By Anne Marie Amacher
For his dedication to helping others through social justice awareness and participation, Msgr. Marvin Mottet will be grand marshal of the St. Patrick Society Grand Parade on March 14.
John Scally of the St. Patrick Society said Msgr. Mottet has been an asset to the Quad-City community and is “a pretty classy guy.”
The grand marshal is selected in January each year by the board of directors and officers. Previous marshals have included priests, politicians, physicians, businessmen and others. “We have selected top people,” Scally said.
Msgr. Mottet, who retired as a parish priest in 2005, has served in the Diocese of Davenport in parishes and at the diocesan offices. He also headed what is now known as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, D.C.
This year’s Irish Mother of the Year is Rosemary McGuire Meade of Geneseo, Ill., Scally noted.
Festivities begin the day before the parade, with The Gathering of the Clan luncheon March 13. A Mass kicks off the Saturday events at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Rock Island, Ill. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. in Rock Island at 24th Street and Fourth Avenue and proceeds through downtown Rock Island, across Centennial Bridge and through downtown Davenport. The parade ends around 1:30 p.m.
A post-parade bash follows at the Col Ballroom where the doors open at 1 p.m.
The St. Patrick Society has held the parade, along with a luncheon the day before and the day after the parade, since 1986.
For more information on the bash, call (563) 324-5000.
