OPS Staff Update

On the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Bishop Fabre promulgated Plans of Hope, a strategic plan designed for the renewal of parish life. To support implementation of Plans of Hope within parishes, the Office of Parish Support was established to oversee implementation of parish-based strategic planning initiatives for the "Sunday experience," adult formation, youth formation, and major life moments (baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc.)

Since July 2019, Bishop Fabre has worked closely with senior executive leadership regarding the reorganization of the Office of Parish Support so as to provide long-term leadership necessary for further support to parishes.

In July 2020, Bishop Fabre announced the details of the reorganization of the Office of Parish Support which includes the following:



VERY REV. MARK TOUPS, V.G. has served as co-founder of the Office of Parish Support since 2017.  Fr. Mark has been named Outgoing Co-Director of the Office of Parish Support and, as such, from July through December 2020, he will mentor David Dawson, the new  Incoming Director of the Office of Parish Support.  Fr. Mark will serve in this role until no later than January 1, 2021.


KRISTIN NIEDBALA has served as co-founder of the Office of Parish Support since 2017.  Ms. Niedbala has been named Outgoing Co-Director of the Office of Parish Support and, as such, from July through December 2020, she will establish a new liaison team within the Office of Parish Support.  Ms. Niedbala will serve in this role until January 1, 2021.

DAVID DAWSON has joined the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as  Incoming Director of the Office of Parish Support of the Office of Parish Support.  David is a 38-year old native of Baton Rouge. He has been married to Kate for 13 years and they have eight children, aged eleven years and younger. 

He brings over 14 years of professional ministry leadership experience, most recently serving the Archdiocese of New Orleans as Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life since 2014. He has served as National Coordinator for Domestic Church, as well as State Curriculum Coordinator for the Governor’s Program on Abstinence.

David will join the Office of Parish Support on August 15, 2020. David will join Fr. Mark Toups and Kristin Niedbala as they serve as Outgoing Co-Directors. Fr. Mark and Kristin will mentor David as he assumes leadership of the Office of Parish Support.

 

FR. PATRICK RIVIERE has been named Priest Liaison of the Office of Parish Support. Fr. Patrick will serve as a liaison to assigned parishes.  He will also assist the Office of Parish Support liaison team as subject matter expert for preaching and other aspects of the “Sunday experience.”  Fr. Patrick will represent the Office of Parish Support at all deanery meetings and serve as the official Office of Parish Support spokesperson to the presbyterate when they are gathered as a whole.




STEPHEN ESTES has joined the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as Liaison and Adult Formation Specialist of the Office of Parish Support.  Stephen will serve as a liaison to assigned parishes.  He will also assist the Office of Parish Support liaison team as subject matter expert for adult formation.  Stephen will also oversee the ongoing formation of the liaison team.




REBECCA ABBOUD has served the Office of Parish Support part-time since July 1, 2019.  Rebecca will now serve the Office of Parish Support full-time as Liaison and Youth Formation Specialist.  Rebecca will serve as a liaison to assigned parishes. She will also assist the Office of Parish Support liaison team as subject matter expert for youth formation.




JOE KLAPATCH has served the Office of Parish Support since December 1, 2018. Joe will now serve the Office of Parish Support as Liaison and Logistics Specialist. Joe will serve as a liaison to assigned parishes.  He will also assist the Office of Parish Support with event and logistics management.




TRUDY CLEMENT has served as co-founder of the Office of Parish Support since 2017.  Trudy has been named and, as such, as of July 1, 2020, she will begin serving Bishop Fabre with executive level administrative assistance.