Rev. Msgr. Marvin A. Mottet
Deceased: 2016-09-16
Diocese: DAVENPORT
ICTE Fall: 1993
Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial for Monsignor Marvin A. Mottet, 86, a resident of Davenport, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., Davenport. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main St., downtown Davenport, where a prayer service will be offered at 6 p.m. There will be additional visitation prior to Mass at church, from 9-9:45 a.m. Msgr. Mottet died Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at the Kahl Home in Davenport.
Marvin Alfred Mottet was born May 31, 1930, in Ottumwa, Iowa, a son of Clarence Joseph and Margaret Gertrude (Schwartz) Mottet. Msgr. Mottet graduated from St. Ambrose College and the Center for Intercultural Formation in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He did advanced studies at the University of Notre Dame, Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, and the University of Iowa. Msgr. completed his theological studies at Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. Msgr. Mottet was ordained by Bishop Hayes on June 2, 1956, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. His first assignment was on the faculty of St. Ambrose Academy, Davenport, from 1956-58, and at Assumption High School, Davenport, from 1958-67.
Msgr. Mottet was the director of the Diocesan Social Action Department, Rural Life Department and the Campaign for Human Development and Immigration from 1969-78. During his role as Social Action Director, Msgr. wrote the “two feet of social justice” model that is widely used today to explain the difference between social service and social action. He also served as the National Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington, D.C., from 1978-85. Msgr. Mottet returned to the Davenport Diocese in 1985, where he served as Parochial Vicar, Rector and Pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral, retiring in July 1, 2005. Msgr. was a founder of the Quad-Cities Interfaith, Interfaith Housing and the East Side Davenport Development Groups. He has also been involved with the National Conference of Catholic Charities, Young Christian Workers, the Catholic Committee of Urban Ministry and the Young Christian Students organizations. He also held some Diocesan Offices, which included Associate Chaplain at Marycrest College, the Vietnamese Resettlement Program Director, Iowa Catholic Conference Board Member, College of Diocesan Consulters, Dean of the Davenport Deanery, Presbyteral Council, and Director of the CCHD for the Davenport Diocese. Msgr. was also the recipient of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award in 2008.
Msgr. Mottet is survived by his brother, Bernard V. Mottet, Ottumwa, Iowa; numerous loving nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings; two sisters, Mary Catherine “Katy” Bailey and Lucille Dougherty; three brothers; Wilbert J. “Bill” Mottet, John Francis “Jack” Mottet, Paul LaVern Mottet.
