May 7, 2025

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

Now under new leadership, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg is continuing to build on its 106 years of being “a beacon of hope in difficult times.”

The new executive director, Father Scott R. Seymour, took the helm of the Agency in January.

“We’re here to serve, and we will be here for years to come,” said Father Seymour. “We have new leadership, and we continue to move forward working with our compassionate and experienced staff and working with our partner agencies. We want to be a beacon of hope in difficult times for the people of the North Country.

In his role, Father Seymour will be responsible for overseeing the agency’s programs and staff across multiple counties, identifying sources of funding and resources to meet local service needs, continuing and cultivating relationships with partner agencies and ensuring Catholic Charities stays committed to and consistent with the agency’s mission and Catholic values.

While the methods of service delivery and the programs offered has changed over the years, Father Seymour said Catholic Charities’ mission has always remained the same.

“We’re doing great things all in the name of Jesus, and we’re doing it with great love,” he said.

Catholic Charities currently maintains five offices across the Diocese of Ogdensburg, serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence counties and the northern portions of Hamilton and Herkimer counties. Currently, Catholic Charities offices and/or services are open in Malone, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh, Tupper Lake, Watertown and Port Henry.

“Case management continues to be available across all locations,” said Catholic Charities Administrative Assistant Joelle Lamica. “With that service, an individual comes into one of our offices to talk, and they tell us what their needs are. Sometimes, all they want or need is someone to listen and guide, but there are often additional unmet needs. We assess the needs and make referrals to entities that can help or, we try to figure out how we can meet the need with our resources in collaboration with our partners.”

Lamica said Catholic Charities’ employees have extensive experience navigating services that are available across the eight-county region covered by the diocese.

All the agency’s locations also offer emergency food bags and baby supplies, informal counseling and donated clothing and household items.

“We have people with 30 years of experience,” she said. “They have extensive knowledge, and people are comfortable working with them.”

Catholic Charities is also the E-EMDT hub in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties access.

“It’s an elder abuse program,” said Father Seymour. “It’s for circumstances where they’re taken advantage of or scammed or abused in other ways. “We work with them to try to improve their situation and get back what they lost.”

Referrals to that program are made through law enforcement, financial institutions, attorneys, human services agencies and/or medical professionals. E-MDT does not offer direct service or self-referral.

Additionally, Catholic Charities, working with AmeriCorps Seniors, continues to run its Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Essex and Franklin Counties.

That program connects individuals ages 55 and over connect with meaningful volunteer activities.

The Foster Grandparent program also continues to serve the North Country and is coordinated through the Catholic Charities Tupper Lake office.

That program, also run in conjunction with AmeriCorps Seniors, connects volunteers ages 55 and over with children who need support, mentorship and friendship.

“(Volunteers) are placed in a classroom setting with a child or children who are in need of emotional support, development of basic learning skills, friendship, companionship, encouragement, individual attention and unhurried help,” the program description says.

In Ogdensburg, Catholic Charities continues to offer Seaway House Club, which is designed to “promote recovery, and assist individuals in developing or re-establishing a sense of self-esteem and group affiliation. Based on the Fountain House Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, our services cater to the ever-changing needs of our participants.”

Father Seymour said Catholic Charities will continue to evaluate the needs of the North Country and evolve to meet them whenever possible.

“We see a lot of need,” he said. “While it doesn’t look like it did even just a few years ago, Catholic Charities continues to work to meet those needs as Christ called us to do. More than ever, we rely on the support of our North Country neighbors as we work to meet those needs.”

Catholic Charities will soon begin its annual Mother’s Day appeal, a fundraiser that enables the agency to continue serving.

To learn more about Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, visit cathcharities.org.