Oct. 14, 2020

CHAZY – Bishop Terry R. LaValley presented the Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams Award for Distinguished Service to Mrs. Noreen Barcomb during the celebration of confirmation on September 30, 2020 at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy.

Bishop LaValley bestowed the award in recognition of Barcomb’s dedicated work of forming and educating our young people that will richly bless our family of faith for generations to come. Bishop LaValley stated, “For over forty years, Noreen has been a wonderful help to the pastors of Sacred Heart Parish and to the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Noreen served as a catechist for Sacred Heart Parish. She trained others for their ministry as catechists and trained countless volunteers in Virtus, an integral element of our safe environment program. Noreen constantly sought to grow in her own faith so she could share it with others.”

Barcomb completed the Formation for Ministry program, was active in LEAD (formerly CORE) and completed catechist certification. Barcomb’s service reached beyond her parish as she contributed each year to the Diocesan Youth Rally and served as a Virtus facilitator.

“I want to thank Noreen for her generous and faithful service,” said Bishop LaValley. “Her example of dedication and loving service should inspire us all.”

Bishop LaValley presented the Bishop Wadhams Award to Noreen at a recent Confirmation Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Chazy. The citation read:

“In the presence of her co-workers, family and fellow parishioners, it is my honor and privilege to present the Bishop Edgar P. Wadhams Award for Distinguished Service, to Mrs. Noreen Barcomb.

“Noreen, with persevering faith, with quiet strength and humility, has generously served Sacred Heart Church in Chazy and our diocese. To enhance her ministry, Noreen became a certified catechist and a Commissioned Lay Minister. The knowledge and formation gained from the catechist certification program and Formation for Ministry has benefited parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Chazy, where Noreen served as a catechetical leader, Virtus facilitator and catechist trainer for over forty years. Noreen also helped form generations of our young people through her tireless work as parish youth director and as a member of the coordinating team for the annual Diocesan Youth Rally. Her dedication to forming and educating our young people will richly bless our family of faith for generations to come.

“In recognition of her outstanding service to the Diocese of Ogdensburg and the local parish, this award is bestowed as an expression of our gratitude and respect. In witness whereof, I have signed this award and placed upon it the seal of the Diocese of Ogdensburg this 30th day of September 2020.”

The Bishop Wadhams Award was instituted by Bishop Paul Loverde, the eleventh Bishop of Ogdensburg, in 1996, to recognize exceptional service to the Diocese of Ogdensburg by people of the North Country. Recipients of the Award include Father Richard Siepka (former rector of Wadhams Hall Seminary), Monsignor Lawrence M. Deno (former superintendent of Catholic Schools), Mrs. Mary Lou Kilian (former editor of the North Country Catholic), Monsignor Robert Giroux (former vicar general), Dr. Gerald Irwin (former professor at Wadhams Hall and Peritus for the Diocesan Tribunal), Sister Kathryn Healy (chaplain, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center), Dr. A. B. DeGrandpre (former Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, friend and benefactor of St. John’s Academy, Mount Assumption Institute and Seton Catholic Central School), Clyde A. Lewis, Sr. (Knight of Malta, founder of Bishop’s Heritage Circle), Thomas and Claudia Sanders (Pre-Cana directors and hosts in the international student program at Seton Catholic High School), Henry and Huguette Domingos of Potsdam, New York ( Formation for Ministry Program, Serra Club, parish ministry), Sister Donna Franklin, DC (diocesan director of Catholic Charities for 22 years), Sally Rusaw, Ogdensburg (prison ministry, archivist, teaching), Irving Papineau (board member, catechist, and treasurer of Saint Kateri Hall, Hogansburg) and Elaine Cook (administrative assistant, pastoral associate to homebound at St. Regis Mission).