs, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), IT training, high school equivalency programs, and nursing assistant and home health aide training, in Jamaica Plain, South Boston, Brockton, Lynn, and Dorchester.

“I’m grateful for the work of Catholic Charities to preserve adult education programming in our community and I look forward to continuing conversations on how to increase services for our neighbors,” said Representative David Biele.