Woodland Hills of Duluth began in 1909 as St. James Home for orphaned children, staffed by the Sisters of St. Scholastica. Renamed Woodland Hills in 1975, it provides mental health and justice programs for young people at risk due to psychological trauma. Sister Mary Martin Beringer served at St. James from 1962 to 1975. Devoted to ‘her boys’, she helped raise them to be healthy, balanced adults, and continued to love and advocate for them through prayer until her death in 2016.
In 2002, Woodland Hills instituted the Beringer Guiding Light Award in honor of Sister Mary Martin, who received the first reward. Each year the award recognizes individuals or organizations for their championing of youth in our region and state. This year’s recipients are Robert Mars, Jr., awarded posthumously, and Jeff Bauer. Accepting Mr. Mars’ award are his wife Ann and son Bruce. Representing the St. Scholastica Community are Sister Beverly Raway, Prioress, and Sister Luella Wegscheid, niece of Sister Mary Martin.
This year’s recipients are Robert Mars, Jr., awarded posthumously, and Jeff Bauer. Accepting Mr. Mars’ award were his wife Ann and son Bruce. Representing the St. Scholastica Community were Sister Beverly Raway, Prioress, and Sister Luella Wegscheid, niece of Sister Mary Martin.
Ann Mars, Sister Luella Wegscheid, Bruce Mars, Sister Beverly Raway, and Jeff Bauer.