May 27, 2015

Fathers L. William  Gordon, Clyde A. Lewis, J. Roger McGuinness and Patrick J. O’Reilly are celebrating golden jubilees this year, 50 years after their ordinations in Ogdensburg, Italy, Ogdensburg and Ireland respectively.

Profiles of the four priests follow:

Father Gordon
Father Gordon spent many years of his priesthood as an educator in Catholic schools beginning with his first assignment as teacher at Immaculate Heart Central School in Watertown. He later served as a vice-principal at Holy Family School in Massena and principal of IHC from 1970 to 1977.

A native of Plattsburgh, Father Gordon was born July 26, 1939. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall  Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore before he was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg by Bishop Thomas A. Donnellan May 22, 1965.

Father Gordon has served as assistant pastor in Lowville, St. Patrick’s in Watertown, Brownville and Sacred Heart in Massena.

In 1977, he was named pastor in AuSable Forks until 1983 when he became pastor in Morrisonville.

Father Gordon returned to St. Patrick’s in Watertown in 1988 as pastor and later served as parochial vicar in Peru, and pastor in Port Henry, Westport, Champlain and Chazy.

He retired in 2010 and now makes his home at St. Alexander’s in Morrisonville.

Father Lewis
Father Lewis was born April 29, 1939, in Boston, and grew up in Plattsburgh.  He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg, Christ the King Seminary in Olean, NY, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. 

He was ordained Dec. 16, 1964 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Father Lewis’ first assignment was as assistant pastor in Saranac Lake.  He was also an assistant pastor in Gouverneur and at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. 

He became pastor of St. Augustine’s in Peru in 1979 and then Holy Family in Watertown from 1993 to 2002. At that time, he was assigned to serve as pastor in Rouses Point, a position he continues to hold. In addition, he has been pastor of St. Mary’s in Champlain since 2013. Previously he was pastor in Coopersville from 2003 to 2013.

The priest also served the diocese as associate director of the youth department from 1966 to 1970 and associate director of religious education and regional director for St. Lawrence Deanery from 1969 to 1972.

From 1972 to 1979, Father Lewis served as diocesan director of religious education.  He also served as president of the New York State Council of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education and as a member of the board of directors of the National Conference of Diocesan Directors.

In addition, the priest has served the diocese as a pro-Synodal Judge of the Marriage Tribunal, as a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board and as chair of the Art and Architecture Committee of the diocesan Department of Worship

Fr. McGuinness
Father McGuinness spent 16 years of his priesthood – from 1973 to 1989 - as a faculty member of Wadhams Hall Seminary-College in Ogdensburg.

During his time at the seminary, he served  as academic dean, director of the Community Service Program, psychology teacher and spiritual director.

A native of New York City, Father McGuinness was born July 11, 1939. He studied for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall  and Christ the King Seminary in Olean before his ordination May 22, 1965 at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop  Donnellan.

Father McGuinness later received a master’s degree in counseling from SUNY Plattsburgh, a master of divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary  and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

During his early years as a priest, Father McGuinness served as an assistant pastor at St. Mary’s in Potsdam, in Lake Placid, at St. John’s in Plattsburgh and at St. Patrick’s in Watertown.  While in Watertown, he also served as Newman chaplain at Jefferson Community College.

In 1973, Father McGuinness was named pastor in Raymondville.  One year later he was appointed to the faculty at Wadhams Hall

After leaving his position on the seminary faculty, Father McGuinness served as administrator in Keeseville and then pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Plattsburgh from 1990 to 1995 when he was named pastor of St. John XXIII College Community Parish.

In 2004, Father McGuinness was named  pastor at St. John’s in Plattsburgh, a position he held until being appointed pastor in West Chazy in 2006.

In 2013, he was given additional responsibilities as pastor in Chazy, positions he continues to hold.

Through the years, Father McGuinness has served the diocese as vocation director, director of campus ministry and chair of the Committee for the Continuing Education of Clergy. He has been a teacher in the deacon formation program, Formation for Ministry program and has been active as a retreat leader throughout his priesthood.

Father O’Reilly
Father O’Reilly was born near Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 17, 1937, and returned to his native country after his 2014 retirement as a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

Father O’Reilly was ordained June 6, 1965 in Ireland and came to the diocese in 1973. He was incardinated in 1977 and served the people of the North Country for 41 years.

Father O’Reilly was assistant pastor (now called parochial vicar) at St. John's Plattsburgh; St. John's, Madrid; and St. Mary's, Ticonderoga, Our Lady of Victory, Plattsburgh; St. Joseph's Malone, in Peru, Champlain, LaFargeville,  Holy Family, Watertown; in Lake Placid, Keeseville in St. John’s Plattsburgh.

Father O’Reilly was a chaplain at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Watertown and served as chaplain at the Uihlein Mercy Care Center in Lake Placid from 1994 until he returned to Ireland this past November