November 27, 2019

PLATTSBURGH – The parishes in the City of Plattsburgh, along with the all parishes of the Diocese, have undertaken pastoral planning over the past couple of years. The plan for Plattsburgh developed locally and approved by Bishop Terry R. LaValley, is for the City parishes to be merged into one parish with four worship locations (sites).

The future merged parish, Holy Cross would be led by one pastor, one full-time parochial vicar and one half-time parochial vicar. Bishop LaValley has set the date for this to take effect as of January 1, 2020.

Bishop LaValley has appointed Father Kevin D. McEwan pastor, Father Eduardo C. Pesigan III, full-time parochial vicar, and Msgr. Dennis J. Duprey, special interim parochial vicar as of Jan. 1. Father William G. Reamer will become full-time Catholic chaplain at The University of Vermont CVPH Medical Center.

If by the effective date the ecclesial and legal process to form the new parish has not been completed, Father McEwan will be appointed pastor of each existing parish, with the priests and deacons assigned to all three parishes and Father Reamer being assigned to CVPH.

This would remain until such the legal process is complete.

While challenges will always come up, we are confident the new parish configuration will give new strength and vitality to the Catholic community that makes up the three Catholic Parishes.

The new weekend Mass schedule was approved as part of the planning process several months ago.

As a reminder, the new times, which begin the weekend of Dec. 1, are listed below:
NOV. 30 & DEC. 1
• Saturday – 4 p.m. at St. Peter’s
• Saturday – 5:15 p.m. at St. John’s
• Sunday – 8:30 a.m. at St. John’s
• Sunday – 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory
• Sunday – 11:15 a.m. at St. Peter’s
• Sunday – 5 p.m. at the Newman Center

Besides the clergy changes, effective Jan.1, the Offices for all three parishes will be located at 7 Margaret St. on the property of St. John’s, the priests’ residence will be at 114 Cornelia Street on the property of St. Peter’s and the Social and Outreach Center will be on the property of Our Lady of Victory on South Catherine Street.

Over the past two years, several of the ministries of the three parishes have been coordinated and expanded.
It is anticipated that this spring Msgr. Duprey will retire from his interim ministry having reached his 75th birthday. It is expected that he will be replaced at that time.