Dec. 5, 2018

Darcy Fargo
Editor

Ogdensburg – After meeting last week with the Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Terry R. LaValley has announced the following changes to priest assignments, to be effective Jan. 23, 2019.

Father Kevin D. McEwan, currently pastor at St. Mary’s in Ticonderoga and Our Lady of Lourdes in Schroon Lake, will become the pastor of St. John the Baptist and the St. John XXIII Newman Center in Plattsburgh. In his new assignment, Father McEwan will continue to work with Msgr. Dennis J. Duprey and Father Eduardo Pesigan III, the pastoral leadership of St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh, to implement the Living Stones pastoral plan for the city parishes and related entities.

Father McEwan will replace Father Timothy G. Canaan, who is retiring due to health issues.

“I will be stepping down as pastor of St. John’s and going on disability in January 2019,” said Father Canaan, who has been diagnosed with acute tri coronary artery disease. “This move is happening at the recommendation of my cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. After my last procedure in August he was very concerned about my health and strongly recommended to Bishop LaValley that I should retire or go on disability.”

Father Howard J. Venette, currently pastor of St. Bartholomew’s in Old Forge and St. Anthony of Padua in Inlet, will be assume the role previously held by Father McEwan in Ticonderoga and Schroon Lake, and Msgr. John R. Murphy, currently pastor of Parish of the Visitation in Norfolk, St. Raymond in Raymondville and St. Andrew’s in Norfolk, will become pastor in Old Forge and Inlet.

In a move planned in the diocesan pastoral planning process, Father Garry B. Giroux, pastor of St. Patrick’s in Brasher Falls and St. Lawrence’s in North Lawrence, will also serve as pastor of Parish of the Visitation in Norfolk, St. Raymond in Raymondville and St. Andrew’s in Norfolk.

A Watertown native, Father Canaan was ordained May 22, 1993. He has been assigned, in various capacities, in Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Plattsburgh and Canton. Father Canaan has also served as Vocations Director for the diocese, and director of admissions for Wadhams Hall Seminary.

Prior to serving in Ticonderoga and Schroon Lake, Father McEwan has served as pastor in Old Forge, Inlet and Raquette Lake. Previously, he was the administrator in Morristown, Hammond and Rossie, and parochial vicar in Saranac Lake, Bloomingdale, Massena and Louisville. A native of Yorktown Heights, New York, Father McEwan was ordained May 11, 2002 by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito.

Father Venette has served Old Forge, Inlet and Raquette Lake since 2016. He has previously served as pastor in Potsdam and Colton and Harrisville, as administrator in Brushton, Constable, Westville and Trout River, and as parochial vicar in Massena, Potsdam, Plattsburgh and Malone. Father Venette was ordained July 21, 1984 by Bishop Brzana at St. Patrick’s in Chateaugay.

Msgr. Murphy, a native of Saranac Lake, has served as pastor in Norwood, Norfolk and Raymondville since 2012, serving as an administrator in Norfolk and Raymondville for a year prior. He has served in Plattsburgh, Canton, Morristown, Brier Hill, Potsdam, Madrid, Heuvelton and Lisbon. He as also served in diocesan roles, including moderator of the Curia, episcopal vicar for Pastoral Services and chancellor. He was ordained July 2, 1973 by Bishop James Hickey.

Ordained May 1, 1976 by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana, Father Giroux served as an assistant pastor at Notre Dame in Malone and St. Alphonsus in Tupper Lake. He has served as pastor at Constable, Westville and Trout River, as Potsdam. He has also served in diocesan roles, including secretary to the bishop and associate chancellor.