May 25, 2016

Ogdensburg - Bishop Terry R. LaValley announced the appointment of James Crowley as Chancellor of the Diocese of Ogdensburg and Delegate for Pastoral Ministers.

Mr. Crowley will succeed St. Joseph Sister Jennifer Votraw in those positions.

Sister Jennifer has been appointed Superior of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Watertown effective Sept. 1.

“I am most grateful that Mr. Crowley has accepted this appointment,” said Bishop LaValley, “Jim brings a record of service to the Church, a love of the Church and a wonderful set of skills to the position.”

The appointment will begin on June 6,  and will give Mr. Crowley the opportunity to work with Sister Jennifer to learn the details and the work involved in these positions.

Mr. Crowley graduated from Wadhams Hall Seminary College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies. Since 1989, Mr. Crowley has operated C3 – Crowley Computer Consulting, where he has been involved in computer, network and software consultation, training, sales and service.

Mr. Crowley has also served the Church in various capacities. He has served on various committees at Wadhams Hall Seminary College and St. Marguerite D’Youville Academy.

Mr. Crowley has served on the Pastoral Council at St. Mary’s Cathedral for more than 20 years, and currently serves on the transition team for the linkage of the Cathedral and Notre Dame Parishes in Ogdensburg. He also worked on the staff at Camp Guggenheim in Saranac Lake and as director of Sportscamp in Ogdensburg.

Mr. Crowley is currently in the Deacon Formation program, and hopes to be ordained a deacon in October 2017.
Mr. Crowley resides in Ogdensburg with his wife, Rita, and their three daughters, Allison, Bethany and Margaret.
He is active in the community and has coached in the Lisbon girls soccer league and Kiwanis youth soccer league. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

“I am honored and humbled that Bishop LaValley has asked me to serve as Chancellor and Delegate for Pastoral Ministers,” Mr. Crowley said. “I appreciate his confidence and this opportunity to serve the Diocese and the people of God in the North Country.”

“I look forward to working with Bishop LaValley and his staff, he said.

As Chancellor, Mr. Crowley will safeguard and maintain the diocesan archives, oversee the maintenance and use of the Guggenheim Center in Saranac Lake, direct the Office of Cemeteries for the diocese, oversee maintenance and upkeep of the diocesan campus, and will make annual reports to the official Catholic directory, the USCCB and the Vatican.

Mr. Crowley will also serve as the Diocesan spokesperson and liaison to the media.

In his role as Delegate for Pastoral Ministers, Mr. Crowley will serve non-ordained pastoral ministers by providing workshops, days of prayer, and opportunities for lay ministers to network on an ongoing basis.