May 21, 2014 Father Andrew J. Amyot, Father Rolland Hart, Father Clyde A, Lewis and Msgr. Leeward J. Poissant are celebrating golden jubilees this year.
The priest has been assigned as assistant pastor of St. Alphonsus in Tupper Lake, Notre Dame in Malone and Star Lake. From 1968 to 1977 and again from 1981 to 1982, Father Amyot was part of the Ogdensburg Peruvian Apostolate, serving the diocesan mission in Mollendo, Peru, South America. Upon his return to the United Sates he was named pastor in Willsboro and Essex, in Evans Mills, DeKalb Junction with its mission in Russell, Black River and Natural Bridge. In 1994, Father Amyot was named pastor in Norfolk with added responsibilities as pastor in Raymondville in 2007. He held these positions until his retirement. Father Amyot served the diocese as vicar for religious from 1981 to 1986 and as dean of St. Lawrence Deanery.
Father Hart was assigned to serve as assistant pastor in Morrisonville, Lowville, Chateaugay and Notre Dame in Malone. In 1972, he was named pastor in Deferiet. He also served as pastor in Redwood and Theresa, Fort Covington, Bombay, Harrisville, Heuvelton and, from 1998 until his retirement in 2004, in Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. Father Hart has served the diocese as diocesan director of scouting and as the priest chaplain at the Gouverneur Correctional Facility. He now resides in Williston, Vermont.
He was ordained Dec. 16, 1964 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Father Lewis’ first assignment was as assistant pastor in Saranac Lake. He was also an assistant pastor in Gouverneur and at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. He became pastor of St. Augustine’s in Peru in 1979 and then Holy Family in Watertown from 1993 to 2002. At that time, he was assigned to serve as pastor in Rouses Point, a position he continues to hold. In addition, he has been pastor of St. Mary’s in Champlain since 2013. Previously he was pastor in Coopersville from 2003 to 2013. The priest also served the diocese as associate director of the youth department from 1966 to 1970 and associate director of religious education and regional director for St. Lawrence Deanery from 1969 to 1972. From 1972 to 1979, Father Lewis served as diocesan director of religious education. He also served as president of the New York State Council of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education and as a member of the board of directors of the National Conference of Diocesan Directors. In addition, the priest has served the diocese as a pro-Synodal Judge of the Marriage Tribunal, as a member of the Priests’ Personnel Board and as chair of the Art and Architecture Committee of the diocesan Department of Worship
A Plattsburgh native, he was born Dec. 18, 1938. After study at Wadhams Hall, Christ the King Seminary in Olean and the North American College in Rome, he was ordained on his 25th birthday, Dec.18, 1963. The priest also earned a licentiate in sacred theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Toronto. Msgr. Poissant’s first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. In 1965, he was named assistant chancellor and secretary to the bishop. Beginning in 1968, Msgr. Poissant spent 34 years of his priesthood as part of the faculty and administration of Wadhams Hall including a term as rector-president from 1982 to 1987. He also served as philosophy professor, vice-president and dean of students. While continuing as a philosophy professor until the seminary’s closure in 2002, Msgr. Poissant served as pastor in Dekalb Junction and Russell from 1989 to 1994, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral from 1994 to 1997 and pastor in Morristown and Brier Hill from 1997 to 2002. The priest also served the diocese as director of seminarians and dean of Clinton Deanery. In 1995, he was named a prelate of honor with the title monsignor. |
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Father Amyot
Father Hart
Father Lewis
Msgr. Poissant