Deacon Melvin (Mel) Marts dies at age 82 Outreach Line

Deacon Melvin J. Marts, a native and resident of Larose, passed away Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, at the age of 82. Deacon Marts was ordained to the permanent diaconate in December 1980, and retired from active ministry in May 2017.

After being ordained, he served as a deacon at Our Lady of the Rosary Church parish in Larose for four years, and at St. Joseph Church parish in Galliano for six months before leaving parish ministry to develop Shalom Catholic Ministries, an evangelical ministry of music and preaching. For 30 years he traveled across the continental United States conducting parish missions, preaching retreats, and preaching at local, diocesan and regional Catholic Charismatic conferences. He served on the advisory board to the National Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the United States and on the steering committee for the Southern Regional Charismatic Conference for 20 years.

In 2016, he was appointed to minister at Holy Savior Church parish in Lockport.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated by Father Robert Rogers at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Larose, with interment in the church mausoleum. Deacon Marts is survived by his children, Karen Marts and Karlas Marts Fontenot; grandchildren, Lindsay Marts, Jared Scott, Whitney Scott and Jessica Scott; great grandchildren, Justin and Zoey Brooks; brother, Morris J. Marts (Betty). He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Mayer Marts; parents, Warren J. Marts and Beulah Mack Marts. BC

In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is offering an Outreach Line (formerly known as the Child Protection Contact Line). The Outreach Line is an effort to continue the diocesan commitment to support healing for people who have been hurt or sexually abused recently or in the past by clergy, religious or other employees of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. A trained mental health professional responds to the line. Individuals are offered additional assistance if requested.

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Outreach Line

Telephone number is (985) 873-0026 or (985) 850-3172

Línea de Comunicación Diocesana

Con el fin de cumplir con las Políticas de Protección de Niños y Jóvenes de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Los Estados Unidos, la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux ofrece una Línea de Comunicación (antes Línea de Contacto para la Protección de los Niños). La Línea de Comunicación es parte del esfuerzo diocesano de comprometerse con el mejoramiento de aquéllos que han sido lastimados o abusados sexualmente recientemente o en el pasado por miembros del clero, religiosos u otros empleados de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux.

El horario de la Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux es de 8:30 a.m. a 4:30 p.m., de lunes a viernes. El encargado de esta línea es un profesional capacitado en salud mental. Se ofrece asistencia adicional al ser solicitada.

Línea de Comunicación de la Diócesis de Houma-Thibodaux Número de teléfono (985) 873-0026 o (985) 850-3172

Ñeå höôûng öùng Hieán chöông Baûo veä Treû em vaø Giôùi treû töø Hoäi ñoàng Giaùm muïc Hoa kyø, Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux ñang chuaån bò ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp (luùc tröôùc laø ñöôøng daây lieân laïc baûo veä treû em). Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp laø moät söï coá gaéng cuûa giaùo phaän nhaèm cam keát haøn gaén naâng ñôõ nhöõng ai ñaõ bò toån thöông hoaëc bò laïm duïng tính duïc hoaëc gaàn ñaây hoaëc trong quaù khöù bôûi giaùo só, tu só hoaëc caùc coâng nhaân vieân cuûa Giaùo phaän Houma-Thibodaux. Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän hoaït ñoäng töø 8:30 saùng ñeán 4:30 chieàu, thöù hai ñeán thöù saùu. Moät nhaân vieân chuyeân nghieäp veà söùc khoûe taâm thaàn traû lôøi treân ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi. Nhöõng caù nhaân seõ ñöôïc trôï giuùp naâng ñôõ theâm neáu caàn.

Ñöôøng daây ñieän thoaïi Cöùu giuùp Giaùo phaän

Soá ñieän thoaïi: (985) 873-0026; (985) 850-3172

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has always been a steadfast presence in our diocese. However, it has offered many different programs and gone through many changes over the years, including changes in leadership. Following is a brief history of the agency, provided by Robert D. Gorman, L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., who served as its executive director from 1999 until 2019.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux began as an outreach program of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1963; the agency was first known as Associated Catholic Charities Tri-Parish Area located at 307 East Main Street in Houma on the second floor.

The following is taken from a 1981 written report about Catholic Social Services:

“The Tri-Parish Office of Catholic Charities opened October 1963 (as a branch of Associated Catholic Charities of New Orleans) after it was suggested that the residents of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes could be better served if a branch office were located in the area itself. Mrs. Azelie Zieger of Houma was the first social worker and began the task of communicating with tri-parish clergy and residents so that they would know the services of the agency. The agency’s primary purpose was to handle adoption processing, maternity cases, and placement of children in foster homes and/or archdiocesan institutions. Counseling was also provided. Eventually, emergency assistance was found to be a necessity. The Houma office, as it was known, was the only private agency in the area that cooperated with public agencies and church organizations in granting assistance to worthy cases. Funding was through the annual Christmas collection, adoption fees, donations and the annual drive.

1970s

The agency continued as a branch of the New Orleans Catholic Charities until 1972, when it became separately incorporated. Articles of Incorporation were established, and the name changed to Catholic Charities Social Services of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes, Incorporated. The Louisiana State Department of Public Welfare granted the Licensure. Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) in emergency assistance funds were distributed in the first 15 years (19631978). From 1963-1975, over 300 children were placed for adoption, and 200 maternity cases were handled.

Upon the retirement of Mrs. Ziegler in June 1973, Sister Ethalee Mulhern, O. Carm. succeeded Mrs. Ziegler as adoption supervisor. In August 1974, Sister Ethalee was appointed director of the agency.

According to its Articles of Incorporation of June 29, 1972, Catholic Charities of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes, Inc., was organized “to encourage, promote, advancing and conducting a Catholic welfare program to develop wholesome Catholic family life.” To affect this purpose, the agency was licensed by the Department of

Public Welfare of the State of Louisiana to “place children in adoptive homes, foster care homes, institutions, care for unwed mothers and accept surrenders of infants.” The agency also provided emergency assistance and counseling services.

In March 1977, a new diocese was announced, and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux was officially created on June 5, 1977, with Warren L. Boudreaux as the First Bishop. The diocese consists of Lafourche, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes (to the east bank of the Atchafalaya River in Morgan City), Grand Isle (Jefferson Parish), and the Bayou L’Ourse area of Assumption and St. Martin Parishes. On August 1, 1978, Catholic Social Services was incorporated as an independent agency of the newly formed Diocese of HoumaThibodaux. In 1978, the office moved to 1222 Aycock Street in Houma in the back of the former St. Lucy Church, while the Chancery was located next door at 1220 Aycock Street.

1980s

By 1981, the adoption program had slowed considerably –from over 22 placements annually in the late 60s and early 70s to an average of two placements annually in the early 80s. Maternity home placements had also dropped drastically – from an average of 70 annually to 10 or less annually. The two services of the agency that remained viable were the material assistance program and counseling. The material assistance grew from approximately $3,600 in emergency financial assistance to $13,000 annually. The counseling service expanded to include three counselors who were seeing approximately 200 clients annually in the late 70s. However, by 1981 there was only one counselor, and the case load had drastically dropped.”

In 1982, Sister Miriam Mitchell, S.H.Sp. became the executive director of Catholic Social Services. It became apparent that the purposes for which the agency was formed were no longer viable. It was necessary to evaluate and set new goals if the agency was to survive. The new goal was Social Action Ministry, which includes helping individuals and families achieve an acceptable standard of living; building social support systems; eliminating the adverse effects institutions have on people; and educating people about critical justice issues. To reach this goal, the following activities were projected for the agency in 1982:

• To develop social ministry programs in parishes throughout the diocese – individually or in clusters. We thus would return to the laity the privilege and responsibility of living out their baptismal call.

• To establish a shelter for battered women and children in cooperation with other concerned groups.

• To organize a clearinghouse to coordinate, with other charitable organizations and groups, material assistance efforts. Thus we could have a viable tool to screen all emergency assistance requests from transient and local families/individuals.