Msgr. Marvin Mottet '52 — a champion of social justice and the 2008 recipient of the very Pacem in Terris Award he helped to create with the Diocese of Davenport — died Friday, Sept. 16 at the Kahl Home in Davenport. He was 86.
Msgr. Mottet celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood just three months prior to his death.
Msgr. Mottet's legacy extended beyond St. Ambrose, but he remained close to his alma mater throughout his life in the priesthood.
"Msgr. Mottet was one of those towering figures, not only in the life of St. Ambrose University, but far beyond the Quad-Cities," said Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, St. Ambrose president. "He reminded generations of people of the Christian message that all God's people deserve respect and justice. We will miss him, but his spirit will remain with us."
Rev. Charles Adam, the SAU chaplain, recalled the story, oft-repeated by Msgr. Mottet, of how Mottet, came to St. Ambrose from his hometown in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Msgr. Mottet described himself as "an 18 year who had made no plans for his future after high school graduation," Fr. Adam remembered. "His pastor instructed him to get in his car and they drove him to the then St. Ambrose College where was enrolled. While at St. Ambrose Marv was profoundly influenced by professors engaged in social activism inspired by the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church.
"I first met Msgr. Mottet while I was a seminarian at Catholic University in Washington, DC, during which time he was the national director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development," Fr. Adam continued. "I have always been inspired the incredible energy he always displayed in working for important causes. In his later years, he would call me, sometimes even from the hospital or while undergoing dialysis to discuss an idea he had or a program he wanted to promote. On numerous occasions as director of Campus Ministry here at St. Ambrose I have picked up my mail to discover a letter from Msgr. Mottet, the envelope so often contained a newspaper clippings telling about some college program that address a social justice issue.
"He wanted current college students to experience a transformation through social justice education similar to what he experienced at St. Ambrose. I will miss his enthusiastic support for the work of campus ministry in the promotion of service and social justice. But I know that his legacy lives on at St. Ambrose particularly through Ambrosians for Peace and Justice."
It does through the people here who learned through the example of Msgr. Mottet's powerful belief in social justice and economic and racial equality. Fr. Adam noted one such person is Rev. Brian Miclot, PhD, a St. Ambrose professor of philosophy.
"Fr. Miclot tells of having been taught by Fr. Mottet as a high school student at Assumption High School," Fr. Adam shared. "Brian says he was falling asleep in his class and woke up with the sudden realization, 'I want to be working for justice the way Fr. Mottet is.' It was the moment that began Fr. Miclot's path to the priesthood and education career at St. Ambrose.
Msgr. Mottet's first Diocesan assignment following his ordination was as a teacher at the St. Ambrose Academy. He later taught at Assumption High School.
Msgr. Mottet was the director of the Diocesan Social Action Department, Rural Life Department, and the Campaign for Human Development and Immigration from 1969-1978. 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 1978-1985.
Msgr. Mottet returned to the Davenport Diocese in 1985 where he served as Parochial Vicar, Rector, and Pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral, retiring 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 that included Associate Chaplain at Marycrest College, the Vietnamese Resettlement Program Director, Iowa Catholic Conference Board Member, College of Diocesan Consulter's, Dean of the Davenport Deanery, Presbyteral Council, and Director of the CCHD for the Davenport Diocese.
Msgr. Mottet was instrumental in the creation of the Pacem in Terris Award in 1964 and played a prominent role in the acceptance of the award by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965 and by the now Saint Teresa in 1976. He was presented the award in 2008 and also a McMullen Award from St. Ambrose in 2007.
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