May 29, 2013

By Mary Lou Kilian
Editor

Ogdensburg – The joyful moments for Bishop Terry R. LaValley in his role as Bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg aren’t much different from those he has experienced throughout his 25 years as a priest.

Bishop reflects on 25 years as priest, three years as bishop

“Being able to celebrate the sacraments and witness the depth of faith of people in the pews,” he said, has always sustained him  in his ministry.

“I have found it so humbling, whether in hearing confessions or celebrating Mass or through any of the sacraments,” he said.

Bishop LaValley marked his third anniversary as bishop April 30.

In September, he will observe 25 years as a priest.

He reflected on these milestones in a May 17 interview with the North Country Catholic.

Life of a bishop
Upon becoming bishop, Bishop LaValley discovered that celebrating the sacraments continued to be a source of joy in his life.

“The ordination of a priest or a deacon  is a very powerful moment for me personally,” he said.  “When I look into the eyes of the one to be ordained, I see the hope and pride of the person and I’m so inspired by his faith.

“And I’m inspired when I see the trust that the parents have placed in the church I cherish,” he said.

While Bishop LaValley says that he misses being a parish priest “every time I visit a parish,” he takes great pleasure in the opportunities he has to visit all the parishes and schools across the diocese.

“There are so many people who witness the faith with real enthusiasm,” he said. “This builds up and inspires my own faith.”

He is also proud of the major celebrations that have taken place in the diocese.

“The Year of Faith opening prayer service in November brought people from all across the North Country  to the cathedral and it was a great celebration,” he said. “People saw that they could come to church and pray in different ways.

This past Saturday the cathedral was filled again with the ordination of Father Scott Belina.

The diocesan church will gather once again next Sunday as the Year of Faith Corpus Christi celebration is held at Notre Dame and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

And, in September every Catholic in the North Country will be invited to join together for a Year of Faith Mass in Lake Placid.

The challenges
Along with the joys, the life of a bishop is marked by challenges and concerns.

Bishop LaValley worries about “the lack of connection of so many Catholics in the North Country with the church, the lack of participation in the sacraments.

“Faith seems to be so much on the margins of peoples’ lives,” he said.

“That’s why this Year of Faith is so critical,” he said. “The timing is inspired as we work to foster people’s relationships with Jesus, faith and family.”

Bishop LaValley said that his is also concerned that, in northern New York, there are so many social and economic needs that are hard to address.

And, he said, “the shortage of vocations to the priesthood and religious life is a tremendous challenge to the church.”

“Father Stitt (diocesan vocation director) is very creative and hard working and connects well with young people and their pastors,” Bishop LaValley said. “We need his efforts to continue along with those of the priests and the people.”

Looking to the future
As Bishop LaValley cares for a diocese with “lots of needs and limited resources,” he knows it is important to set up priorities so that “everybody’s energies are focused on meeting tangible goals.”

It was for this reason that he contracted with the Catholic Leadership Institute to work toward a Mutually Shared Vision of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. (See page 3)

Over the course of the next year, he will be working with Envisioning Leadership Team to clarify and articulate the vision, drawing from advice from Catholics across the diocese.

“We have put together a wonderful team and we have a great diocesan staff,” Bishop LaValley said.

“I have faith that, despite any challenge we encounter, God will be served,” he said.