Jan. 27, 2021 The North Country Catholic After prayerful consideration and consultation with the Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Terry R. LaValley has announced several new priest assignments. The assignments are effective March 3. Father Shane M. Lynch, currently pastor of St. James Church in Gouverneur, Sacred Heart Church in Edwards and St. Hubert’s in Star Lake, will become pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Black River and St. Mary’s Church in Evans Mills. Father Lynch will fill the vacancy created by the passing of Father Vicente F. Jazmines, who died of complications related to COVID-19 on Jan. 7. Father James W. “Jay” Seymour, currently pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Lowville, St. Mary’s Church in Glenfield and St. Hedwig’s Church in Houseville, will become pastor in Gouverneur, Edwards and Star Lake. Father Scott A. Belina, currently pastoral associate at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, will become administrator in Lowville, Glenfield and Houseville. Father Shane Lynch He completed his studies for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg and St. John’s Seminary School of Theology in Boston. He also completed a spirituality year program sponsored by St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Father Lynch was ordained by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito on May 12, 2001. Prior to serving as pastor in Gouverneur, Star Lake and Edwards, Father Lynch served as pastor in Old Forge, Inlet and Raquette Lake from 2011-16. Previously, he was pastor in Wells and Lake Pleasant from 2007, first as administrator and then, in 2008, as pastor. Father Lynch has served as parochial vicar in Saranac Lake and Lake Clear, at Notre Dame in Malone, at the Malone Catholic Parishes and at Holy Family in Watertown. He was also a temporary administrator in Croghan.
Father James W. Seymour Father Seymour was ordained Oct. 10, 1987, by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana. His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. John’s in Plattsburgh. He later served as a parochial vicar at Holy Family in Watertown before spending eight years as a missionary in the Ogdensburg Peruvian Apostolate’s mission in Mollendo, Peru, beginning in 1990. There he served as pastor of St. Martin de Porras Church. Upon his return in 1998, he was named parochial vicar in Carthage, Deferiet and Natural Bridge. In 2000, Father Seymour spent a sabbatical year at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa while providing pastoral services as a parochial vicar at St. John’s in Plattsburgh during the summer. He also served as an administrator in Hogansburg and then in AuSable Forks and Black Brook before being named pastor in Champlain in 2001. He has also served pastor of St. Raphael’s Church in Heuvelton, pastor/priest moderator of Sts. Philip & James Church in Lisbon, and part-time chaplain at Riverview Correctional Facility. Prior to serving in Lowville, he was pastor for the Roman Catholic Community of Morristown, Hammond and Rossie. He also served as Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.
Father Scott A. Belina He then began studies for the priesthood, attending St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he earned a master’s degree in Divinity and a master’s degree in theology. He was ordained by Bishop LaValley on May 25, 2013 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Prior to serving at St. Peter’s Parish in Massena, he served as parochial vicar at St. André Bessette Parish in Malone from 2015-18. His first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Cathedral with additional responsibilities in the Chancery Office, assisting Bishop LaValley.
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Father Lynch, 49, is a native of Watertown and a 1990 graduate of Immaculate Heart Central School. 
A native of Ogdensburg, Father Seymour, 67, earned a bachelor’s degree from Plattsburgh State and worked as a teacher before beginning seminary studies. He completed a year of pre-theologate studies at Wadhams Hall before entering Christ the King Seminary, where he earned a master’s in divinity degree.
Father Belina, 35, was born in Landstuhl, Germany and was raised in Watertown. He’s a graduate of Immaculate Heart Central in 2003 and from Clarkson University with a degree in biomolecular science in 2007.