Madden named administrator for Houma-Thibodaux Diocese

The Rev. Patrick “P.J.” Madden has been named the new administrator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, the diocese announced.
Madden will serve as the diocese’s leader until Pope Francis appoints a bishop to succeed Shelton Fabre, who became archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky, last month.
Madden, 76, is a native of Ballinasloe, Ireland, and was ordained in May 2004. He served as associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary (Larose) and St. Bernadette (Houma), and pastor at St. Genevieve (Thibodaux) and St. Hilary (Mathews).
A priest for 18 years, Madden essentially has the same authority as a diocesan bishop, except for matters which would have long-term consequences, the diocese said in a press release.
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux College met Friday to elect the new diocesan administrator. The Rev. Charlie Perkins said of Madden’s election, who Canon Law defines as the chairman of the College of Consultors because he is senior in years of ordination: “Fr. P.J. is a much loved, veteran priest of our diocese who has great respect from his brother priests. The College of Consultors is confident that he will successfully fulfill the responsibilities as Diocesan Admin-istrator as he serves the people.
“We also feel that Fr. P.J. is an excellent choice because he will move us forward until our next bishop is formally installed. We pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide him in this new position. We also acknowledge the wonderful leadership of Archbishop Fabre during his time here, and we wish him the best as the new shepherd of Louisville.”
Fabre was installed as the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville on March 30.
When Fabre received news of Madden’s election, he said, “My sincere congratulations and best wishes to my brother priest Fr. P.J. after his selection today as Diocesan Administrator. I rejoiced when I learned of this news from Houma-Thibodaux!
“I have the utmost confidence that Fr. P.J. will serve the needs of Houma-Thibodaux well in the near future until the diocese learns of the Holy See’s choice of my successor.”
“Please allow me to begin by expressing my gratitude to the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux College of Consultors who today elected me as Diocesan Administrator,” Madden said in the press release.
“I am both humbled and excited by this opportunity, and I pledge to serve the needs of this wonderful diocese to the very best of my ability. With heartfelt sincerity, I promise to love and serve the faithful of this diocese in the pastoral spirit as did our beloved now Archbishop Shelton Fabre.
“As a priest of this diocese, I remain aware of the great suffering many still endure because of the devastation of Hurricane Ida. As Archbishop Fabre said often: ‘In God we place our hope and our trust, and we are confident that God will never leave us to endure anything alone.’”
For more information regarding the process of electing a new Diocesan Administrator, as well when and how the diocese will receive a new bishop, visit the diocesan website at: https://htdiocese.org/diocesan-administrator.