Oct. 13, 2021 Through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, Bishop LaValley ordained to the Order of Deacon Randy N. Besio, Gerald F. Bouchard, Brent M. Davison, Daniel G. LeRoy, Michael A. Lieber, Jr., Kenneth L. Lushia, Roderic O. Roca, Lee M. Trudeau, Robert S. Uttendorfsky, Noel D. Voos, Mark T. Webster and Peter J. Woolschlager on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. Below, meet the men who have been ordained.
Deacon Randy Besio Parish: St. Peter’s in Massena Background: I am retired from the New York Power Authority. I am a product of Catholic schools, and I am grateful for that. After that, I attended Jefferson Community College and received two degrees that I never used, but I don't regret the time and the friends that I made. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? I would say that the formation experience has made me a more confident Catholic when I am talking about my faith. I am more comfortable answering questions and if don't know the answer off the top of my head I know where to go to find out. I have learned so much and there is so much more to go. There is a sense of security in the truth of the Catholic Church, it is difficult to describe. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I will serve in whatever capacity my pastor and bishop ask of me. I am already involved in some ministries but there are so many opportunities to grow in service What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I'm looking forward to serving the people of my parish, so many of them have known me all my life and their support is greatly appreciated. That said, I am also looking forward to meeting and making new friends, this parish really is a family.
Deacon Gerry Bouchard Parish: Immaculate Conception in Brownville & St. Andrew’s in Sackets Harbor How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? Through the formation process I think I have become a better man, more compassionate, hopefully more patient, and have developed spiritually in a lot of ways. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? As a Deacon I will do what my pastor and Bishop ask of me. I am sure I will help out in faith formation in some capacity and assist at Mass, and am prepared for assisting at baptisms, funerals and weddings when needed. Deacons are ministers of charity as well, but exactly what that will entail still remains to be seen. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I am looking forward to getting better acquainted with parishioners that I will be serving at both parishes.
Deacon James Carlin Parish: Holy Cross Parish, Plattsburgh Background: I have a BA in Political Science from Plattsburgh State University and have been the owner of Centennial Abstact Company, Inc. since 1997 with offices in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? Through the studies, fellowship and experiences shared with my classmates, the formation program has helped to deepen my faith in and relationship with Christ. Going into the program, I did not have a great appreciation for the scripture. Over the last four years, my increased appreciation and understanding of scripture have been a key to my growth in understanding and living my faith. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I hope to continue to work with our community meal and continue to help teach in the Confirmation program. I'm also open to any other areas of service needed in our Parish and the Diocese. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I'm looking forward to seeing where God will take me on this continued journey. He has already taken me places I thought I'd ever go and I'm excited to see where He leads me next.
Deacon Brent Davison Parish: Currently attend worship at Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh. Background: Retired from U.S. Army National Guard. Four years active duty, 12 years U.S. Army Reserves and four years VT National Guard. Currently a captain in the New York State Police. Have worked there for approximately 25 years. AAS in Criminal Justice from Clinton Community College and Approximately 20 credits from the University of Virginia through the FBI National Academy Leadership Program. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? During my formation, my relationship with our Lord has grown stronger as well as the bond between myself and the men who also attended the Deacon Program. I gained a solid background in our faith and continually discerned my calling to the Permanent Diaconate. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I will serve my parish in the liturgy of the Mass, as well as through the outreach and catechesis programs. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? As someone who has served my country and my community, I look forward to serving Christ and his Church. I look forward to serving the people that make up the Body of Christ and doing what I can to bring them closer to Christ.
Deacon Dan LeRoy Parish: St. Paul’s in Black River Background: Retired after 31 years with the California Department of Corrections as a Correctional Administrator How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? How will you serve your parish as a deacon? What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I’m looking forward to serving God through his people. There is nothing in this world more satisfying than to carry out the Lord’s command to Love one another by taking care of each other, no matter who they are.
Deacon Mike Lieber Parish: St. Mary’s, Constableville Background: I work for the New York State School for the Deaf as a general mechanic. My job is to repair any carpentry, electrical, or plumbing maintenance problems on campus. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? I have changed in many ways through the formation process. I have developed a deeper faith and greater love for God and the Church. It has also helped me to develop a better character and lose some of my bad traits. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I will be serving my parish as a youth minister and religious education instructor. My wife and I will be conducting our youth program and various community events involving families. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I am looking forward to excersing my Deaconate ministry in the various ways I will be called to in my parish such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals. I am also excited to participate in Mass and be the proclaimer of the Gospel. In addition I am looking forward to conducting Eucharistic adoration and helping people to grow closer to God.
Deacon Kenneth (Ken) Lushia Parish: St. Joseph’s in West Chazy Background: I retired in 2007 from The Civil Service Employees Association as a Labor Relations Specialist. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? How will you serve your parish as a deacon? What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I am looking forward to serving the Diocese of Ogdensburg, through the directions of Bishop Terry LaValley and Father Ted Crosby. Father Ted Crosby sponsored and supported me during these years of study for which I shall forever be grateful.
Deacon Roderic Roca Parish: St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, Ogdensburg Background: I have had a varied professional career. Starting out for many years I was a Medical Lab Technologist and then worked for 6 ½ years as an Administrator/Program Developer of residential and day program services for an organization which served developmentally disabled adults. My final career from which I retired in 2017 was as a Registered Nurse working in a community hospital in the Emergency Department and Ambulatory Surgical Unit as well as the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. My education includes an AAS from Morrisville College in Medical Laboratory Technology, an AAS in Registered Nursing from Canton College, a BPS in Health Services Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica. I also attended Syracuse University for graduate work in Adult Education. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? I believe formation has challenged me to be even more inquisitive and contemplative in my prayer life. It has also challenged me to listen to people more and speak less to ascertain where they are at in their spiritual journey. Formation also has given me an even greater appreciation for the role of the deacon in the Church and in parish life. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I’m expecting to be involved with the visitation of the homebound and those hospitals or nursing homes. I also expect to continue serving on the parish vocations committee as well as serving at Mass both on the weekends and during the week. My pastor has already given me the job of officiating at a burial a couple of weeks after my ordination. Additionally, as a convert to the Church I have a special interest in RCIA and am hoping to serve in this capacity as well. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? In my new ministry I am looking forward to interacting with all parishioners and being of service to them in any way I am able. I especially look forward to the opportunity to share Christ’s message with those who are homebound and are unable to get out to attend Mass.
Deacon Lee Trudeau Parish: St. Augustine’s North Bangor & St. Mary’s Brushton Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary English/Education (SUNY Potsdam), Master’s in Special Education (SUNY Plattsburg), Pre-Theology Certificate (Wadhams Hall), and two years of graduate theological studies. I’ve worked as a Special Education Teacher in Malone for 32 years and have recently retired. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? How will you serve your parish as a deacon? What are you looking forward to about your new ministry?
Deacon Robert S. Uttendorfsky Parish: Catholic Community of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and Saint Hedwig, Lowville Background: I received my Bachelor’s in Meteorology and Oceanography, along with my CG 3rd Mate’s license from SUNY Maritime College. I am currently the Director of Information Systems at Lewis County General Hospital where I’ve worked for over 20 years. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? Being in Diaconate Formation opened my eyes, my heart and my spirit in so many ways. Through formation I’ve experienced Sacred Scripture to a depth and richness that I never have before. Through education and experience I’ve entered into the worship and the beauty of our sacred liturgies. And I’ve gained a greater sensitivity and appreciation for the needs of each individual person as part of the health and vibrancy of our greater universal Church. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I’m blessed to join a great group of established Deacons in our parish. I will be joining them in bringing forth the sacramental life of the Church for the people of our parish, through Baptism, Matrimony, and Funeral liturgies. I will also be bringing Communion to our homebound parishioners, serving as a Catechist for Confirmation students, and continuing to serve our parish wherever I am needed. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I’m both humbled and inspired to be beginning my service as Deacon in this unique and challenging time in our history. There is such a great need in our world today for people to encounter Jesus, to heal our divisions and rediscover the unity and peace that knowing Christ brings. I look forward to accompanying others on their journey with compassion, and becoming that guidepost that shows them the way to a healing encounter with our Lord.
Deacon Noel Voos Parish: St. Mary’s in Evans Mills Background: Baccalaureate in Law forcement Admin; 21 yrs active duty Army; 18 yrs as a Criminal Investigator, retired as Commander of the Criminal Investigation Detachment at Fort Drum in 2006, followed by 12 yrs of Federal Civil Service with the Department of Defense; fully retired in December 2020. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? The significant change I think was spiritually, learning to trust & relying fully on prayer to seek God's guiding hand through 4 years of discernment and formation. I found comfort in the prayer of St. Padre Pio - "My past, O Lord, to Your mercy; my present, to Your love; my future to Your providence.” I still do. How will you serve your parish as a deacon? Continue to serve as the Religious Education Coordinator; facilitate faith formation/scripture studies; support my brother Knights of Columbus, and at the same time be available to continue to love and support my family. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? Hopefully to become involved in outreach to shut-ins or those confined to home or health support facilities; to find former parishioners who, for whatever reason(s), no longer attend Mass; to be available to other priests in the area to assist at Mass, particularly daily masses. Generally just eager to spread the Gospel to the faithful and to help others gain a better understanding not only of what we profess, but why we profess it.
Deacon Mark Webster Parish: St Joseph’s in West Chazy Background: I graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School in Stow, Ohio. I have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from SUNY Binghamton. For the past 27 years, I worked at The Champlain Telephone Company as the Budget Directory, Accounting Manager, Regulatory Manager and Controller. How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? How will you serve your parish as a deacon? I will continue to work with the young people of the parish as the youth director and as one of the catechists. I am looking forward to adding continuing adult catechetical and spiritual programs. What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? The greatest gift we can share with another is the gift of prayer. If we share our prayer life, we share our relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with one another. When we share our relationship, we share the greatest love that is. I look forward to sharing prayer.
Deacon Peter Woolschlager, OFS Parish: St. Stephen's, Croghan Background: 34 Years as a Public School Music Teacher (primarily a High School Band Director). Bachelor of Music (Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam), Master of Science in Music Education (University of Illinois), additional credits from Salzburg College, Austria (University of Miami), Youth Ministry Certification (Franciscan University at Steubenville). How have you changed through your participation in the formation process? How will you serve your parish as a deacon? What are you looking forward to about your new ministry? I look forward to assisting our pastor, Father Donald Manfred at liturgies and with all other aspects of parish life where needed. It will be an honor and privilege to serve the people of St. Stephen's parish as a Deacon.
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Family: Married to Tammy Besio for 35 years as of August. We have one son, Aaron, of Boston, Massachusetts.
Family: Married to Michelle Bouchard; two step-daughters, one son, seven grandchildren
Family: Beth and I are the proud parents of three, Sarah Carlin Favro (Matthew), John Carlin, and Leagon Carlin, and the grandparents of three beautiful children Colin, Addison, and Lucy
Family: Wife, Nikki Davison; children, Kayleigh Raville, Jordan Deno, Brendan Davison, Evan Davison, Marissa Davison, James Davison and Timothy “Joey” Davison; and several grandchildren. 
Family: Wife, Angie LeRoy; daughters, Soleil, Tamara and Joann; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren
Family: I am married to my wife of eleven years Jean Lieber. We have four children. A 9-year-old daughter named Faith, a 3- year-old son Henry, a 2-year-old son Isaac, and a seven month old baby girl named Keira. 
Family: My wife, Sandy, and I were married for over 36 years until she died in an automobile accident on March 31, 2009. We have two sons and four grandchildren.
Family: Wife, Donna; grown children, James and Victoria; five grandchildren ranging in age from 6 to 25.
Family: Wife, Lisa, and sons, Connor and Luc
Family: I have been married to my wife Melissa for over 30 years, and we have two sons, John and his wife Shannan, and Andrew.
Family: Married to Cathy; three sons, Adam, Matthew and Nathaniel; recently learned Nathan and his wife, Shanley, are expecting twin sons in February 2022! 
Family: My parents, James and Betty Webster, live in Central Pennsylvania. I have two brothers: one lives in Minnesota with his family, the other lives in Israel.
Family: Wife, Kathy, and children, Adriana (28), Lillia (25), Clare (22), Timothy (19)