Msgr. Mottet, 1930-2016
Msgr. Marvin Mottet, 86, died at the Kahl Home in Davenport on Sept. 16.
Born in Ottumwa, he graduated from St. Patrick School and Catholic Central high School there. He attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport and did his theology studies at Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
On June 2, 1956, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ralph Hayes at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. Fr. Mottet was on faculty at St. Ambrose Academy and then Assumption High School, both in Davenport, from 1956-67. He studied at the University of Iowa from 1967-68, earning a Master of Social Work. Upon his return he founded and directed the Social Action, Rural Life, Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Immigration departments for the diocese from 1969-78. He then served as national director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, D.C., from 1978-85. When he returned to the diocese he was parochial vicar, then pastor and rector, of Sacred Heart Cathedral from 1985-2005, until his retirement.
During retirement he served as the diocesan CCHD director from 2005-08 and as sacramental minister at St. Mary Parish in Davenport from 2007-08. Among other diocesan offices he held: chaplain of the Catholic Interracial Council, 1957-76; associate chaplain at Marycrest College in Davenport, 1968-70 and 1973-74; regional coordinator for Pax Christi for the state of Iowa, 1977-78; member of the St. Vincent Corporation Board, 1969-80; coordinator of Project Equity for Iowa and Nebraska, 1970-73; director of the Vietnamese resettlement program, 1975-78; board member of the Iowa Catholic Conference, 1986-98; member of the College of Diocesan Consultors, 1989-2001; dean of the Davenport Deanery, 1993-98; and member of the Presbyteral Council, 1989-96. He was given the title monsignor in 2001.
Msgr. Mottet also received several major awards, including the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award.
