Annual Bishop’s Appeal

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The Annual Bishop’s Appeal helps meet obligations to retired priests

Story by Janet Marcel ~ Photo by Tyler Neil

Once a year, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre makes a direct plea to the people of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux to support certain diocesan ministries through their prayers and financial contributions to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal (ABA).

“With regard to our retired priests, I reflect on the Scripture passage, ‘ … The laborer is worthy of his wages’ (1 Timothy 5:18) and even when the laborer retires he is still worth his wage,” says Bishop Fabre. “The Appeal helps us meet our obligations to our retired priests, which basically fall into two categories – retirement income for them and responsibility for their healthcare needs and health insurance.”

Many of our retired priests still continue to minister to the faithful by assisting active pastors with celebrating Masses, funerals and the sacraments, as well as in other ways.

Father Wilmer L. Todd was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 21, 1963, at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and retired from active ministry in June 2007 after almost 44 years of service to the people in Southeast Louisiana. He has been called to re-enter active ministry more than once to replace pastors who have had to leave for extended periods of time for various reasons.

Father Todd says one of the things he loves most about the priesthood is the liturgy and celebrating Mass with people, especially those who appreciate liturgy. In addition to a master of divinity degree from Notre Dame a

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Seminary, Father Todd has a master of education degree in psychology and guidance from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, and is a certified teacher. “I have a background in psychology and I also enjoy being around people, dealing with them through confession and on a more personal level through counseling,” says the priest.

The New Orleans native says one of the reasons he decided to become a part of the newly formed Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in 1977 rather than stay in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, was that he liked the fatherly image of (the late) Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux, who served as Houma-Thibodaux’s first bishop. “I always looked at the archdiocese as so big and more impersonal, and I felt like people who ‘go for the rocking chair’ are gone much sooner than those who stay active. I have always loved meeting people, conversing with them and celebrating Mass. And in retirement, I can still do that … but when the air conditioner breaks, it’s not my problem!”

Shortly after he retired, Father Todd joined St. Catherine Hospice Group in Laplace but after a few years the drive back and forth became too much. He then joined Journey Hospice of Houma, which he is still involved with. As chaplain for Journey Hospice, Father Todd does public relations type activities such as singing at nursing homes, which he enjoys and hopes to be able to get back to after the restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic end. He also

takes part in a self-help television show that airs on HTV in Houma.

The Annual Bishop’s Appeal sustains a lot of welldeserving causes, says Father Todd, such as retired priests, seminarians and Catholic education, which are all very important to the church. He has always believed in the principle of biblical stewardship where you are called to give back the first 10 percent of your earnings. His philosophy is to give five percent to your church parish; one percent to your diocese and four percent to other worthy charities.

“The causes funded by the Annual Bishop’s Appeal are all very needed by the diocese,” says Father Todd, who urges everyone to give whatever they can to support these essential ministries in our diocese. BC

I could make a bigger impact or more of a difference here. Another reason is that I had only served in the area that was to become the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.”

Father Todd’s first pastoral experience was as a deacon in 1963 at St. Francis de Sales Church parish in Houma. His first assignment after he was ordained was as associate pastor at St. Joseph Church parish in Chauvin. When this diocese was established in 1977, he was serving as pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux. He went on to serve as pastor of Holy Cross in Morgan City, St. Bernadette in Houma, and St. Genevieve and St. Luke the Evangelist in Thibodaux.

Father Todd says this about why he has remained so active even though he is “officially” retired. “I believe staying active helps you to live longer. In my experience