News

Fr. Marty Carr dies

Fr. Martin Carr, known for his care of the poor in Oshkosh and the surrounding area for more than 30 years, died on June 17. The founder of the Place 2B died at the multi-facility center of complications from diabetes. He was 65.

On June 13, he released a statement that he was prepared for his impending death and was happy. He received visitors until shortly before his death.

In 1974, Fr. Carr founded a youth center in the basement of St. Peter Parish in Oshkosh, where he had been assigned as associate pastor after his May 24th ordination to the priesthood. He called the center "The Place 2B." It was later moved to the downtown area on Main Street. In 1974, he also founded a food pantry called "Bread for the Poor," which became the name of his annual Thanksgiving Day collection.

The Place 2B expanded over the years to include various homeless shelters - The Martin de Porres Center, the Mother Teresa Center and The Bethlehem Inn - as well as the free St. Francis medical clinic. It also offered free meals daily. All the facilities were moved to Oshkosh Avenue about five years ago, to form a complex along Highway 41, where the youth center had moved several years earlier.

Fr. Martin Patrick Carr was born on March 17, 1942 in Evanston Ill. He graduated from St. Francis Seminary in 1974 and was ordained to the priesthood by Bp. Mark Schmitt on May 24, 1974, at St. Bernard Parish in Appleton. He had served his transitional diaconate at St. Bernard and at Roncalli High School in Manitowoc. He also did chaplaincy training at St. Luke Hospital and DePaul Drug and Alcohol Center, both in Milwaukee and at the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institute in Sheboygan County. He was appointed to St. Peter in Oshkosh in 1974 and, in 1975, was named chaplain of the diocesan central council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Fr. Carr was released from diocesan parish assignment to work in youth ministry in the Oshkosh area on May 1, 1979. On June 1, 1996, he was released from any diocesan assignment and allowed to accept the position as director with Place 2B Corporation.

Visitation for Fr. Carr will be on Sunday, June 24, from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Mother Teresa Center at 1965 Oshkosh Ave. Reception of the body will be by the regional vicar, Fr. Doug LeCaptain. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, June 25. A prayer vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 449 High Ave. The Mass for Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. at St. Peter. Bp. David Zubik will preside. Local priests will concelebrate.

A pizza lunch will follow at the Mother Teresa Center. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.

A memorial celebration for "Father Marty" will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Place 2B. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to The Place 2B, 1965 Oshkosh Ave., Oshkosh, 54901.

The Place 2B will continue its charitable work under the temporary administration of Dcn. Keith Holschbach. A search for a permanent director has begun.