On February 16, 1872, Pope Pius IX separated what was then a sprawling Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, and the Diocese of Ogdensburg – encompassing Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, as well as northern Herkimer County – was created. Today the diocese is comprised of 78 parishes and 3 mission parishes made up of 101 worship sites, 16 parochial oratories, 2 high schools, 8 elementary schools and 1 nursing home. Catholics are served by 49 active diocesan priests, 9 priests belonging to religious institutions, and 5 priests belonging to other dioceses. At Fort Drum, 2 priests of the Archdiocese for Military Services serve as chaplains. There are 37 retired and disabled diocesan priests, many continue to minister in various roles. There is 1 transitional deacon, 96 permanent deacons, 66 religious sisters and 753 commissioned lay ministers.
The Diocese of Ogdensburg is opening the celebration of its 150th anniversary, themed “Remember, Renew, Rejoice,” with a Holy Hour – time for prayer with the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Jesus – on February 12 at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Ogdensburg. Parishes, organizations and faithful around the diocese are encouraged to join the celebration by hosting similar prayer services the week of February 16.
The capstone of the celebration will begin with Vespers, evening prayer, on August 9 and continue with an Anniversary Mass on August 10, the Feast of St. Lawrence, both at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. Events are also planned throughout the year, including:
- An Octave of Service – eight days set aside for parishes, organizations and individuals to serve each other, their communities and the Church – from May 19 to 26.
- Celebrations highlighting the 70th anniversary of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg and the 50th anniversary of Camp Guggenheim, the diocesan youth camp in Saranac Lake.
- A website and “story map” devoted to collecting and sharing stories of historical significance of the diocese.
In conjunction with the 150th anniversary, the Diocese is participating in the “Synod on Synodality” called by Pope Francis to create opportunities for what Vatican documents describe as “listening and dialogue on the local level” with the goal of “humbly learning together how God is calling us to be as the Church in the third millennium.” Dialogue is being fostered at the diocesan and local parish and organization levels.
Additionally, as the diocese celebrates its anniversary, it is refocusing on the Eucharist, Jesus Christ present body and blood, soul and divinity in the form of bread and wine by offering faith formation opportunities.
MOST REVEREND TERRY R. LAVALLEY, BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF OGDENSBURG, SAID:
“As we celebrate 150 years as the Church of the North Country, we remember those who came before us, sowing the seeds of faith and building the foundation upon which we stand now; we renew our commitment to Christ, the mission He gave the Church and to serving the lost, rejected and forgotten; and we rejoice in the many gifts and blessings which come from the Lord.”
